FARMERS' UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15003, 25 May 1909, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE,

The annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, North Can-' terburv District. will bo hold, at the Canterbury Hall oir Thursday' and Friday. The ex-; ecutivo’s . report on the year’s, work 1 , states that after a thorough investiga-, tion the Arbitration Court gave its de-i cision in the Agricultural dispute on \ August 20. This decision upheld, the j contention of the Union’s representa-i tires, flint it would be impossible to make an award which would be of use to the labourers and would not- at the same time inflict serious injury on the farming industry, and that it had not been .shown that there was any grievance to justify the Court in imposing such a burden. Complaints had been received of the incorrectness of railway weights!; and attempts had again been:made to got tlie Railway Depart-: ment to make its weights sufficiently j accurate to serve as a basis between buyers and sellers of farm produce, but j so far without much success. . Thof Railway Department had been proached with a view to securing a moref convenient service on the WaiparaCheviot Line, and also with Tespeet to the reduced suburban passenger rates, which were at present not applicable to branch lines. Hitherto the Department had not. given a favourable reply in either case, but the Minister had promised to receive a deputation on the subject when next in Christchurch. Several applications for employment had been received from farm workers in this and other parts of the dominion, and most of the applicants had been successfully placed. It seeiped likely that the Union might do a good deal of useful work in this direction; but if this work was to be gone into on a large scale it would require an increased staff. A communication had been received from the “ Central Unemployed Body for London,” seeking information as to prospects for immigrants in the dominion. The executive replied that in its opinion ther o was plenty of work to be found for genuine and experienced farm labourers. This opinion 8 had been questioned by the labour organisations, but the executive was still convinced that it was correct. Tli6 executive liad taken strong exception to provisions in the Shearers Accommodation. Bill, Agricultural Produce, Sale and Importation Bill, Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill, and Regulations under the Dairy Act, and had sent, protests to Ministers and members of Parliament against such Bills being passed with sufficient opportunity being given for their consideration by farmers and others affected by them. The protests had, it was believed, carried 1 weight. / The balance sheet to be presented shows receipts amounting to £1194 ISs 3d including a balance brought forward from last year of £390 14s 3d, and an expenditure of £lOl2 14s 4d. The credit balance is £lB2 3s 9d.