UNION

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 1

UNION

ANNUAL DOMINION CONFERECE,

[United Press Association.]

Wellington, July 25. The annual Dominion conference ol the New Zealand Farmers' Union was .held in Wellington yesterday. In his speech the president said the past year had been a good one for the farmers on the whole. The lambs fattened in a wonderful way, and there would probably be an export record. The grass grub had caused great havoc in certain parts of the Dominion. Recont legislation liad passed the Crown Suits Act showing what combined and persistent efforts could do. During the year there was much discussion on the handling of frozen mutton in England, which was found to be unsatisfactory. Regarding labour troubles the Court had decided that there should be an award for shed hands. There was now another dispute with the agricultural labourers. Now the labour laws were making living so expensive and crippling so many industries, the cry for increased protection was again raised and farmers must therefore resist any proposal to increase the rate of duty. In immigration Mr. T. K. Sedgwick brought "out W boys, and results have been satisfactory so that requests were being made for more. Resolutions were passed urging dairy companies, A. and P. Associations, and branches of the Farmers' Union to use every effort to foster and encourage cow testing; that pasteurisation of milk and whey be made compulsory ; that the Government be asked not to relax in any way its endeavours to have imported bone dust properly sterilised; that specimens of noxious weeds be supplied to each A. and P. Association and Farmers' Union that will properly house them, and allow thorn to be examined; that districts which derive no benefit from annual expenditure in connection wit'i State farms be supplied with a full sot of wool counts properly arranged antl proper counts attached; that tho mouth of January be included in tlie sheep dipping season (this resolution to apply to the Nelson province only); that an advisory committee be recommended to inquire if there is any necessity, apart from the custom, for allowing one pound per cwt draft on wool to secure to the buyer a hundredweight of wool in a fair commercia": . sense.