FARMERS’ AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10292, 29 May 1919, Page 8

FARMERS’ AFFAIRS

' ANNUAL CONFERENCE

RESOLUTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. .

The' ’Wellington! Provincial Conference of the New Zealand'Farmers’-Union was continued -yesterday.: Mr G,’ L. Marshall presided., 1 ' It wa s- resolved—" That the-Agricultural Department be requested, to .obmpile_ a.net .print a- list -of ; earmarks , registered- ;by farmers'in- each .bounty, such list-t0,.-bo supplied bn application,-and. that a "uruversa!, -age mark -; (not compulsory), lb© adopted '• ; by the ■. Agricultural ’ Department." . .Respecting forestry,.it was resolved that the ‘ Government.;should bo persistently pressed -until it takes’- more, active ■ steps to put a Department of • Forestry ip,Working order; also that ; the State-Forestry Department should be asked tocudoavour to;-establish plantations bn eom'etof.the san’d" wastes oh .Crown.'landfi., i. -,. It, was .also resolved >"-That an' mj ustiCe -is - done to the farmers’ - wives' engaged in actual .farm work, by refusing 'to allow deductions for such; services, ‘ and ‘the conference urges- the Minister for Fin-ance-to. allow; a reasonable deduction to be- made in assessment of. income tax." THE -CATTLE TICK. . V ■

r It' was resolved—" That the Government be requested to take drastic steps to ! eradicate the' cattle .’tick, and place’ a strict ' quarantine: on - the infected . area;, and’ that the Government bo requested to isolate Vail, trucks froml infected, areas,’’ ; The; Minister-for' Agriculture said, that the matter-was being attended to- Perhaps, cattle 'would have .to bo prevented from-leaving,-affected districts, and dipping be made ..compulsory. , '

■RAILWAY MATTERS. ■ The following "railway" ' resolutions were agreed-to:— ■ • ; (1) That; the'Railway Department he requested ■ to- arrange -faster- carriage ! of cheese and butter from the factories to cool- stores in’ Wellington. (2) -That the attention- of the Railway Department be drawn to the fact that the, Government, grader has reported to certain factories .that their cheese -has arrived in cool .stores in Wellington' with large pieces cut out of the cheese; • (8) That the attention of the Minister for Railways be called -to,' the -unsatisfactory; regulations . exempting the department from, responsibility for the. short delivery.of consignments of cheese at the' Harbour Board's grading, stores. RIM UTAKA INCLINE. '

It was resolved—" That, the necessity for a deviation to the Hitnutaka incline be brought-before the Minister for Railways as a work which should be immediately taken in hand.. While the deviation it of vital interest to the Wnirarapa and Bush, districts, it is - also of provincial importance, as it will enable a larger portion of= ,the Hawke’s Bar traffic being sent via.Waifarapa,-and thus relieve the congestion' on ' the Mahawata line.” FIRE INSURANCE REPORT. The annual; meeting of the Wellington Farmers’ 1 ' Union ' -Mutual ’ Fife Insurance Association .was held daring the morning..' " ' - The annual report, which was adopted, stated:—The net premium;income, snows an increase, of £280.178 on previous year. The premium note capital stands this year at £32,017 19s Bd, being an increase Over last year'of-£6474 7s; The" losses this year amount to £8196 19s 3d. being the .heariest .that the association has experienced since its inception. Included -in -the .-claims paid t was - £2815,; Eaetihi hush fires. ; The ’ total; insurances held by the, association amount, tp £471,959 6s Bd. net risk; held £434,713 6s Bd, the new business : -for theyear amounting to £191.570. ■ The report of the accident branch, stated:—The business transacted for the year ■ shewsconsiderable improvement'. and the thanks of the directors are extended to all those who in any way have contributed to it. The net income from premiums amounts ■ to £329 14s ■ fid. The claims for compensation - have been ' considerably more numerous; than previous .years, and though email individually, the total paid under .the heading ■ was £l2O 4s fid. The net risks at the. end of this year totalled £56,fi19.