NORTH CANTERBURY FARMERS UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 31 May 1912, Page 8

NORTH CANTERBURY FARMERS UNION.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christcluirch, Ala.v 30. The Provincial Conference <>f the Novlli Canterbury Fanners' I'niou uprnc;! lodav. The' retiring president (Mr. I'. t|. Ilorrell), in his address, referred to various events that had taken place during the past year, both at home and abroad. From, the fanning standpoint (he year might have been much worse. The prospects this time last year had been verv bad, and the conditions had become worse. Before spring the turnip crops had proved a partial failure, and (he grass grub had been much ill evidence. From October the position had become more cheerful, and generally speaking crops had been good and prices satisfactory. There had been abundance of. feed all through the summer, and farmers were entering the winter with a good supply of winter feed. The census returns called for serious consideration, for it was found that the population of the towns was outnumbering that of the country for the first time in (he history of New Zealand. It was a worldwide complaint, but steps would have to be taken to arrest the flow. The chief cause was undoubtedly the eternal cry of "tax the land.". The older fanners who had .spent their life in the conntr.y', and knew its hardships, were educating their children In hold positions in the rilr. To counteract this every elToit should be made to giro the country some of the advantages that were being enjoyed by tho towns. The country was strongly against another election.