FARMERS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 88, 20 May 1914, Page 10

FARMERS' UNION.

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. REMITS TO BE . " The following are the remits to be considered at the Provincial Conference of the New. Zealand Farmers' Union (North Canterbury District), to be held in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's rooms on Thursday and Friday, May 28 and 29:—, AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. ' Loburu: "To ascertain from the Agricultural Department -what lecturers will be available io give lectures during the winter." ' . •. ARBITRATION jpOUBT. Loburii: '' That the Government be requested to the. la w, so that the third party affeeted by an Arbitration Court dispute shall have legal right to being heard." ■ AUSTRALIAN WORKERS' UNION. Waikari: "That the conference should consider the effect of the Australian Workers' Union's influence .in New Zealand, and the results of the New Zealand Unions amalgamating with that body on the agricultural and pastoral industry in this country. " CARRIAGE OF STOCK. Waikari: "That the Railway Department should allow farmers who wish to send stock from one station to another station to combine and make up a truck lbad. Such stock to be charged at truck rates, and to be consigned by one consignor to one consignee." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU. Ashburton: " That the conference be asked to consider the necessity of instituting a Commercial Intelligence Bureau for collecting and distributing reliable information to members of the union regarding prices of our staple products." • DEPOSITS OF LIMESTONE.

Waiau: "The Waiau branch considers that much benefit might be derived by the farmers of this district if the local deposits of limestone could be made available at reasonable cost for their use. The branch requests the conference to endeavour to obtain from the Government assistance in any way that may be deemed advisable. They would suggest, however, that as the Government now carries lime free of charge on the railways for 100 miles, possibly the Government might be induced to allow their agricultural chemist to inspect and report upon the limestone deposits in . this district &s to being suitable for. agricultural purposes, and, if found to bo suitably.-to erect crushing plant and. then sell the crushed limestone to the

- farmers -atVcpfvtr price,' as it ,-is Under- ' stood that crushedlimestone- is con- - sidercd to be as useful for agricultural' J purposes as burnt limestone/' J DOCTOR'S SUBSIDY. 1 Waiau: " That ih sparsely, populated . country districts where It is found ner cessary to subsidise a doctor in order to I get him to reside there, the amount of the subsidy required should be refunded . to the local authority by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. As an alternative where such districts are over 50 miles from a public hospital, legislation should be enacted .whereby they may withdraw their contribution to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and make » their own arrangements, should a ma jo#- ' ity of the ratepayers favour such a [ course being taken." ' FARM LABOURERS' HOMES. Loburn: ''That it be a recommendation from this branch to local bodies .'to favourably consider the application of workers for farm labourers' homes." FLAG STATIONS. Loburn: "That a porter be put in charge of flag stations during the grain season.',' _ Scargill: ""That it be a recommendation to the conference to bring before the notice of the General Manager of Railways the necessity of having a list of consignees posted at all flag stations, when a truck containing miscellaneous goods is left." ~ . . GRAIN" sacks: , Harcwood: " Tliat the provincial ; executive urge upon merchants the necessity for supplying farmers with, sacks \- made of better material, of better workmanship, and of ; uniform size." J Springston : " That this branch is. in . favour of the linion importing sacks of a standard, size, suitable .for all' farming purposes." y LABOUR EXCHANGE. / , Waiau: fThis branch considers that much benefit might be, derived; by tlie farmers if the Farmers' Union could be induced to open up branches of "their labour exchange in country townships."' ■■■- LABOUR DISPUTES. Rangiora: "That the Government'be requested to. enquire - into .'the expediency of appointing a representative versed in economic questions to act on behalf of the general public in all labour disputes, and to add the public : as a third party in all such cases." LAND FOR FARM LABOURERS. . -Harewood: '' That the Government be urged to put aside one or more'section* in each block of; land subdivided - for ballot by' > qualified farm labourors onlv: ". • - * ■ , , : , . • LAND FOR . WORKERS. y Harewood: ''That.the Government:bo urged to provide more sniall sections in - country districts, to- furnish - mora • workers-with a means of .livingy and' : thus, '.relieve "the congestion in ,v town provide moVe workers in tha - • country lessen the number, of* ■unemployed, and add the, develop- • nient -of -the - country.". " MORTGAGEES INDEMNITY INAshburton": ''That where an employer has insurqd his .employees in any reputable accident? office in the joint names of mortgagor and mortgagee, subjections 4 and 5, section 41 of' the Workers' Compensation' 'for - Accidents * Act, 1908, should not apply." v; • • . POOLING FROZEN SHEEP. Oxford: "That it-be a tion from.-the' Oxford- branch v .the North Canterbury 'Provincial Executive too - discuss the advisabijity of pooling frozen sheep and lambs for export, with" - a view'to encouraging the farmera to 'pool' their ( meat." - ■. "RATES ON IMPORTED COAL AND • TIMBER. '• t Scargill: t "That: >wi,th -a*'vrewto r : se- - curing the abolition of -the differential rates on imported coal and timber charged on our railways, the executive • be recommended to endeavour, by cir- ■...., cular or Otherwise 1 , to enlist the co- . operation of, all parties, whether members of Parliament, public bodies, or private persons; who may be-' interested in making a strong representation to the - Government on: the subject. " . . Waikari: ',' That the conference again be urged to approach the Railway Department witji a view to having the .extra rate ort. imported ■ coal and timber abolished.'' RULE OF THE ROAD. , Skargill: /'That the conference 1 consider the advisability of . endeavouring to secure the teaching of the rule of the . .road in elementary schools." v ' STAR LOTS OF WOOL. Scargill: "That the conference urge : the necessity of obtaining for farmers valuation for all star lots of wool prior to sale." : . TARIFF ON WHEAT. . Loburn: "That the tariff, on wheat ,• between New. Zealand and Australia should be uniform." • ': u VALUE OF IMPROVEMENTS. •. Waiau: That in estiinating the value of i]mprovements*the Government Valuer, slipiiid; be very careful to procurb un available information astotlio ' condition of each peparate farm in-its *' original or. native.state, especially with a view to the expenses incurred by , the clearing of . bush, scrub, flax, liiggerheads,. or otlier noxious growths, levelling and draining, and generally bringing the land into, a suitable condition ; for cultivation to He should also take into consideration the timethat such operation may require, and the consequent loss of revenue during that period. " / WOOL SALES. Harcwood: "That the conference be urged to protest against the action of wool buyers in demanding that farmera should forfeit lib of wool per cwt. in each bale."