The Feilding Star. OROUA & KIWITEA COUNTIES GAZETTE Published Daily. THURSDAY,MAY 31, 1894. THE AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 327, 31 May 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. OROUA & KIWITEA COUNTIES GAZETTE Published Daily. THURSDAY,MAY 31, 1894. THE AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

_•_ ! The conference of delegates from the ] various Agricultural and Pastoral associations in the colony, held in Wei- ' lington, should exercise a most beneficial influence over the affairs of the farming and grazing community in the near ( future. The greatest obstacle, apart , from *he mere working of their several < properties, they have hud to contend I with in the past has been their actual ' isolation from each other owing to the geographical formation ot the , country, and the coiisa{U£nt iinpos- j sibility for them to meet in any \&egfi j. number either for the escliapge of <

ideas, or for them to effect a combination where their interests wore threatened, by which they could accomplish anything in the direction of individual or mutual protection. What has been done, or attempted to be done, by the delegates, has indicated that they thoroughly appreciate the responsibility of their position, and are determined t.o only pass such resolutions or to make such suggestions as are likely to be endorsed by those whom they represent, and to be acceptable to Parliament where either special legislation may be required, or where it may be deemed beneficial and advisable to amend existing laws bearing on the agricultural and pastoral interests either directly or indirectly. For instance the suggestion is an excellent one to the effect that the whole of the farmers should combine to assist to put down the sheep and cattle stealing which becomes so rampant in th« colony as soon as the prices of stock go up. The idea that a special officer, or by whatever other title he might be designated, should be appointed for each Island to detect the criminals, is well worth the consideration of the Government, and added to this, the promise of a large reward on conviction would doubtless go far to put a stop to the practice. What makes the crime so common is the long immunity tho guilty persons Lave enjoyed, and we siLcerely believe that if they saw there was a strong pro ability of being detected and punished the practice would be given up altogether as too dangerous.