THE FARMERS' UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12547, 14 April 1904, Page 6

THE FARMERS' UNION.

THE AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. A CoxitknC of the various branches of the Farmers' Union in the Auckland! province will be held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms, Swan son-street, on Thursday next. The following notices of motion have been received: —

By Auckland Executive: That immediate steps bo taken to form » mutual fire insurance society fn the Auckland province. That the Minister for Public Works be requested to authorise the expenditure of the grant voted by Parliament lor the formation of the road to the 0»K«i cuttle lauding a; an early date. By Clcvedon branch: Thai- the conference affirm* that first-grade non-factory butter it quoted below its value in market report?, and ri commends the Executive Committee to obtain data from ail branches in the province as early as possible as to the quantity of milling butter produced, with a view to the ultimate object of willing and grading on co-operative or company Use* by member* of the union making such butter'. That the union strongly urge the teaching or agricultural science as a chief subject In country schools. That a provincial travelling officer should be employed to keep branches more tally in touch %vi' one another. By Whaucaraia 'branch: That it is imperative that the interests of the farming community should be- advanced by the formulation of a scheme whereby members of the Farmers' Union can obtain some concessions in purchasing requisites from merchants. By Waikato Farmers' Club: That it is desirable that a Bill to amend the .Slaughtering Act should be introduced, so that animals slaughtered at any registered abattoir may be sold in the local market. By Jtauku branch: That steps be taken by the .Fanners' Union to endeavour to obtain such an alteration of the Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896, as will provide that one of the two assessors sitting with the stipendiary magistrate to hear objections to valuation# be appointed by the landowners.

L'y I'oVeuo branch: Th.it the executive take into consideration the system of cbsrging for chaff sacks. That the Farmers' Union »c a whole should urge the railway authorities to cittssiiy the rates for goods ou a mors simple basil. By Hamilton branch: That it is desirable that the whole of the Auckland Farmers' Union branches should farther, by every means in their power, the promotion of an Auckland former*' freezing company. That the Government be askeu to establish an agricultural institute in "he Auckland province. By Kuitaia branch: That preference on British goods should be in the form of a reduction of duties, and that the colonial executive be asked to use every means in their power to have duties amended accordingly. That the Government, be asked to take .over arid metal the main North road from Auckland to Awanui. That the Government be asked to cause an inquiry to be made in;o the present working of the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and the system of taking money from ordinary rates and country revenue. That the Colonial Conference be asked to urge upon the Go▼ernrnent the necessity for making a considerable reduction in legislative expenses. By Te Pttlcc branch: That the native hinds within each county should carry the same rates as European. That a more rigid enforcement of the Noxious Weeds Act of 1!>U0 be carried out, and to include Crown and native land*.

By Mangere branch: That the executive be requested to endeavour to make the organisation a mesn3 of collecting information on the state of the crops in different districts, the quantity of agricultural produce on the market, and all available information as to the probable prices they might be expected to realise.

At the request of Clevedon settlers a circular has been sent to over 90 branches in the province intimating that the Clevedon delegates would submit a resolution at the conference recommending the union to consider the advisability of erecting a buttermilling plant in Auckland to deal with farmers' butter, and asking the branches to forward information as to whether such a proposal would meet with their support, and if so, to give an approximate estimate of the number of settlers who might bo expected to support such a movement if the proposal of the Clevedon branch be given effect to.