HEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 117, 22 May 1918, Page 6

HEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

NELSON PROVINCIAL CON ' , ■■■ FERENCE.

;The annual Provincial Conference of the Nelson branches of the above Union ■was held at the Nelson Institute yesterday afternoon. fi&x 8.-."P. Hudson, Jot Motueka. Was nresent, and received a hearty welcome from the President, who said that. he was sorry that he had overlooked sending special invitations to the M's.P. for Nelson and Motueka, both of whom ' had been helpful. Hr Hudson, in replying., said that as representative of a farming constituency he felt that It was helpful to himself and of value to his constituent? that he should attend such metings. The Conference then proceeded to disucss the remits made by the various branches. Mr Mead moved, and Mr Wells seconded, that the following renvt from the Korere-Motupiko branch bs adopt ed:—- That all stallions travelling should have a Government certihVr.te :.s to soundness and type." The President read from the Doinimon Conference proceedings to the effect that the Bill drafted by Dr Reakes would be given effect to as soon as there were veterinary surgeons available for the necessary inspection. There was another remit from the -came branch as follows: —That the members, of the Fruitgrowers' Associations should be eligible for membership of the Farmers' Union by paying the provincial levy. "After some discusioii the motion was withdrawn. ; , Mr Gibbs moved u::u Mr Withers seconded the adoption of the following iShit from Matariki:—"That the Provincial Executive consider the advisability of procuring wool packs and binder twine, in bulk, for distribution amongst the various branches in the district should the latter decide to pool their orders." The motion-was lost on a show 01 hands being taken. Mr Gibbs moved, and Mr Turner seconded the adoption of another remit from the same branch as follows: That taking into consideration the increased amount of stock sold by auction - in the Nelson district, the auctioneering firms be asked to considerably reduce 'their commission for selling. ' Some members considered that the auctioneers' charges were exorbitant, and others suggested that a reduction might be made in January, February, -and March, or that tie reduction should "applv to the sales in the large centres; also that 3 per cent should be the commission suggested to the auctioneers. - The remit was adopted, and Messrs «3oodal, Gibbs. Field, Taylor, and. "Barker were appointed a Committee to 'interview the auctioneers. : ' The two following remits were combined : _ ~ . - s ' -That the Provincial Executive be asked to draw the attention of the Rail•wav Department to the numerous fires caused by passing trains, and to ask them to endeavour to remedy the griev knee " -(From Matariki branch). ?- "That the Minister of Railways be ■approached to see if something coul<* not be done to safeguard or compensate 'farmers for loss sustained by fires lighted by sparks, from railway engines. '■ "(From Waimea branch). * The adoption of the" remit was moved By Mr Gibbs, and seconded by Mr Tay- '- During the discussion which followed the Railway Department came m for i 60me criticism. Several members gav* instances of fires caused by sparks from the engines, and one member said that it was not safe for farmers to leave their homes in dry weather owing to the "danger of fires. It was stated chat it 'was the small engine on-the Nelson section that did the damage, and that it would Be an easy matter to fix a sparkcatcher to it. The remits were adopted. : Mr Taylor moved and Mr Cioodall 'seconded the adoption of the following Temii from the Waimea branch :—rhat an application be made to the Ranway -Department for a weighbridge at the Nelson -Station.—Carried. ••- Mr Field moved, and Mr Wells seconded, that* the following remit from the Dovedale branch be adopted:—that 'the Government be asked to provide in closely settled districts with Vbulls, to try and improve the breed of • Seattle, a« small farmers with a limited of cows cannot afford to lay out the necessary capital in procuring a iood class of bull. --.-. After some -discussion the remit -was "adopted. , • v Another remit from Dovedale was as follows:—That the Dominion Conference be to bring before the Government the injustice the consumer* of wheat are suffering through the retailers charging so much above the price paid to the producer. ; The President explained that, as secretary of the Waimea branch, he had finder instructions followed nn this mat- < ter. and was finally advised that the 'selling price was fixed not to exceed 15"per cent additional to purchase price "plus transport charges. •i The remit was withdrawn. _ - Mr Tavior moved, and Mr Cook seconded, the adoption of the following from the Waimea branch:— "That the Minister of Railways be ask;ed to divert the railway line at the - Anesbrook crossing to overhead, so as to prevent the danger to life and public property." ■>■■■■ After a long discusion the remit was v> adopted, and also the following from . : the same branch :—"That this conference appoint a delegate to confer with other representatives from the various j\ local bodies concerned, with a view-to before the authorities the ~ danger at Annesbrook railway cro.-s * ing." ', It'was further resolved that the in- ■ coming President he the delegate to represent the conference, the secretary - to write to the other local bodies interested, asking them to take the mat- ■ ter nn and appoint delgates to give ".effect*to the previous resolution: also /that Messrs Field and Hudson, M's.P., ?,be requested to. assist. The local bodies "named were the Nelson City Council. : "Waimea County Council.. Richmond and "~ Motueka Borough Councils. Stoke Road ;. Board, : Takaka County Council, and 'S: Nelson Chamber of. Commerce. The election of officers resulted *a.= follows: — President. Mr F. Whitwell. '][ .Vice-President, Mr O. L. Mead <3 '. nominations). Executive: Messr- C. P. Hugonin. F. ~'W. Gibbs, Walter Thorn. Taylor. GoodGeorge Dodson, J. G. Page, George Winter. E. W. Frost. H. J. Wells. A. "" N. Wilkinson. B. M. Field, H. T. Cook. ""' Treasurer, Mr W. D. Hark n ess. '"'. Auditor. Mr K. B. Goodall. X>elegates to Dominion Conference: : The Prp-ident and Mr B. iM. Field. (Mr Walter Thorn was aopointed to take the place of either delegate not able to go). The office of secretary i-* an anpoint- '"• ment that rests with the Executive. Y' A heartv vote of thanks was accord- ' ed the retiring President and the press, 'I and *he conference concluded its sitting *\ at 4.15.