SOUTHLAND FARMERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 10

SOUTHLAND FARMERS' UNION

YEARLY MEETING. ißy Telegraph.—Frets Association.) Invoroargill, May 29. The thirteenth annual Southland Provincial Conference' of the Farmers' Union opened this morning. The president, Sir."AY. Ford, in tho course of his address, referred to the strike as the greatest industrial upheaval in tho Dominion, and, taking into consideration the-fact that-tho ports were for a time held up, the results to farmers were satisfactory. They must recognise the fact that it was owing to the organthe Farmers' Union, tho Dairy Assocfa tion, and to a certain extent the Employers' Association ;that, things , were readjusted so as to, enable the business of the country to proceed on normal lines. Southland had had little trouble through the strike, though they had felt it indirectly. The grain returns wero diminishing as the result of progress in the science of locomotion and the, substitution of "petrol for oats." This was a serious problem. The Farmers' Union was now regarded as a power to be reckoned with, and its voice in Parliament had a greater force than in the. past. Mr. Ford then referred to tho cost of living, the money market, land values, and exports, and concluded by appealing to all farmers for encouragement and support. Mr. Ford was" re-elected president, and Messrs.., john M'Queen, T. W. Foster, and J, Small vice-presidents. .Remits carried were as follow:—_ That the Government should continue the system of importing farm labourers and domestics. That a duty be levied on motor tires and the revenue divided arr.ongst local bodies for expenditure on roads. That the union again draws tho attention of the Minister.'of Railways to the hardships imposed upon country people by the extra rate charged for the carriage of imported timber, and points, out the necessity for approaching Hie.Minister of -Railway*.with a view to ..the removal of tho differential rates at present charged on imported timber. That tho Government be urged to consider the advisability of acquiring all local deposits of phosphates, and to soft same to farmers at a difference of 10 per cent.:'on cost; to securing the rights, of one of the phosnhato companies controlling Pacific Island deposits; also purchasing one of the islands, say, "Oippertbii" Island.