FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2123, 4 July 1907, Page 1

FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE

Press Association. "WELLINGTON, Yesterday. 'J'lio Farmers’ "Union conference passed a resolution that no form of tenure would give satisfaction which did not include option of the freehold. It was also decided that Crown tenants on l.i.p. tenure he given the right to acquire the freehold of their holding on payment by the lessee of the original value and pavmoilt of the difference of l.i.p. and the 5 per cent, charged to tenants with right of purchase) and also that tenants under the Land tor Settlement Act he allowed to purchase at tlip original valuation, 'provided all conditions ol improvement lmve been complied with. The Conference further decided that this conference is opposed to the proposal to sot aside all tho remaining Crown lands of the Government for any specific purpose, with the exception of purely pastoral lands. At the Farmers’ Union Conference to-day, advantage was taken of the presence of Mr. Ritchie, Secret,qi- of the Agricultural Department, to bring under his uotico a number of remits relating to agricultural matters. . In regard to Auckland’s suggestion that agricultural statistics should bo collected through the post office, as was done with the sheep returns, Mr. Ritchie said the experiment had been made in Masterton and Nelson, but so badly were the returns filled in that they were found to be usless as records. On the motion of Mr. Leadley (Canterbury) a resolution was passed setting, out that the whole system of collecting and publishing the annual returns of grain production is eminently unsatisfactory and misleading, and urging the Government to obtain from threshing machine owners quarterly returns of all the grain threshed by them. The Conference negatived a. motion from Gisborne, that the date of making up the sheep returns be altered form April 30 to June 30. It was also decided to again request the Government to appoint only persons with veterinary knowledge to the chief stock inspectorships iii each province, and to urge the Government to bring in a Bill making it compulsory for seedmou to guarantee all seeds sold as true to name and the germinating power of a specified iierceiitage. At the request of the Farmers Union Major Hughes appeared before the Conference to-day and explained the Defence Department’s regulations governing rifle clubs. The Conference adopted a remit from Otago to the effect that it was desirable that rifle clubs should he formed m country districts under the auspices of the'Farmers’ Union. Various delegates urged that settlers should give more attention to defence matters, both in regard to discipline and markinansbip. Tho President said the Executive of the Union had now in hand a fund to provide a shield to be shot for by members of the Union who belonged to rifle clubs. ..