FARMERS' UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 13

FARMERS' UNION

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. A meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Otago Provincial Council, was held on Friday, Mr James Begg (president) in the chair. .*.... A. letter was received lrom the Minister of Agriculture in reply to the union's resolution that the Government should take over the whole of New Zealand hides at present export value. The Minister stated that arrangements were being made by the Government to purchase the hides available at prices which had already been published. . The Minister of Defence wrote regarding the prosecution for failing to destroy Canadian thistles and rabbts, advising that the matter had been submitted to tho Minister ot Agriculture. With reference to the suggestion made by the union that local committees of farmers should ass.st military boards, the Minister ot Defence wrote that he thoroughly approved of the proposal, and suggested that the president and secretary discuss the matter with the O.C. for 7 Otago district. The president reported that he and the secretary had carried out the suggestion, and committees were formed accordingly. The following branches have arranged committees to act in this connection: —Kaitangata, Tapanui, Balclutha, Clydcvale, Hampden, Middlemarch, Moa Flat, Clinton, Lawrence, Crookston, Lauder. A letter was received from Dunback, stating that no action was being taken in the matter of local comm'ttees for assistance to Military Boards, as they fear that local bias might be introduced. The Clinton Branch forwarded a resolution protest'ng against military camps being held during the war. Resolutions were also received requesting that railway men be put on the same footing as other employees under the Military Service Acts. —It was decided to inform the branch that these men are now under tho Act the same as other employees.

The Cl : nton Branch passed a resolution supporting the Provincial Council in having tho Noxious Weeds and Rabbit Acts held in -ibeyance during the war. The Clydevale Branch wrote protesting against ploughmen being taken for military service; proposing that the Government should assist farmers to build cottages for married men; and that in the event of farmers drawn in the ballot being unable to sell, the State should take over the farms, for returned troopers, the prices to bo fixed by arbitration.