FARMERS' UNION

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12804, 30 May 1914, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION

SOUTHLAND PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. Press Association.—Bv Telegraph. INVERCARGILL, May 20. The thirteenth annual Southland Provincial Conference of the Farmers ' Union opened this morning. The president (Mr W. Ford), in his address, referred to the strike as the greatest industrial upheaval in the Dominion, and taking into consideration that the ports were for a time held up the results were highly satisfactory, and they must recognise the fact that it was owing to the organisation of the Fanners' Union and the Dairy Association, and to a certain extent the Employers' Association, that things were readjusted to enable the business of the country to proceed normally. Southland had little trouble as the result "of the strike, though it felt it indirectly. The grain returns were diminishing as a result of the progress of science in the matter of locomotion and substitution of petrol for oats, which is a serious problem. The Farmers' Union was now regarded as a power to be reckoned with, and its voice in Parliament had greater force than in the past. He referred to the cost of living, money market, land values and settlement, and exports, and concluded by appealing to all farmers for encouragement and support. Mr Ford was re-elected president, and Messrs John McQueen. T. \Y. Foster, and J. Smaill vice-presidents. Amongst the remits carried was one that Government continue the system of importing farm labourers and domestics.