THE FARMERS' UNION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 134, 9 June 1906, Page 3

THE FARMERS' UNION.

'„ The following extracts are taken i-from. the annual report of the-Provin-cial Executive of the Farmers Union to -the. conference early in ■*he week:— , " .-... " Land Tenure.—Yon will remember ■that;'at'about this time last year the. •ianji Commission was touring the coliny taking evidence on this subject, ■and -the result was a very largely expressed, opinion in favour of the option. We are therefore in duty bound ■fo. again press this matter topon the "Government, and as there is ja good majority of members of. the House actual freeholders, we have reasonable ground for hoping that the Optional form of tenure will be placed : -upon the Statute Book before very 'long. To our minds it is the only fair reasonable tenure, and best for Sfche colony. :i County Franchise.—As the Government will very likely introduce this session a Local Bodies Bill, we expect a determined attempt will be made by Labour members in the House to have the county franchise extended to nonratepayers. We should therefore sec . toit. that our opp.osjtiqn to any alteration in the present mode of election of representatives of local bodies is as strong as we can ; possibly make it. ? Anthrax .^— The subject of bone sterilisation being done in the colony was brought under the notice of the Government, but th© Colonial Executive was informed that the Minister of Agriculture intended to make a ((rial of sterilising abroad, and there are a ' number of firms that have licenses to sterilise bones under the inspection of New Zealand Government inspectors; but it appearsto us that such trial will prove abortive —at any rate we have just read of a case in Auckland district where the deadly disease has again broken out. Organiser. —At last year's conference it was decided to appoint a provincial organiser, and this was done; but;in the.face of the finances your Executive did not feel disposed to incur unnecessary expense, and so left it Optional with branches to invite him to visit their district. Several branches took advantage of his services, and mostly reported good results, but it is disappointing that more (|id not avail themselves or the opportunity. This is a subject for earnest consideration by the incoming Executive.

i; Fire Insurance.—You have all heard of the very satisfactory initiation of this scheme and the successful ending Of our first year's business. The. result must' prove beyond doubt the great possibilities of the scheme, and we cannot be so short-sighted as not tb recognise them. It appears to us most extraordinary that farmers who are generally looked, upon as shrewd peopie should be so slow in taking up a; matter that is so much to their advantage. We think, however,> that the union can honestly claim the .'solid, establishment of a scheme that will in a; very short time force itself upon every farmer in the colony. Accident Indemnity.—Yet another scheme for the benefit of the farmer, and yet some are bold enough to say that we do no good. It appears to us that if even thes two insurance matters were taken up heartily and loyally enough would be gained to make up more than sufficient to satisfy any man.

Finance.—We are sorry to say that this question, always a serious onei has not improved much during the year, and some more energetic methods of collecting subscriptions and obtaining members will have to be faced during the year. The work of the union, •which is all in the interests of the farmer, cannot be carried on without funds, and the more solid the funds the more solid will the..work be* The apathy arid apparent don't-careness of a large number of farmers is quite beyond understanding. Rural Education.—This very important subject has been receiving more or less consideration all over the colonVj. notably in Wellington, Wanganui,' and Otago. The Education Boards in these districts have been taking steps in the matter, and we can help forward the object by using our influence in the direction indicated. It will be distinctly in the interests of farmers to have this added to the curriculum of our schools. A warning note has recently been struck at several public schools as to the " grave danger of the professions becom^ ing over-crowded owing to the rising generation showing a preference for town rather than country life.