FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15061, 2 August 1912, Page 9

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

FREIGHTS ON THE RAILWAY. MILITARY TRAINING FOR RURAL DISTRICTS. MORE IMMIGRANTS WANTED. [nr telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Inn Farmers' Union Conference was continued to-day. It was decided to ask tho executive to carefully watch any movement in the direction of the increase of protective duties, and to protest against any such increase, should it bo urged by interested parties, Tho following resolutions were ako carried :— ''That the Minister for Railways be requested to have extra railage on Australian hardwood removed, and that Ids attention he directed to the preferential rate on imported coal, and that preferential freights on the railways be abolished, all protection to be through the Customs." "That tho Minister for Railways' attention bo drawn to tho shortage of trucks raid covers for conveyance of grain and stock, and also the necessity for tho speedier transit of trains carrying live stock." "That at all flag stations where there is a tablet porter, a receipt should be. given and taken for all goods received and delivered, and that the railway should be responsible for such goods." "That this Conference strongly .protests against public works being constructed under the co-operative labour system, or day labour." "That, this Conference recognises the necessity for compulsory military training, and suggests that the training of young men employed in agricultural, pastoral, and dairying pursuits should he so arranged a3 to reduce the serious inconvenience and expense to employers and employees, by their frequent attendance at parades, and suggests that the annual period of continuous training in camp during tho. slack season should bo increased, whilst parades during the remainder of the year should bo reduced accordingly. " That service on a training ship should be substituted for imprisonment under the compulsory clauses of tho Act, conscientious objectors to bo given the, alternative of service under civil control." That, the union support the territorial system, as in its opinion the best way to | secure peace is to bo prepared to defend | tho Empire." I " That the Government be asked to give it 3 support to the Sedgwick immigration scheme, and also to institute a vigorous policy of assisted immigration for agricultural and domestic labour, as tho shortage of this class of labour is seriously handicapping the progress of the Dominion." "That this Conference expresses its desire to bring the farmers into closer touch with the labour unions of the Dominion, with the object of bringing about a better understanding between the various sections of the community." Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Government biologist, addressed tho Conference in regard to a remit for tho advocacy of a Pure Seeds Bill. It was decided that tho Conference should advocate and support a Pure Seeds Bill. Mr. D. C. Bates, Government meteorologist, addressed tho Conferenco in regard to weather forecasts. The Conference oxpressed its appreciation of tho increase made :"n the number of stations to which forecasts are supplied, and congratulated tho Government meteorologist, on his work.