FARMERS' CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2478, 3 June 1915, Page 8

FARMERS' CONFERENCE

IN THE SOUTH ISLAND,

(By Teloeraiih.—Press Association.) Dunedin, June 2. The tenth annual meeting of the Otago .Farmers' Union Mutual lnre Insurance Association was held to-day, and Mr. IV. Grey presided. The directors report stated that the year was one of solid progress, the increased business having been very satisfactory. The chairman said the total insurances at the presept date came to which gave an increase of .£37,507 lor the year; the reserve fund 'bad again been increased. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The chairman mentioned that it was proposed to reduce the rate from 7s. 6d. to 6s. Bd. and the directors proposed to let the lower rate stand for a year or two. An accident insurance could be started, but it would mean an expenditure right awaf, as a man would have to be kept for it. He did not think they were at^ present paying too much for accident insurance.

Tho annual meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union was held subsequently, Mr. J. Begg presiding. The committee in its report mentioned that the Otago branch, had to date contributed over ,£6OOO in cask and kind for war purposes. The president, in the course of his remarks, said no matter what the scale of pensions for the wounded soldieTs might be there would be need for a National Fund to supplement payments. As to restrictions with regard to export farmers should protest against these acts being taken as precedents. In spite of war and drought farmers had had a good year.

i. ti -I 8 was , re_e ' ec ted president, and Mr. R. M'Kenzic vice-president. The following remits among others were also carried:—"That steps be taken to inaugurate a movement so that when

tlie war is over steps may bo taken to prevent shippers being entirely at the m «m?' 0 dipping companies." i. hat the coni'ereuce is prepared to support the Government in its efforts to keep the prices of oats, wheat, and butter at a moderate level during the war, but wishes to emphasise its opiuiou that tlwse must l>o regarded as purely emergency measures fortified only by tlie oou.iibeing at war." that tlio executive of the union express a wish to the Government to give passages to Belgian refugee women and tfirw who yiight come to New Zealand and who are suitable for domestic service.

■I hat the Government be asked to find some employment for alien subjects who aie not iutorjicd as prisoners of war, but w-uo may have been liurowu out of employment, "so that they may l>o enabled to maintain themselves ami families, ns u uiipiuployod and without means of support they may become a menace to die Dominion."

lhat a war tax l>c imposed, and the union mi wests that Gveryoite in the Dominion should bear their fair share; the larnuiig community is quite prepared to P i Uy i, ,( ? r J UBt fih « re of a tax, but it siiouici be in no sense a class tax."

The tender 0 f Mr. A. R. Wallis (i.iU47) has, says our Carterton correspondent, been accepted for the erection of a new agricultural hall for the Wairarapa P. and A. Society. There f er « four tenders, ranging from £1272 to the figure at which the contract was lot.