FARMERS' UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8054, 5 July 1904, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

s THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. •' [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 5. % • * . The third annual conference of the Colonial Council of the New Zealand. Farmers' Union opened here to-day. N Mr Wilson, president, after reviewing the outlook for the farming community, said the Executive Council's rep|rt dealt with a number of important matters. Speaking on the freehold v. leasehold- question, he reviewed the Premier's recent speech and said it was the Government threat of a Bill affecting their tenures that was making the Crown tenants so uneasy and desirous of acquiring the freehold. The Union, in the interests of settlement and production and of the happiness of the settlers, must take every means in its power to place this question before the people of the colony. Referring to the mutual insurance scheme, he sadd that insurance companies fc&d refused to reduce the rates, but /since the passing; of the Mutual Insurance Bill, they had made a reduction, which. was very significant. He had arranged for Mutual Insurance Societies to get reinsurance outside "the ring" at a rate yet to 6e agreed on. Mr Wilson also spoke at some length - on the desirableness of the Government providing experimental stations and technical agricultural education.