FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 14

FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE.

REMITS ADOPTED. PALMERSTON NORTH, May 22. A conference of Farmers' Union delegates from Wellington. Wanganui. Wairarapa, and Manawatu provincial districts was opened io-dav, Mr K. M. Dalrymple, Wellington provincial president, presiding. Among the remits was one suggesting a change of name to the Primary Producers’ Association, another to the Farmers’ and Producers Association. Both remits were rejected by a large majority. Owing to the illness of Mr Claud Smith, president of the Wanganui provincial district. there was no presidential address. A motion of sympathy with Mr Smith was carried. A remit was passed strongly objecting to tlie increased telephone bureau charges to country settlers. 1 he following remits were also passed: i hat the Government be asked to revise the incidence of taxation, especially the income tax levied on local body debentures. That vacant, farms under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act are causing a serious loss to industrious farmer neighbours, and the whole community, and the Minister bo i

asked to arrest the loss by offering the vacant farms for occupation. Discussion took place on the proposed Dairy Producers’ Board and the Dairy Produce Control Bill. The debate centred round a Greytown remit: That the conference favours the Dairy Produce Control Bill being made law as early as possible during the coming session. The remit was approved by a large majority. At the afternoon session the following matters were dealt with: That the Government be requested to make a reduction in grading fees for butter and cheese. Jn response to a question the Chairman said the present rate was a penny for butter and l-40d for cheese. He remarked that there was a possibility of the charge being raised instead of being decreased owing to the closer grading necessitated by the prevalence of excess water in butter. A delegate remarked that someone had been sent Home to investigate the trouble. The remit was carried. I hat the Government be asked to district its Dairy Division experts to devise a scheme for the elimination of lhe "scrub’’ bull, such scheme to embody a herd-testing association and compulsory registration, the scheme to be submitted to the Farmers’ 1 nion. Mr Winter (Wanganui) said the “scrub” bull was a very vexed question. When a man started dairying he could seldom afford to get anything better. In Tasmania they had a law to eliminate the “scrub” bull, and bo suggested that, particulars of the measure should be procured. Pie drew attention to the fact that the average production in New Zealand was very low, only 1681 b of butter-fat per cow.

Mr E Parsons (Waitotara), in seconding the remit, suggested that individual companies, or groups of farmers, could get their own purebred sires and breed their own bulls from them. The remit was carried. The Carterton branch submitted a remit that the Government be requested to erect dips on boundaries of tick-infected areas, so that stock could be dipped before being allowed to travel into clean areas, also that horses and other stock going to tick-infested areas should be examined to see that they are free from tick before being brought back to clean areas. After a brief discussion the remit was carried. Iliac the Woolbrckers’ Asoeiation be requested to sell lots of wool in the order in which they come into the store; that the star lots that came into store in time for each sale be grouped, and sold at that sale, and not held over as was done last season. Mr Kebbell (Alfredton), who moved the remit, said that it looked as if brokers suited themselves as to whose wool was sold first. Xfio remit was carried. That as the price of manufactured woollen goods and knitting wool has been abnormally high in proportion to the cost of the raw wool, and has been increased again recently, the Government be requested to make a reduction in the duty levied on manufactured woollen goods and knitting wool. Ml- G. Hughes (Bketahuna) moved the remit and traversed the changes in the duties on woollen goods. lie drew attention to the disparity between the retail price of goods and the price of raw wool, instancing knitting wool at 12s per lb. Goods were 100 per cent, higher than prewar prices, while that of the raw material was lower. The remit was carried. Officers for the four provincial districts were elected as follows: Manawatu. —President, Mr D. W. Lynch ; vice-president, Mr J. A. M’l.eavey; treasurer, Mr J. Balsillie; Executive Com-mittee—-Messrs J. Gloyn, L. H. Atkins, H. Scbrieter, B. G. Gower, A. M'l.eavey, H. Bond, E. G. Beard. F. W. Hubbard, W. Smith, and W. If. Becher. Wanganui.—President, Mr E. Parsons: vice-presidents, Messrs Claud Smith and Allan Robinson; treasurer, Mr T. Currie; secretary, Mr D. Strachan ; delegate to dominion conference, Mr Allan Robinson ; executive —Messrs J. Craig, F. Blennerhas'sett, Gregor M'Gregor, F. Mitchell, jun., I). M'Gregor, J. Farley, H. Birch, J. Allison, J. Reid, jun., T. Alexander, J. R. Franklyn, R. Somei-ville, and A. Howie. Wellington.—President, Mr W. Dalrymple; vice-presidents, Messrs A. Campbell and Hammond; treasurer, Mr G. L. Marshall; executive—Messrs W. Guthrie, W. D. Carson, L. Weston, D. Gordon, 11. O’Callaghan, A. Kicid, W. \I 'Kay. O. M‘Elroy, 11. I)alziel, D. M'l.ean, and A. Stuart ; delegates to conference, Messrs A. Campbell and W. D. Carson. Wairarapa.- President. Mr W. B. Matheson; vice-president, Mr W. terns; treasurer, Mr K .K. Jackson; executive —Messrs A. Ross, H. A. Bunny, H. T. Tilyard, E. E. O’NdSl A. Hughan, J. Petersen. S. Bolton, H. N. Kebbell. IT. H. S. Ryder, J. D. Ramsden, and H. Nevins; delegates to conference, Messrs T. R. Barrel- and W. lorns. May 24. The Dairy Farmers’ Union received a report from the special committee set up to consider questions relating to the constitution. The committee recommended that the name of the union be the Dominion Dairy Farmers’ Union. Incorporated; that members of the union consist: of all dulv incorporated dairy farmers’ unions in New Zealand; that each provincial union be entitled to elect, one member to the Dominion Conference for every hundred members: that each provincial union contribute towards the funds of the Dominion Union Is for each member showing on the books at March 31 last year. Considerable discussion arose over the last clause, it being eventually decided that the subscription be 2s 6d. The committee’s report was adopted. The conference approved the following resolution, moved by Mr P. J. Small (Kai-

