FARMERS’ UNION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17935, 31 July 1920, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 30. The conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union considered in compiittee a proposal from Auckland that steps be taken to form a Farmers’ Political Party. After prolonged discussion it was resolved that the remit should be referred to tiie provincial conferences for consideration, and that the same course should be taken with the following notice of motion given by Mr. Dug. field at the 1919 Dominion confeiw ence: “That with a view towards securing to the producers of this Dominion a sound progressive policy, the'time has arrived when the constitution of the Farmers* Union should be altered to allow the formation of a farmers’ party. That the farmers of the Dominion should lose no time in establishing a co-operative shipping company was urged by delegates to the Conference by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. J. Boddie (Auckland) said that, until such time as the producers took steps to secure their own ships they would remain in the hands of the shipping monopolies. He moved that the producers ask the Prime Minister to call a conference of farmers and trading interests to discuss the question of establishing a shipping line and take action if necessary. In reply to Mr. K. Evans (Kaiapoi) Sir'James Wilson said that The shipping companies would be prepared to sell the farmers any number of old ships at high prices and a limited number of new ships afterwards. That was the great danger. Mr. C. K. Wilson <Te Kultl) stated that they should keep the shipping proposal before the Court and use it as a lever when they were negotiating with the shipping companies regarding freights. The motion was carried. Matters connected with Nauru phosphates were considered by the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union. Dr. C. J. Reakes (Di-rector-General of the Department of Agriculture) stated that he hoped to be able to make satisfactory arrangements for shipping phosphate to New Zealand farmers. Co-opera-tive companies would be given equal opportunities with everyone else for handling phosphates. The machinery for distribution had not yet been settled, but it was intended that this work should be controlled by the Government. The Department would recognise one firm as the distributing agents, but the price would practically be controlled by the Government. The Government's intention was to see that- no improper profits were made out of the sale of the phosphate, and the distributing firm would only act as commission agents. The firm would not be one interested in the sale of manures to farmers. , On the motion of Mr. Sheat (Dunsandel) seconded by Mr. Boddie (Auckland), it was decided to thank the Government and staff of the Department of Agriculture for having secured an adequate supply of phosphate for New Zealand farmers.