NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2372, 31 May 1906, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

(Continued from page 5),

DELEGATES TO THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

The following delegates were elected to represent the Wellington Province at the annual colonial conference: —Messrs. Cooper, McLennan and Peat. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Richards, one of the retiring delegates, who liad done good work in connection with the Union.

Mr. Stubbs proposed that the appointment of auditors be left to the c oionial Executive. 'ine President seconded the motion, which was carried. GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. Morrison (Halcombs) moved and Mr. Foreman seconded: That the l nion formulate a commercial schenje towards the end of creating a “Producers' Union,” in the interests of the farming comunity. Mr. McKenzie moved as an amendment : That branches be recommended to keep a list of stock and produce fir sale. Mr. Smith seconded the amendment, and when possible to advertise, stock, etc., in the “Advocate." The amendment was carried. Mr. Falconer (Gladstone) moved and -dr. Manson (Mangatainoka) seconded: That the question of the disposal of stock, farm produce, etc., be discussed with a view to arranging for secretaries of branches being supplied with lists that any member has for sale.—Lost. Mr. Laws (Shannon) moved and Mr. Peat (Wanganui) seconded: That the conference bring pressure to bear upon the Government that hospital and charitable aid rates be made more equitable throughout the colony. After the matter had been discussed at considerable length the motion was carried. Captain Hewitt, delegate from the Palmerston North branch of the Union, moved: That public recognition. of our dependence on Almighty Cod tor successful results from our labours is essential to the success of a Farmers' Union.—ln moving the resolution Captain Hewitt gave a lengthy account of the benefits to be del ived from honouring Almighty God. Mr. Miller seconded the motion pro forma, but thought it altogether out of place to turn the meeting into a tht-ologica institution. There was time and place for matters of the kind. * Mr McKenzie supported the motion. • Mr. McGregor said he had much pleasure in supporting the resolution. The resolution was carried unanimously. The following remits were considered in committee: — Makomako: That the conference urge the directors of the Farmers Union Mutual Insurance to raise the limit' ot risks. >andoii: That the Mutual Insurance Compa ’ the North Island should combine and work from one centre. Both motions were adopted. Mr. Smith (Pahiatua) moved: That the River Protection and Drainage Act be so amended that where a flood causes a wash-out a landowner may have power to erect protection works in -aid wash-out, said works not to be higher than the bank which was washed away, without running the risk of a law action for doing so.- He pointe i out that settlers should be protected against their land being destroyed by floods through the actions of their neighbours. Mr. Falconer seconded the motion. Mr. Mills said that wire rope and willow- were good protection to properties abutting on river banks. Several suggestions were made as t •ie alteration of the motion, but .Mi Manson hoped that Mr. Smith would -tick to his motion. Mr. McFarlane supported the motion. md gave personal experiences a, t damage to hi- land at Konini through it being flooded, owing to the regular course of the river being inerfered with. Tii • President doubted if there was a River Protection Act. A man bad the right at common law to sue for iii . . d by I;.- land l.eu . fl ed by work- erected by a neighbouring settler. Eventually Mr. Kummer (Mauricevi lie) moved and Mr. Redpath (Nireabi) seconded the following amendment: That, the attention of the Government be drawn to the amount dluvial land that is washed away annually, and that better faeilitie- lie given to settlers bo protect their holdings On a show of bands the amendment in, lost by one vote. Mr. Smith moved: That the word ' l.i.' b - substituted for ‘ River Protection and Drainage Act, and the n: .f ion, a- amended, was carried.

