NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 21 May 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

PROVINCIAL CON- - FERENCE.

The annual Provincial Conference of the; above Union was held at the Nelson Institute to-day. Pjresent:—Messrs W. Thorn (President) F. Whitwell (Vice-President). W . D.CHarkness (Secretary). H T. Cook. C/'Hngonin, G. Winter, B. M. lneld. R. C. Withers. E. Frost, H. J. Wells. K. B. Goodall, A. X. Wilkinson, F. W. Gibbs, and G. L. Mead. The balance-shet, which showed a balance in hand of £6 13s 9d Mas read and adopted. . The Prudent (Mr W. Thorn), in his annual address, said the great struggle jyjw proceeding in Europe was putting farmers to the test to get things done Itvwas their dutv and right to send every man thev could spare. Much difficulty was now being experienced to get the farms worked. They must all Still together to keep things going. Farmers had had a fairly good year, and had not felt the pinch of the war T«y much vet. but they were going to do-so Agricultural farmers have had a bad time. First in regard to wheat, the] price of which had been fixed by fb» Government at too low a price, and thev had to grow it at a sacrifice. He said it was necessary for those who could to grow all the wheat they can next reason. The whole world would bOungry next year. He thought the farinerstwould be able to place their -wheat on the market next year. Oats and barley had been poor m many resbects. "Chaff and oats were getting d«£rer. He was glad to say that inter-est-was being kept up in the Farmers Union. People were awakening up to the'fact that they must unite. Through the" efforts of the Farmers' Union a lime co&panv had been started, which was a MOdthme. The directors were al leadof the Farmers' Union. Tfiey had iust had a report from a min-ing-'engineer on the lime, and the outlook" was much better than anticipatedThe President said he had endeavoured tov'vmt the branches of the Union as fat" as possible, and had received a cordial reception. &L hearty vote of thanks was passed JoEr.the President for his address.