Taranaki Branch.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 253, 23 April 1910, Page 5

Taranaki Branch.

At the forthcoming Taranaki provincial conference of the Farmers' Union a number of subjects of special signicfiance to Taranaki, and in several instances, of importance to the farming community in general will be dealt with. They will come forward as branch remits. They are as follow: — Eltham Branch.—That the provincial conference take steps to initiate the formation of a milk testing association, as this is a matter.;of primary importance to this district and would do much to secure the support of the farmers of this district with the union. Kaimata Branch.—That it is imper-ative-that noxious weeds be cut earlier in the season than at present, and that this conference strongly urges upon the Government the necessity of having the Act more stringently enforced. . Taita Branch.—l. That this conference is in favour of the Government collecting agricultural statistics through the post annually. 2. That this conference discuss the subject of turrip blight with the object of trying to find a remedy. Kaponga Branch.—That the Agricultural Department be requested to issue a monthly journral to contain reports of experiments conducted at experimental stations, market reports from the High Commissioner, statistics as to the total imports of agricultural produce into Britain, and articles of general interest to farmers, the department to charge cost of printing. Riverlea Branch.—That the union take steps to prevent the sale of unsound rlulls. The Executive.—That whilst recognising the advantage to be gained by the Government handing over to the local bodies for expenditure all grants for roads and bridges, this conference considers that the condition that no expenses of engineering and supervision are to bejcharged against grants is unfair and unworkable for the following reasons:—(a). That hitherto such expenses have been paid out of the grants; (b) that in most cases the expenditure of a grant benefits mostly a particular locality (often contributing very little in rates), and very little, if at all the general ratepayers, and therefore would be an unfair charge against the general rates; (c) that in many cases such costs would be so great as to debar the local body from undertaking the expenditure. That steps be taken to support the local bodies in endeavouring to obtain a withdrawal of the condition referred to.