Mr. Pierce (Feilding) moved. That the Government bo urged to take action to have their lands prevented from being washed away by rivers, and that where the opposite land belongs to freeholders not taking any action to prevent their lands from being washed away the Government compel them to do so. Mr. Smith (Pahiatua) seconded the motion. Mr. Mayo moved and Mr. McKenzie seconded, as an amendment: That all the words after “rivers” in the motion be deleted. Mr. Nivens said that the proper course to follow would be to form a river board. Mr. McFarlane said that settlers should help themselves in this matter, and seek assistance from the Government. The amendment was carried. Mr. Mayo (Feilding): That where tenants of Crown Lands under the Land for Settlement Act have lost land by rivers flooding rent be reduced. By permission the mover withdrew his motion, and the following motion was submitted: That the Minister for Lands be requested to carry out the recommendation contained in page 30 of the Land Commissions report that Crown tenants should have the area of land washed way by rivers • deducted from the area which is subject to rental, rates and taxes.” The six o’clock adjournment then took place. On resuming (Mr. Foreman (Gladstone) moved: Tiiat the sheep tax De abolished.—Carried. Mr. Foreman moved: That steps be taken to protect farmers against loss by sheep stealing. The mover asked that the motion be withdrawn, and that the following be substituted: That the Government be asked to put on a detective, who is expert in stock, to be at the disposal of farmers ?u tracing sheep and cattle that nave been stolen. Mr. Boustead (Alfredton) second'd the motion, which was carried by l'l to 15. Mr. Falconer moved: That the Minister for Agriculture introduce a Li • to compel all makers and vendors of sheep dips sold in the colony to supply the purchaser with an analyst - of same I* Mr. Peat seconded the mot ion co forma.—The motion was lust Captain Hewitt (Palmerston North; moved and Mr. Smith (Paiiiaiua) | seconded: That one or more ixperiJ mental farms he established on secj olid-class lands with a view lo lnfocriation being gained as to tin best methods ot improving same. Mr. Smith spoke in favour o! an experimental farm being estub.»sl;ec m the Busli districts, which was admirably suitable for the purpose. Mr. Falconer (Masterton) nuved as an amendment: That an experimental farm be established at MasCorion on secondlclass land. Mr. Moore (Makun) seconded li.e amendment. Mr. McLennan (Waituna Wist) urged that State farms be put ill poper order before further money i t.\penued oil experimental laims. Mr. Peat (Wanganui) said liiat be had gleaned a lot of valuable information from a visit to Momoliaai S; ate tarm. and referred to the excellent work done there. The amendment was event rally I-1 and the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Niven (Te Nui) .noveu. That the Union endeavour >o obtain the Government experts (bn stock, fruit trees, garden pests, etc.) ,o visit the different branches ot the 1 nion oil a general round. Mr. Redpath (Nireaha) seconded the motion. Mr. Moore said that Any might get Mr. Gilriitb. Government \ c.’.c--marian. to visit the vanois Uistri uMr. Kummer said that Mr Gil’n’h bad already promised to >a\ visits tr the various districts. 1 !■>' a sen-wicn as to Mr. Gilruth wa- un.w eesssry under the circumstance-. The motion was carried. The President said iliac ii ivqi.v-is were made to the Executive by ti embers, they would communita-e with Mr. Gil rut ii as to securing visittrom him to branch districts ot the Union. Mr. Nivens (Te Nui) moved: I lint the conference again bring mi .'it the Government the excessive charge made on private telephoiu Mr. H. Morrison iHiiaieama) seconded the motion, which wa- can id. Captain Hewitt (Palmerston North) moved: That the Government. Ie request!! 1 to obtain an expel t's npiiii.ui up n the limestone ui-p.-it- in the Gorge, with a view ot establishing a Government lime ki.u In reply to Mr. Manson (Maiigatainoka) Captain Hewitt said .be meant the Manawatii Gorge, not the Makuri Gorge.

