FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 2

FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

UNION CONFERENCE. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSIONS. The Dominion Conference of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union concluded its sittings yesterday. Mr G. W. 1/eadley (vioo-prosidont) presided. . On the motion of Mr H. A. Novum (Wellington) it was decided that the conference convey its congratulations to the Hon. T. Mackenzie on his appointment to the office of High Commissioner. POSTAL MATTERS. It was decided ‘That this conference, while appreciating the postal facilities given to the farming community in the matter of rural delivery, hopes the delivery will be extended as far as possible." .. , . Mr H. A. Nevins (Wellington) moved—- " That the price of private bags be reduced when delivered only twice a weak. —Carried. Mr D. M. Philip (Otago) moved—" That this conference deprecates the custom now coming into operation of closing country post offices for one day, or part of a day, in the week, as being an unjust curtailment of the business hours of the people in the districts where this custom is m force." Thie was defeated, many delegates holding that the facilities at present existing should not be disturbed, as something less convenient might result. TEACHERS' SALARIES. Mr T. W. Poster (Southland) moved—- " That a deputation wait on the Minister of Education requesting him to raise the salary of sole teacher in grade 1 schools to a minimum of Sl5O per annum." After some discussion the motion was lost. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Major Lusk (Auckland) moved—" That this conference considers that the time has come when the present party system should be supereeded by some form of government by elective' executive, aa being a form of government calculated to more truly carry into effect the views of the electors, and tending to eliminate from tho politics of this Dominion the many evils which have grown up around the party system." There was a great difference of opinion expressed on the remit, which, after a lengthy discussion, was carried by thirteen votes to nine. DISTINCTIVE LEGISLATION. Major Lusk also moved, on behalf of Auckland—" That the time has arrived when all distinctive legislation for tho Maori race be repealed, and that the Maoris bo placed on the same footing as their white fellow citizens, having the same privileges and also responsibilities." This was carried by twelve votes to ton. PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. Mr S. Chambers (Hawke’s Bay) moved —That the union urge an_ economic and just expenditure of public funds, that the vicious system of expending _ large sums of publio money in the erection of oostly publio buildings in (the large towns be discontinued, and that more attention be given to the requirements of the back blocks in the way of roads, bridges, and railways. This was carried. ASSISTANCE FOR FENCING.

Mr M. Greensell (Pelorus Sound) moved —That the conference represent to the Government .the desirability of granting financial assistance in the form of fencing material to Crown tenants having badly infested fern country; such assistance to bo approved by the land board and not to exceed £SO. This was carried. SEED GROWING.

Mr Ewan Campbell moved, on behalf of Wellington—" That a seed growing association be formed under the New Zealand Farmers' Union." The object of the proposed association, it was explained. would be to prevent the placing of inferior seeds on the market. The remit was carried, with a proviso that it be referred to the provincial associations. PACKING OF MANURES. Mr D. M. Philip (Otago) moved—That the union draw attention to the unsatisfactory proposition of manures packed in paper-lined bags, as it would not _be in the interests of the workers or importers, as the same would not meet the trouble complained of, and recommend that forty-four inch corn sacks bo used. An addition was made that tho bags contain 1401 b, and be made with four lugs, one at each corner, for convenience of tho waterside workers. Hooks should not be used in handling. Mr J. McQueen (Southland) thought the union should offer a reward for the best device of hook for handling bags without tearing them. It was the careless, reckless, use of hooks that caused the bags to tear. Several speakers advocated making the weight of the bags U3lb. The motion was agreed to, with the substitution of 1121 b for 1401 b. LOCAL MATTERS.

Mr A. Mac Kay (Marlborough) moved: "That local bodies should not bo amalgamated unless by petition of the ratepayers of any two or more districts conCOl uo.i. ” This was carried.

Mr 8. Chambeia (Hawke’s Bay) moved : "That local bodies be asked to hold their dog tax collectors responsible for the destroying of all dogs they are unable to register." Unregistered dogs, he said, often went sheep-worrying, and this sort of thing should be stopped, Mr J. McQueen (Southland! inquired who was going to indemnify the tax collector if he went round indiscriminately shooting dogs. The motion was lost.

