FARMERS' UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10288, 24 May 1919, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION

CONCLUDING BUSINESS

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CHRISTCHURCH,' May 23. The provincial conference of the farmers' Union concluded to-day. Mr David Jones was re-elected president.' The following resolutions were carried: i' That where, the price of raw products is fixed the" price'of articles manufactured therefrom should be also fixed. That bodies similar to the Selwyn Plantation Board be appointed for all districts on the Canterbury Plains, and that all waste land in riverbeds and other places of little or no use for agricultural purposes be Tested in them for planting with forest trees of economic value. '

That the Minister for Agriculture be urged to bring forward legislation to amend the -Fertilisers Act,. 1908, on lines suggested-by the Board of Agriculture. That the conference considers that land valuations are not carried out in a just manner, improvements were not given fair value for, unimproved values in some cases being raised 100 per cent. We consider a local man should act with the Government valuer. That the Government be asked to post to all farmerß land and income tax forms as previously. A remit before the conference urged that the Government be requested to make better provision for receiving and storing wheat next season than made this year. In a discussion it was shown th§ farmers were financially hampered at present consequent on their being unable to dispose of their wheat, and in many cases wheat was stored in fields at the risk of considerable damage. The question of an advance on the wheat held was also raised, and to this the president (Mr David Jones) replied there was an arrangement on the subject, details of which he was not at liberty to make public, but merchants had told the wheat-growers about it. Ultimately the matters were left in the hands of the president to take any action required.