Mr. Manson said that he would favour the motion if the words “suitable place” were substituted for the word “Gorge.” Mr. Kummer said he favoured the motion with the exception of the words “with a view of establishing a Government lime kiln.” The motion was accordingly amended, and carried. Mr. Moore (Waikanae) moved: That the Union take steps to start creasoting works for creasoting fencing posts for the farmers, the plant to be erected in a central position.— Lost on the voices. Mr. Beat (Wanganui) moved: That it be a recommendation for local bodies to collect dog tax, instead ot Maori Councils as at present. Mr. Laws (Shannon) seconded the motion The Maori and his kuri were here debated ac length, one speaker suggesting that the dog tax collector would have to go his rounds with a dog collar in one hand an da shot gun in the other. Mr. Smith (Pahiatua) spoke in favour of the local bodies being permitted to collect the dog tax. Mr. Redpath (Nireaha) moved: That motor ears and motor cycles should carry a number in a conspicuous place, which numbers should be registered in one or more large centres, anti that there should ue three different speeds winch they sliotild not exceeu (a) along country roads, (b) proceeding through townships, (c) going round corners. jrr. Morrison (Tlalcon.be) moved: That the functions of engines used in agricultural work he extended beyona the purpose ot chaff-cutting and threshing. Mr. McFarlane (Pahiatua) seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Moore (.Makun) moved, Me. .McKenzie (Rongotea) seconded, and it was resolved: That the travelling expenses of the members of the Executive should he paid when attending the Executive meeting. Mr. Smith (Pahiatua) moved: That one of the .’state bulls; or dairy shorthern bulls, be placed m the Pahiatua district, that being an important dairy district a-s well as central ioi the whole ol the Bush districts. Mr. Alexander v Makomako), seconded the motion. -Mr. Higgle (Wanganui) supplied Mr Smith with particulars as to Hie terms on which State hulls could be hired, and the latter withdrew ins motion. Mr. Jackson (Linton) moved: That tiie t nion formulate some scheme which dairy .farmers can receive lastructio in milk-testing, tor the purpose or improving their herds. Mr. Morrison (Halcombe) seconded the motion. The President said that a Taranaki man took his Babcock tester to a school, and gave the pupils instruction in milk-testing. The motion was lost. Mr. Jackson (Linton) moved: That all owners or occupiers of property with noxious weeds growing thereon be compelled to notity the inspector of same. Mr. .McGregor seconded the motion, which was lost on the voices. Mr. Kummer (Mauriceville) moved. That no branch send more than six remits to the conference. Mr. Mathieson (Eketahuna) seconded the motion. Motion lost. Mr. McCleavy (Levin) moved : That the State school books be uuitoini throughout the colony. Mr. Alexander (Makomako) seconded tho motion, which was carried on the voices. -Mr. McCurdy (Upper Hutt : That Rule 8 be amended to include the provincial vice-president as a member of the provincial conference, and that the colonial president and colonial vice-president be ex-officio members of all pioviucial conferences Carried Mr. Tansey (Dannevirke) moved: That all revenue derived from secondary endowments in each educau ''iii district should be distributed pro rata amongst the children receiving secondary education under competent, teachers. Lost by 20 to • >. The following remit was tabled from tiie Rongotea branch: That an effort should be made to induce members ot the Union to attend the meetings ot the provincial conference, and with (bit object tickets should be iss t si at a small charge, entitling members of the Union to attend lectures, social gatherings, etc., as .veil as being present as visitors at .ie con-

ference.—Mr. McKenzie (Rongotea) said that had ho known as much as lie knew then—that there would oe so many visitors to the conference, and that the delegates would have -lie i privilege of attending such a splendid function as they had last night at Pahiatua—he would not have brought forward the motion. He eventually withdrew it. The following remit was submitted by the Rongotea branch: That this branch recommends that a unifoim set of account books be issued to branch secretaries throughout the Union’s district.—The President explained that tho executive had this matter in hand, and the motion was accordingly withdrawn. On the motion of Mr. McCleary, seconded by Mr. McLennan, it was decided: That the next provincial con feren.ee be held at Levin. The President moved: That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to those gentlemen who had taken such an active interest in having the wants ot the delegates provided for. The deliberations that had taken place in that room had been listened to by several visitors, and the matters discussed would not fail to excite much interest throughout the district. Tiie delegates had not only received hu excellent welcome from the Pahiatua committee, but were treated right royally at the function held the previous evening. The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr. R. Smith said that his fellow workers and himself were amply repaid for their efforts by the hearty appreciation of same by the visitors. Mr. Cooper moved: That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Press, to the Minister of Lands and to the visiting members of Parliament tor their attendance at the conference.

Mr. McCurdy seconded the motion, and in doing so said that the delegates did not fully recognise the handsome way they were treated ny me Press. They should not only be thankful to the Press representatives for reporting their speeches but for leaving out certain things that might have been left unsaid. The reporters exercised great discretion ill reporting the utterances—so much so that some members might pass sleepless nights in wondering what the reporter had taken down and after scanning the paper would find that the utterance that had caused so much heartburning bad not been reported after all. He fancied he could hear a member exclaim on finding that the scribe bad “let him down lightly ’ : “Thank goodness, the reporter had more sense than 1 had. ’—(Laughter). The motion was carried unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded by acclamation to Mr. \\ llson -is president ol the conterence, tor the impartial manner in which he hail carried out his duties, and the pi >- ceedings terminated at 10.15 p.in.