FARMERS' UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13109, 24 April 1903, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

[Pin Pjvess Association.} AUCKLAND, April 25. - The annual Conference of d«lcgat<M: ofMt&J" Farmers' Unions of blie province was opffttttl to-day. Mr M. Ktrkbride, M.H.R. (prwi* dent) occupied tho-chair, and about forty delegates were- present. Tbe in regard to grants for roads and briugew. thsb the question was discuss! at Uto Colonial Conference in tho presiuoo Ol *-ba Alinister of Lauds. It fell to U:s (Ms Kirkbiide's) lot 'to move that m latura grants for roads Mid bridges sr.ould not depend on the will of the Minister, buts-outa bo applied to purposes for which, they ws» voted by the House. The explanation thai <riven bv the Mnister mod* it obvious thafl men conducting tho business of tlis country allowed grants to bo placed on tlfo Esu* mates knowing that there was not nwiiey - to; meet them. '> 'Ah- Kirkbrid* dealt. -. witoc the questions of land tenure and land valuation, remarking that land should be valued at what a mam could make out of it, and in regard to tho tarilT, bo maintainod tbfca Customs tariffs should be for the purpose oi revenue only, and should not be used lor bolstering up the incomes of men _wbo, la manv instances, earned more than ordinary farmers. Ho had been asked to in the House a much-needed Firo Insurance Hill, which h* hoped would be carried through.' It was resolved that tho Union should approach tiie Government with a view to getting a- reduction m railway freights on bonedast, and that litnc for agricultural purposes (now carried f::ee for ICO miles) should bo carried fw> over tho whole of the Government that the Government should b? held Jiable for half the cost of fences between Crown land* and those ot adjoining stttiers; nisd that the size of grain, sacks-should ha raluocd to two-bushel sacks.