FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LII, Issue 9187, 6 September 1906, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

(PREBB ABBOCXATION.J WELLINGTON, September 6. jiiie farmers 1 Union Conference resumed to-day. A motion approving the principle of freedom ol contract, and expressing the opinion that no uadivx^uai should in any way be prevented from disposing of his "'labor on whatever terms he' may consider 'most advantageous, provoked discussion on 'the problem of - farm labor.' -Delegates said the position was a serious 'one. .Ultimately the motion was carried with the proviso that it should only apply 'to agricultural and pastoral pursuits. . A proposal in favor of_ the abolition of the sheep tax was generally supported. It 'was stated that- the tax led to incorrect tuieep returns being supplied.' The secretary of the Department of Agriculture, who was present, said- something might be done if they got an amendment of the Stock Act. He expressed dissatisfaction with much of fcue dipping that took place and advocated co-operative dips. ( A motion in favor of payment of the fall market yaluf for-, all stock condemned and destroyed . b'y^ ftjjder of the Government inspectow waa .withdrawn after discussion- for Agriculture informed* the Gonfefeacerißatjft^afl'JpTOposed that stock, inspectors should' undergo a oaufcain oouree oi/WvsitTQction before Entering .on, their dutiee." The conference expressed '. The question of detection of^sheep-steal-ing wasi disclosed, but no motion was passed. The Minister for Agriculture attended and informed the Conference that Cabinet had decided to .equip an experi- . mental dairy station and complete school of instruction in the North Island, and had every hope v that it would give a great impetus to the industry. The best Bilbo possible would be chosen and' no effort to influence the Government unfairly in the selection would have any success.