FARMERS' CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1762, 29 May 1913, Page 6

FARMERS' CONFERENCE

- t FINAL BUSINESS. ■f , MR WILSON AGAIN PRESIDENT. VARIOUS DECISIONS. The annual conference of the Wellington Provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was concluded at Masterton yesterday. Mr. T. Moss (vicepresident) was in the chair. Motor-Cars and . Roads. . The conference resolved to endorse the meditated action of tho county councils in taxing motor-cars, and agreed that money so raised should be spent in tut' upkeep of the arterial roads. The cars, Iho conference thought, should be taxed according to weight. Draft on Wool. It was moved by Mr. Moore (Jlakuri) "That the Government be asked to assist farmers in getting the draft on wools abolished; and that tare should be the actual weight of the bales and not one pound in- excess, as some brokers now charge." ■ - The motion was lost on a division, it being contended that it was not a matter for the Government. Contagious Mammitis. The old subject of contagious mammitis was brougiv. up by Mr. llouie (Waverloy), who moved: —"Tliat alt cows that liavo suffered "from contagious mammitis be branded jrith a Government brand to safeguard buvors at stock auction sales. ' Mr. llouie stated that he had lost hundreds of pounds through mammitis, and the disease had cost the Dominion millions.Tho motion was carried. It was decided that tho Dominion .Executive should be requested to bring the matter of: stamping out the disease before the Government. Water for Stock. • On the ;notion of Mr. Kevins (Tenui), it was resolved -.—"That County •Councils be empowered to take land under the Public Works Act or out of the rates to provide watering places for stock." A Pledge Wanted.

Marton's delegate (Mr. Buick) moved: "That it be an instruction from the Provincial Conference to tho Dominion Conference to wait upon the Minister and endeavour to obtain from him a iiMse that the Government will not f.ul 'to bring up the Stallion Bill in the couilue session of Parliament." The motion was seconded by Mr. M'.ss and carried. \ Dantnonia Grass Seed.

Mr. Hugh Morrison (Masterton) morel: "That the Government be asked to harvest the danthonia grass seed from Omvn lauds and supply it to the farmers it cost price." In giving his reasons -for the motion, Mr. Morrison said that .t i\as possible to get grass to grow on inferior land, and the best grass for such land was danthonia. But to the poor farmer the cost of this grass was prohibitive. He thought it advisable to bring the -nuter under the iiotice of tbe Minister for Agriculture. ' ' Mr. Ryder (Tinui) who seconded the remit, said that lie did not consider that it was right to ask the Government to harvest it. By Iho Government's hnrvtstinf 'the danthonia the cost would be greater—three shilling a pound i-stead of Is. 6d., when the "Government strol:o' was taken into consideration. It was decided to alter the remit to read that the Government should bo asked to let the cutting of danthonia oil Crown lands by'contract, as they do wilh cocksfoot. This was carried.

Various Remits. Mr. Moore (Malcuri) moved: "That the Workers' Compensation Act should bo amended, so that farmers who take out an Employers' Indemnity policy against accidents, should not bo compelled to toke out the mortgagees Indemnity pol'cy. The remit was lost after brief discussion. , , The Mangaweka branch forwarded il>e following remit, which was also taken in committee: "That this conference set up a committee to consider the question -if a reorganisation scheme'for tho Farmers' Union." It was decided that the 71 Tit be made to read that the question of ("n sidering a better organisation scheme lir the Farmers' Union be referred to the executive. In this form the remit '.vas adopted. Mr. P. Hansen fWaimarino) uio>od: "That it be a recommendation to the «•<•- cutive that all remits for the provinji.il conference be printed in the Farmers' Uiiion Advocate at least three we°ks before the meeting of the conference, so as to enable local branches •to ton-iler same, and that the agenda paper bo I rewarded to the secretaries as early ts pus sible." It was decided to insert tho words "as received" before the w.-.rd printed, and the remit was carried. ' A Press Association message stat;s «hat the following remits were carried: — That tho Defence authorities be requested to alter the starting time for daylight parades from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., in dairying districts; that in country ' districts post offices be not closed for half a day in tho week as at present, and that in lieu of tho weekly half-holiday officials in charge should '1)0 given an extra 14 days' animal holiday on full pay; tjjat subsidies for inland mail contracts should be for quick dispatch of mails, and that mails should in all cases bo sent to their destination without, delay, and have priority over passenger traffic; that it is desirable in the interests of tho farmers and, the workers to establish a labour bureau in connection with each central branch of the union; that this conference stronglv urges upon all farmers tho necessity of supporting farmers' co-oper-latiyc companies.

Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted.as follows:—Mr. J. CI. Wilson, president; Mr. T Moss, vice-president; Mr. W. J. Birch, treasurer. The executive remains as before, with the addition of Mes«rs.'"4. D. M'Leod (Martinborough) and H. Morison (Greytdwn), and the exclusion of ill". T. Hodgins (Pahiatna). Tho next provincial conference will be held at Wanganui.

FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION. Tho annual meeting of tie Farmers' Mutual I'iro Insurance was held yesterday morning. In the absence of Captain Hewitt, chairman of directors, Mr. J. BnUillie presided. The following wore elected as directors: —Captain Hewitt. Messrs. J. G. Wilson, H. A. Xcvjus. W. J. Birch, A. Houie, John 'Morrison, E, Law. H. Booth, and John^Balsillie. . The annual report stated that the total new business effected (luring, the year amounted to .£lO,lOl. The total insurances now on the books is ,£206,301. At the request. of the Fanners' Union executives in Blenheim and Xolson, and with the approval of the directors, the secretary visited these places in February last, and arranged for the acceptanco of risks from their districts. Several "branch seeretaries arc acting as agents, and already a fair amount of business had been received during the year. The total claims for seven years amount to J-1571 11s. The premium income received for the year Showed an' increase of .£!)(! 2s. lid. over the previous year. The reduction in rates to Bs. por cent, on farm dwellings and content? nnd woolsheds has, of course, reduced the premium income, as the main portion of the insurances are on this class of risk. As decided by the annual meetin?. the rates on dwellings and woolsheds bad been reduced from Bs. Gd. to Bs. per cent.; the rates on other risks remain as Wore. The association now held .£18,901? ou butter and cheese factory risks.