N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 20

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

CHRISTCHUROH, May 25. Th© North Canterbury Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union opened today. The retiring president (Mr J. O'Jtlalloran) in hia opening remarks said the cereal market did not look very bright, but there was a very good prospect in view for those wibo went in for breeding fafc lambs. Th-e colony had he^n Umdcmbtedly prosperous during the year. He moved, and ie was unanimously agreed, to send a telegram to the Premier congratulating him on the state of the colony, and also^eta the improvement, of his health. Mr J. A. Pannett (Grlfen Park) was elected president, and Mr D. Jones (Templeton) vioepresident. The balance sheet showed * credit of £32 9s. It was decided to refer to the Colonial Conference a remit objecting to the increase by the Public Trust Office of accident insurance premiums with regard to properties over which the office held mortgages. The Government is to be recommended to prohibit the importation of bones in order to prevent the spread of anthrax. A remit declaring that 24 per

cemt-fihould cover all charges except railage and ißsxtranoe on the sale of wool by auction was discussed at some length. Mr, O'HaMoran said the Canterbury commissfimts 'were higher -than those charged by the ■Wbolbrokers' Association -of Australia, and is ■ was time they were reduced. - Mr D. Jenes said, ifaat the present commission amounted on a ulip of ioxu million bales to £•150,000, which the auctioneers gafcher-ed in. for simply handling'- the wool. That was altogether excessive; and the auctioneers' trust was going to be a big menace to New Zealand. He advocated that farmers should establish a" corn exchange in this city, and do away with the present -system, whereby " farmers were cutting their own ihroats. Mr W.. T. J>iH tibought the Chamber oi Commerce should be .asked to take up the ques? tkm xrf reonwnissaons- -It was decided to re&er *he matter to th© North Canterbury Executive, -with power to act. It was decided that sound-mouthed sheep should indicate iSn&b the sheep is ipur years old, and has "bright, clear, full-sized teeth. Sheep full-mouthed shall mean -five years old or over, -with level mouth. It was also agreed that- the Government he asked to give uranohes of the UTarmers' Union tihe> same facilities with regard to excursion rates on the railways as are granted friendly societies and traces -unions. Tt was decided that sellers -of produce -be supplied by tifoe Railway T)epartment with a duplicate of their weights of grain. May 26. At the Farmers' TTnion Conference A resolution was passed on the .casting vote -of the —"3?iat the Leader .of the Opposition should Ibe granted a -salary equal to -that of members of the Cabinet." The mover claimed ±hat -the 3jest_ measured had T>een -placed -on -the Ssfctttute Book when tb.e_Opposition' was strbngiest. - The resolution' was "not meant to apply to Mr Massey "only, but to' stand for all time. tßesolutions were also carried —"^hat fhe- executive "be masked to -consider whether branch'K "be neconimended to establish a "labour bureau and act as a medium for employment." " That all* school books .be made ■uniform, printed by the State, and sold at _oost price." J. O'Halloran and D. Jones were appointed delegates to -the Colonial Conference. Tie conference-con-cluded this afternoon.