FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19801, 28 May 1926, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

ANNUAL PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. A HEAVY ORDER PAPER. A glance at the agenda paper for the twenty-sixth annual conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union gives one the impression that no subject is too weighty and none too trivial for consideration by the farmers’ parliament. In addition to the ordinary routine business there is an order paper containing about 35 remits of varying importance which have been passed on to the conference by the executive or by branches. The revision of the New Zealand constitution will be discussed, but that is not likely to bo productive of any great discussion or valuable information. The control of meat and the Meat Board elections are matters which have come in for a good deal of attention at northern conferences, and local opinions should bo interesting. Then in this connection there is Otago’s own scheme for marketing meat which doubtless will be discussed by the conference before the scheme is put into action. A resolution urging the establishment of a better system of marketing meat at Home will also be dealt with.

The problem of lamb mortalitv will be brought up by Maniofoto with another remit urging compulsory sheep-dipping. The dehorning and branding of cattle are questions passed on by the executive, and are of some importance. Afforestation is a subiect which, if handled well, should produce some discussion and information invaluable to the farmer, but it is regrettable that its appearance on the order paper is due to the Governmnt having, in the opinion of the farmer, overstepped the mark. Sheepstealers are the subject of a Miller’s Flat remit, which asks for an increase in the penalty imposed. Other remits deal with grades of lamb, home economics extension, wheat commission, importation of oats, cheaper manures, noxious weeds, ragwort. postal conveniences, sheen and motor cars, the constitution of the Lands Board, hospital levies, election of executive, railage on imported timber and lime, daylight saving, land agents’ charges, scrub bulls, explosive prices, wool charges, stock-resting areas, harbour hoard elections, main highways, and land tax. Tt ran he seen that the remits covering all pha«es of farming and the marketing of produce, and farmers will find that a day snent at the conference will not be w.T=ted, The conference will be opened at 11 a.m. on Tuc'dav. and. if necessnrv, will be continued in the evening. A full attendance k necessary to the success of the meeting.