ranga) : of dairy farmers, threatened by the lifting of the moratorium, the Government be urged to appoint a Royal Commission of three practical dairy farmers and one Government representative to initiate inquiries in various districts.” A remit, submitted by Auckland province, for the encouragement of the principle of voluntary reduction of mortgages in preparation for the lifting of the moratorium, was lost. The Dominion Conference of the Dairy Farmers’ I nion concluded this morning. Hie soldier settlement question was discussed, and the following resolutions were carried: 1. Owing to the anxiety experienced by the returned soldier settlers, this conference requests the Government, to bring the report of the Valuation Commission before the public at the earliest moment and that the attention of the Minister of Lands bo drawn to the delay in the publication of the report. 2. At the request: of the returned soldiers the Dairy Farmers’ Union recommends the executive to act as mediator in regard to the revaluation of rent and interest charges between the Government and the soldier settlers, and that the Parliamentary -Committee take up the matter at. once. 3. That this question take precedence of any other. 4. That this conference reoucst the Government: to give some concession to each soldier settlement on a flat basis without inteifering with the Government policy of treating each case on its merits. A discussion on the ouestion of fertilisers resulted in the following resolution being carried: —“That this conference urge the Minister of Railways substantially to reduce the freight on manures to farmers to enable them to use more manure, and so increase production, the whole question t-o be dealt with by the executive.” It was also resolved that, considering the rapid development of the dairying industry in the dominion, this conference urges the Government to appoint a Minister of Dairying as promised by the Prime Minister in March. 1921. A SERIES OF REMITS. PALMERSTON NORTH, May 24. The Farmers’ Union Conference was continued, when reports of the Fire Insurance Association and the annual meeting of the association were considered in committee. The report of the former showed an increase in the net premium income of £SO 19s-3d. New business totalled £112,277. The following remits wore adopted : —• That the farmers’ unions be urged to promote the bacon industry, and, if necessary, seek the co-operation of the Meat Producers’ Board. A committee was appointed to draw up suggestions for a co-operative marketing scheme, and prepare recommendations for the conference. That steps be taken to secure a reduction in auctioneers’ commissions on stock sales, and that auctioneers be requested to announce the names of vendor and purchaser at stock sales in public yards. Further, that auctioneers be required by law to give the name of the owner when they are offering a line of stock; also the name of the last previous bidder on demand; and also that auctioneers and agents be made responsible for payments of sale in yards and paddocks. Other remits protested against the rapid selling of wool at sales, a committee being set up to interview the brokers and buyers; that the Woolbrokers’ Association be requested to reduce the charges for handling wool, and stock and station agents be requested to give a further rebate on wool charges for receiving and weighing; and that wool be sold on its net weight.