TEE FARMERS UNION CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12317, 8 July 1903, Page 6

TEE FARMERS UNION CONFERENCE.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. ■ [BY TELEGRAPH.—I'KESS ASSOCIATION*.] ■ .■:■ Wellington, Tuesday. . Tub Fanners' Union Conference opened to-day. The president (Mr. J. G. Wilson), in his opening address, remarked that the s union, which ; had at the first been greeted with hostile criticism, was now thought by many of its critics : to be capable of doing some good-for the, country. The Provincial Councils had been;productive *of much ! good. He strongly ; urged on; the farmers : the value • of special training in agricultural and veterinary .matters, and said that the want of a proper- experimental 'station was : strongly felt, particularly in ! the dairy: industry. He also advocated the development of such phases of farm life as fruit-growing and bee-keeping, from which a large; revenue could be easily obtained. : The union was shown to be full of life and , activity throughout the colony, and the outlook, ho considered, still exceedingly promising for agriculturists and pastoralists. Mr. Wilson was re-elected president, and Mr. G.W. Leadley, of Ashburton, was re-elected vice-president. Mr. McQueen (Southland) moved, " That the branches of the Farmers' Union throughout New Zealand should urge their . several representatives hi Parliament to oppose any fresh legislation that may be introduced making it compulsory that unionists should have preference of employment in Arbitration Court 1 awards." i. Auckland, Wellington, North and South Canterbury, and Otago Councils also forwarded similar resolutions. Mr. Birch (Wellington) moved as an addition, to the motion, "That in order to carry out the desire as expressed by the various branches and this council on the question of compulsory employment of unionists, a deputation, consisting of the president and members of the council, wait upon the Premier to represent our views on the subject." The motion was carried, with the addition. Mr. Bucklahd moved a proposition from Otago, Taranaki, , and South Canterbury, "That the union protests against the suggested proposals that the Parliamentary roll be the basis of local bodies' elections. The motion was carried. Mr. T. W P. Smith moved a remit from Auckland, " That the House . of Representatives bo asked to -have a 'searching : : inquiry made into the alleged expenditure of special grants from April 1, 1901, to March 31, 1302, as shown by the Public Works Estimates of 1902." .After ' discussionV the motion was withdrawn, by consent, as being covered by a plank of the union's platform. V Mr. Morgan moved a remit from. Auckland, ■•'"That, in the opinion of this conference, an Act should be passed giving local bodies increased rating powers, and providing for graduated subsidy for the same." After discussion, the motion was amended and passed as follows: —"That in the event of the Government bringing in a Local Authorities Bill this session, it should provide that subsidies should be distributed on a sliding ■■:> tit-ale, giving those bodies which strike the highest rates a larger subsidy, and those striking lower rates a smaller subsidy.":.' ■ , Mr. Phillips moved a remit from Auckland regarding the expenditure of grants for.road. works. The resolution of last year on the subject was eventually reaffirmed as follows; — " That> the Government be requested to give, authority for grants for roads, bridges, etc., to be expended within one month after, the' Estimates have passed the House of Representatives." Mr. Rutherford moved a remit from Auckland and South Canterbury regarding faulty railway weights. A resolution was carried as follows '.'That in view of .the,- great benefit to farmers which will result from the issue of a certificate of guaranteed weight of farm produce carried by the railway, a deputation wait upon the Minister for Railways, respectfully asking that inquiry be made as to the possibility of the Department issuing certificates guaranteeing the weight of produce and the approximate cost of such certificate." The president read a letter from the Minister for Railways, in which it was stated the Department bad under consideration the matter of further increasing the number of sheep trucks on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section, and anticipated that a large number of trucks would be ready for next season's business. [JSY TKLEGKAVU.—SI'KCIAIi PON dent.] Wellington, Tuesday. The Auckland delegates at the Farmers' Union Conference are Messrs. J. G. Rutherford (Pukekohe), T. W. P. Smith (Kaitaia), E. Morgan (Papakura Valley), and L. R. Phillips (Woodbill).