NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14986, 5 June 1914, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

FA.BMEKS' UNION.

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

(fBJtSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, June 4

Tho annual meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union was held to-day, Mr D. M. Philip presiding. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman drew attention to the fact that the | membership had increased by 40 per cent. He said the year had been successful for farmers, the prices of primary products having boon excellent, with perhaps two exceptions. These were wheat and oats. The decline in the price of oats was due to tho use of electric and motor traction in towns, and motor traction in tho country. In the future oats would bo grown practically for home consumption only. Dealing with the Board of Agriculture, he said he did not altogether approve of the manner of election to the Board by the A. and P. xVssociation. He i thought that election would bo better made through the Farmers' Union. A Jargo percentage of members ot the A. and P. Associations were business people, and nominations were apt to bo more influenced by a man's popularity than by his qualifications, whereas it election were made by the Farmers Unions every farmer would have a voice in the matter by joining the Union. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ■ . Mr James Begg (Clinton) was elected president for tho ensuing year, and Mr It McKenzio (Palmerston) vice-presi-dent. Delegates to the Dominion Conference: The president and Mr A. Fraser (Lawrence). A proposal that the Government be asked to reduce the freight on hardwood timber was referred to the Dominion Conference.

VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS. It was decided, to ask merchants to import 31b sacks, as the present light ones would not stand handling. Other resolutions carried wore: — "That consignees bo advised by the Railway Department by post, telegraph, or telephone, of the arrival of goods at stations in country districts." "That the Government be asked to appoint an expert grader to grade all imported fertilisers and guanos from the Pacific Islands, and all fertilisers made in the Dominion, and give a certificate as to their suitability for icrtilising purooses." "That the Minister of Agriculture be asked for the services of an itinerant instructor to undortako short courses for the eons of farmers." "That no reform of the Legislative Council will be satisfactory, but will endanger the country quota, which does not provide for the simultaneous election of both Houses, and does not provide for appeal to the country in case of a deadlock." "That the Minister of Agriculture be asked to appoint an analyst to lecture in the various agricultural districts on 6oil analysis, artificial manures, etc." A motion. "That the Government be asked to provide training farms near the four main centres where city boys may learn the rudiments of agriculture and afterwards, if suitable, be apprenticed to farmers on the lines of the j Sedgwick boys, and that such training farms be provided for the training of immigrant boys and men on similar lines," was referred to the Dominion Conference.