FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 4

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

(fly Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AVE LUNG TON. July JO. fbe Farmers’ nCion hud eleven remits before it. dealing with rural telephones. Mr Robertson (Assistant Secretary of the Department) attended and explained that rural rates in New Zealand wore lower than in England and' Australia and lower that. those in New Zealand cities. There was no chance of a reduction of L.'ic fast, which was made greater by keeping open small exchanges that ought to be closed. This was done in defer-

ence to the opposition of settlers to closing them. The average rate was L't tOs and if a flat rate were charged it would have to be raised to CIO. Remits were referred to the executive to obtain replies from the Department. WELLINGTON. .Tulv JO.

At the Conference of the New Zealand Farmers I'ninn the following officers were elected for the ensuing year—Dominion, President. W. .1. Poison (Fordell); Dominion VicePresidents, K. 11. Miirney (Takapunai. R. I). Duxfield (Ilorotiii), 11. B. Stuckey ( Dnimevirke) ; Advisory Coin, niittee). W. Morrison t Muxtvclltown). A. E. Harding (Dargarvillo). 1). Ditkie. (Gore). W. AY. Mulliolland, .T. Preston (Flag Swamp). Captain F. Cidbeck (Morrinsville) ; Treasurer. R. S. Chadwick (Dannevirke) ; Secretary, J. Row (Wellington). Mr Poison (Chairman) disagreed with the optimistic utterances heard recently and considered the Minister's statement as to the corner being turu■d. must be considerably discounted. Neither wool nor butter markets wore encouraging. Settlers on deteriorated lands had had a. fight ahead of thorn. He contended the Government should remit their rents and taxes. They ought to put seme of the unemployed on these lands to improve them. A resolution was passed urging the Government to give increased subsidies to counties which have large areas of deteriorated lands.