SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 8

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union was held last evening, Mr \V. W. Mcßae '(president) presiding over a good attendance of members. Mr L. C. Gardiner drew attention to the delay by the Land Department in ! throwing open a reserve at' Adder ley Heads for occupation by soldiers. The reserve had been subdivided, and men were waiting for tUo ballot, which, was being inconveniently delayed. The present, when _ stock "was moving in large quantities, was the time the soldiers wanted to get on to their places. The delay was driving Canterbury men to the North island for their land. Tie secretary read a telegram from the Prime Minister, -which stated that the matter of the ballot for the Adderley Head reserve was being expedited. It was decided to "receive'' a letter from tho Canterbury Automobile Association with regard, to the Styx crossing. One member remarked that nnyouo who could not drive over that crossing with safety should not be allowed to drive a car at all. The secretary reported on the result of the recent conference called by the Government to consider offers irom the Imperial Government and the War Office, regarding slipe wool valuations, and the requisition of skins and hides. Mr H. 1). jAxland sa id that he had to complain very strongly at the attitude taken tip by the Government in regard to this confcrence. The Sheepowners' Union had bad the very greatest difficulty in getting represented on tho conference, although the property of the sheepowners was being dealt ■with. Mr Massey had practically refused them representation, and had suggested that the delegates of the Farmers' Union might represent the Sheepowners' Federation. A parallel case would be, if a dispute was on with tho Wharf Labourers' Union, that the General Labourers' Union would be deputed to represent them. The Sheep- i owners" Union was a properly registered j union, representing a membership of 15,000, and in Canterbury the members had about million sheep, they were to be barred from representation on a conference largely affecting their interests. The report was adopted.