N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12910, 15 July 1905, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

. « • f ' Per Press Association. Wellington, July 14. At the fourth day's sitting of the Farmers' Union Conference this morning, it was resolved " That the Government be urged to bring forward as soon as possible legislation ' promised that would provide for efficient ear marking." " That the Small Birds Nuisance Act be amended so that towns should pay an equal share of the expense with the country in the destruction of small birds."* :: - •' '-■' * t" ; *r ■!--'- Mr Ritchie*. Secretary, to the Agricultural Dopartmenti who^.was thanked for his presence, , said the tJoyeTDpient intended this session introducing a Seeds Examination Bill to enable the Department to examine seeds* and-ipub-lish the results of the examinations. The Department, was also, asking Parliament for more inspectors* for iftiglrta and fruit. Resolved " That the Minister of Education be requested to divide the present Education Board Districts; into single -^electorates"/* . • / Resolved " That the Conference urge upp^'.ttt'p^9yernm«it the., necessi^ ctf consolidation of- the "local gbverhmeftt law oh the lines laid down by iHx€ various Coimty Councils." . • The Conference's final 'resbMtion carried was that a universal charge be made for the use of telephone' conlmu'nicafion t irrespective , of ,dif tajnjee, .a**S«, c •faiKng securing this, the charge shall be ior the use ,of a telephone 6n''%he t actual distance- by the most 'diiecv route between one station and, another. ." It was resolved that the Bailway Department be urged to allow the Farmers' Union -, the same concessions and privileges as Friendly Societies and other bodies ; that the system of construction of public works by cooperative labour is against the best interests of the colony, «and this conference favours construction by smafl contracts ; that the executive inquire into the Harbour Boards' Acts, w*ith a view to having provision made for representation of farmers ■; that the Government he urged to establish properly equipped experimental dairy stations in a central position of the North Island ; that this conference . urge upon the Government the necessity of consolidation of the local Government law on the lines laid down by various County Conferences. It was decided to ; hold a sumjmer Conference in Christchurch during November, the procedure to be similar to that of the winter conference. The Conference closed at one o'clock. A deputation from the Farmers' Union waited on Sir Joseph Ward, and laid before' him several matters affecting the Departments under, his care. In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph said he could mot hold out any hope of being able to meet the request of the farmers in regard to charging for telephone wires by the shortest distance from place to place. When the railway statement came down they would see that provision was made for a very large increase in the number of trucks. The deputation then waited oh Mr Seddon. Replying to the representations made, he said he wished to remove thq impression that nothing was- being done to settle native lands.' This session the Government proposed to out up native lands independent of who was the owner, and set aside vjartieular parts for : particular natives, and give them an indefeasible title ; then cut tip the surplus lands into suitable sized farms for settlement by Europeans. The Government proposed to make it optional for Counties to utilise Government valuations of make valuations of their own for their own purposes, but the Government would retain its own valuers for Its taxation. He thought there should be a slight widening of the County franchise, but he was not prepared to go as far as some people wished, ' The

I time had arrived when something - must be done to establish a dairy H station," but the question of site was r difficult to solve.