FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19001, 25 October 1923, Page 8

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. VESTEYS POSITION AT GISBORNE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 24. The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union met to-day, the president (Mr Poison) _ occupying the chair. The order paper is a large me, and manv important questions are set down for consideration. A conference with the officials of the Railway Department win InUp place to-morrow, at which no icwer than 23 alleged railway tarilT anomalies will be discussed. A conference with representative* of the Stock and Station Agents’ Association has also been arranged at which matters relating to the sale ot wool, stock, and produce will be considered. The suggested federation of the Dairy Farmers’ Union and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will come up for consideration, and also the question of the federation of producers. One of the most important subjects set down on the order paper is that with reference to the position of Vestoys at Gisborne, and protests received from several branches of the union against _ Vcsteys taking over the Poverty Bay Freezing bom panv’s works. Bearing on the snhiec_ a report from the Meat Producers Board will bo read. The executive has received a commun. cation from the Government stating upon the surve' of a block of land the Lands Department takes immediate steps for raisin" a loan lo carry out road works, and it is often difficult to resist the demand to open a survived block pnor to *nc actual commencement of road works. The money derived from the road work is, moreover, very often a boon to the pioneer settlers, ensuring some ready money while the sec tions arc unproductive. It is, however, the policy of the department to provide some measures of access immediately the cpr-.t'ons are taken up. The Land Valuation Department wrott, that so far as this department was eon turned tVre was no limit set bv the valuers er appraisers on the improvements which they might he valuing for aim purposes. If. 'owing to local conditions the cost, ot effecting improvements was high, full allow ancc would he given. _ , Afre” a long discussion on the proposed purchase hv Vestey’s. a resolution was orI “Th"* in the onmion of tins execu-ti’-e. in the e’-ent of Tester Bros, being allowed to a "quire the works of the Poverty Bav Meat Company. it b" « rVtmct departure from the policy laid down by tms organisation.”