N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

ijTARANAKI PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE J The usual monthly mooting of the Tariinaki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held at Hawera on Thursday. Present: Messrs J. W. Jones (president), J. Davideon, E. Maxwell, J. Thomson, R. Lambie, P. J. Virgin, W. Cleaver and J. Swindlehurst. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs S. Forsvth, A. Hunter, A. Voullaire, W. T. Williams, W. Rogers, E. Marfell, R. Dunn, U. Preece and W. Swadling. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. In response to an appeal for special contributions, the following branches wrote forwarding amounts a9> follow: Mungatoki £l. Cs. Ngaero £2, Opunake £r, ss. It was resolved that the thanks of the Executive be conveyed to thos« branches. It was pointed out Unit some of the branches had not met to consider the appeal. T. E. TAVUm MEMORIAL FUND. The secretary stated that he had received from the T. E. Taylor Memorial Committee 25 stamped unaddrcssed envelopes, each containing copy of report of public meeting, subscription lists and a letter inviting secretaries to obtain subscriptions in their respective districts, also a request to address these and forward them to the branches. He wished for a direction from the executive on the matter. Mr. Maxwell said this was a matter that was outside the province of the : Union, and he moved that the papers be returned, and the executive express rei gret that it cannot comply with the re- ' quest, as it is a matter riot within the ' province of the Union. It was not for ' them to deal with the merits of the case, ' Mr. Lambie seconded the motion, ' which was carried nem con. ' PROPOSED LEGISLATION. ' Mr. B. Dive, M.P., and Mr. Newman, \ M.P., forwarded copies of the following ; Bills which have been introduced into , the House this session, viz.:—Shearers' , Accommodation Bill, Industrial, Concili- t ation and Arbitration Amendment, c Workers' Compensation ' Amendment, Land Amendment, and Friendly So- Q cieties' Amendment. I j, Speaking on the Shearers' Accommo- ] dation Amendment Bill, Mr. Maxwell c said he did not see any necessity for a > Bill of this nature, which proposed to j make employers provide such accommodation for shearers. Generally the conditions under which shearers worked were right. There might be isolated cases where the conditions were not s what they should be, but there was no s call for legislation such as was proposed r in this Bill. He moved that the members r for the district and the Advisory Com- i mittoo be asked to oppose the Bill. He r pointed out .that shearers were in a c different position to workers in the t town, who were compelled to work at t fixed occupations. Shearers often left t regular occupations to take on shearing t as a matter of choice, because good < money was to be made at it and they '. knew the conditions under which they l had to work. * ( Mr. Lambie did not believe in the s Bill. There were certain economic c laws that governed this and otker ( things, and all legislation that was not £ in accordance with those laws would ' only prove dangerous and abortive. He i seconded the motion. i Messrs Jones, Cleaver and Davidson) 1 expressed opposition to the Bill. { The motion was carried. 1 In dealing with the Industrial, Ooncili- < ation and Arbitration Amendment Bill 1 it was decided to oppose sections i and 1 5, which gave the Court power to extend « an award made in one district to all I trade unions, industrial unions, inilus- i trial associations and employers in New < Zealand who are connected 'with or engaged in the same industry as that to which the award applies. Workers' Compensation Amendment— ! When this Bill came on for consideration, Mr. Maxwell said that it was ' another instance of the trend of legis- * lation which aimed, piece by piece, to ! reach the goal of the Socialist. In this class of legislation the workers and ' manufacturers had their remedies, but • the primary producers, the farmers, had ! no remedy. Mr. Lambie was in favor of a universal ' I compulsory insurance, scheme. It would be fair to all. The Bill they were deal- \ ing with was class legislation. Resolved—That the members for the ' districts be asked to oppose the Bill. f and any other attempts to impose fresh liabilities on employers. DOMINION CONFERENCE. J Messrs Jones and Maxwell, delegates ( to the Dominion Conference, gave a \ report of its proceedings. Mr. Jones said that the Conference j was by far the best he had attended. t The sympathy between farmers was ( stronger than he had before witnessed. ( Tho order paper was the biggest on .re- / cord, and it showed one of two things, >- either that the farmers were waking up j to the necessity of asserting themselves, f or that they were getting more discon- , tented. The South Island was making j great strides in the matter of organisa- , tion, and it behoved them in Taranaki j to follow in their footsteps. The remits j sent from Taranaki were well received. c and all of them were carried. He could j not speak too highly of the action of c the Minister for Agriculture and the j chief officers of his staff, who liad at- ( tended the Conference and took a keen * interest in its proceedings, and gave e some valuable hints. i Mr. Maxwell endorsed what Mr. Jones - had said. The Hon. Mr. Mackenzie was. j quite, apart from party, giving a very ~ great deal of attention to the farming !, industry. In the veterinary division " ( the officers paid great attention to the t recommendations of the Conference, and J in the Veterinary Bill now before the \ House some of the recommendations j wctc embodied. Mr. Davidson moved that the report ( of the delegates be received and the , Executive express satisfaction at the ( work of the Dominion Conference. Mr. Lambie, in seconding the motion. , said he had never been so pleased with j the result of a conference as he was with | this one. It was a great compliment ■ to them that the whole of the Taranaki remits had been passed. He had some- •' times felt discouraged with the support ' accorded to the Union and was some- ] times inclined to give it up. Speaking personally, he did not nanl to care how ' matters went with the Union, but there wore certain principles which be strove ' for. and for that reason he would sup- ' port it with all his might. ' The motion was carried unanimously. ' and Messrs Jones and Maxwell acknowledged (he compliment. MILITARY TRAINING. The president slated that Major-Gen-eral Godley had attended the Confer- , once to confer with the delegates as to the most suitable time of the year to have the military camp in their respective districts. The General said he would endeavor to meet their wishes as far as possible. After some discussion, Mr. Jones gave notice to move at next meeting—''That the Executive recommend the latter end of May as the most suitable time for the military camp in Taranaki." It was resolved to communicate with the officer commanding the district in the meantime.—Eltham Argus.