THE FARMERS UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11782, 11 October 1901, Page 5

THE FARMERS UNION.

CONFERENCE AT ASH BURTON. [by telegraph.—press association.] Ashbukton, Thursday. The conference of the Farmers' Union was continued after lunch yesterday. A reply was received from the Premier re the Workers' Compensation Act. This was not considered an answer to the question sent by the union. The Chairman stated that the Crown Solicitor in Wellington had intimated that, unless specially excluded, farmers were included in the Act. A protest will be forwarded to the Government.

The millers' trust was strongly criticised, and the conference recommended an inquiry. A scheme for insuring employees agarose accidents is to be formulated.

It was resolved to ask the Government to amend the Arbitration Act so as to exempt the agricultural industry from its operation. A protest was made against increasing the honorarium of members of Parliament. In establishing a bureau for collecting information as to prices of produce, it was considered the Government should deal directly with the farmers in arranging contracts re produce.

The conference concluded in the evening, after recording appreciation of the coocessions so far granted by the Government, and hoping the Minister for Kailways would favourably consider further reason able requests from the union. Provincial officers were elected, and the headquarters fixed at- Christ-church.