It was decided, on the motion of Wellington : "That this conference protests against the dual control which permits the Maori Council to issue dog licenses, and asks the Government to pass legislation making the county councils the sole authority in that direction." EXPERIMENT STATIONS. The following North Canterbury remit was carried i "That tho Minister of Agriculture be requested to establish experiment stations in suitable localities." Major Lusk (Auckland) moved: "That the Government be asked to arrange that all male students attending teachers’ training colleges shall have six months' education on a Government farm.” The mover said teachers were expected to teach these subjects, while knowing nothing of them. The motion was lost. DROVERS' LICENSES.

Mr H. A. Nevins (Wellington) moved that night licenses for drovers be issued in duplicate, and one copy be forwarded to the district police: and that the attention of the authorities be called to the fact that stock were being driven at night without a license. The motion was carried. DAGGINQ OF SHEEP,

On the motion of Mr S. Chambers (Hawke's Bay) it was decided: “That this conference urges on the sheen farmers of the Dominion the necessity for seeing that their sheep are properly dogged before sending them to the freezing works." MACHINERY INSPECTION. Mr W. LUI (North Canterbury) moved : “That the Government should be urged to exempt, from inspection all oil engines in use on farms, for tho inspection of same, and fee charged is unwarranted. seeing that there is less danger in connection with , the working of these machines than with many other

implements used on the farm during the ye-r." Tbit, iCSi carried. HORSE THIEV/ j.

Mr D. M. Philip (Otago) moved: "That the union request that the law relating to hors© thieving bo altered, os at present no theft is committed until a horse is offered for sale, and tho only satisfaction the owner can nave is by a civil action on account oi any monetary loss he has suffered. Ihe mover said a horse could be taken away, ridden, and left on the road, and the owner could do nothing, AFFORESTATION.

It vrae decided: "That this conference congratulates the Government on the good work it is doing in connection w'ith afforestation, and urgfs it to push forward the work more vigorously. LOSS OCCASIONED.

Captain Colbeck (Auckland) moved : “That owing to the loss occasioned by quail, more especially to bush settlers, by the destruction of seed and the spreading of noxious weed seeds, the Minister of Internal Affairs be approached with a view of quail being excluded from tho Game Preservation Act in districts where a majority of settlers express the desire through their local bodies."

This was carried. The following Auckland remit was also carried i "That it be a recommendation to the Government to remove the protection from the opossum*. It was stated during discussion that the Act was practically ignored, and opossum skins were going into the market in thousands. INSULATED STORES, The following North Canterbury remit was carried: "That large insulated stores are of most urgent necessity at the Loudon docks, as receiving stores to expedite delivery and to safeguard the conditions of frozen produce, and that the High Commissioner for New Zealand be asked to further this great necessity, and to report fully. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

Mr T. W. Foster (Southland) moved-: "That this conference recommends that mortgagees' security on land shall not be liable for claims under the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act. This was carried. SOCIALISM AND SINGLE TAX.

Mr J. E. Lane (Hawke's Bay) moved—- " That the union do all in its power to defeat the ends of the extreme Socialist mover said tho tendency w-as to take away from those who had. led provident live© tho reward of their IndusS. Chambers thought it was time the farmers took a stand. The motion was carried. Mr W. J. Biroh (Wellington) moved—- “ That tho union take stops to organise a strong opposition to the single fax proposals now being urged throughout the country.” The mover said that latterly single tax people had be©n sending round a lecturer impressing on the population that it would be a blessing to the whole pqople, including tho farmers. The motion was carried. RIGHT OF APPEAL.

It was decided—“ That any amendment repealing section 19 of the Workere' Compensation Act, thereby abolishing the right of appeal to the Supreme Court, be strenuously opposed."

OTHER REMITS. The following Auckland remit was carried :—“That land agents be legalised and' licensed, the same aa auctioneers are licensed.’ Mr M. Greensell (Pelorus Sound) moved—" That many of the launch regulations, relating to private launches not plying for hire, are unnecessarily restrictive, and are particularly a hardship to - Sounds settlers, whose launches are their only means of locomotion, and that tho Government be asked to amend same." This was carried.

It was decided, on the motion of South Canterbury, that the amount of landing money which had to be produced when emigrants anply for reduced fares was a bar to immigration. Mr Matheeon moved that where n county council declares a weed a noxious weed, the declaration shall apply to all boroughs within the county boundary.— Carried. Gn tho motion of Mr B. Campbell it was decided that the conference recommend that extra improvements of land be substituted for the residence clause in the Land Act.