N. Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 19 May 1920, Page 4

N. Z. FARMERS' UNION.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION. The Wellington Provincial Conference of the N.Z.F.U: will be held ai Feilding on Tuesday and Wednesday. May 2oth and 25th. a Among the many subjects for discussion at the conference will be the following remits from the various branches named: — Fixed Prices for Produce. Marlon: The Conference is efposed to the practice of fixing prices for primary products, as it tends to less! i production, and does not protect tl o consuming public. Free Markets. Provincial Executive: The Confer encc protests against the continuant'J of the practice of fixing P«ees. for primary products in this country, and is opposed to any committee being set up in England by the Imperial Government to have control of the disposal < f our exports at Home.

Frozen Meat ami Snipping. Wuverlcy: That until there is son:-J positive solution of the extreme congestion of frozen meat, and until the.-. ;'re better trading conditions, the Imperial authorities be asked to continue the requisition. Meat Trust. Carterton i'eatticrsiun: That the Go eminent be requested to publish tl ■ names under which the Meat Trust operating in this Dominion, and tl uames of the agents of the Meal Tru i„ this country. This was promised the late Minister of Agriculture, be i, far has nol been given effect to. H.Z. Representative on Shipping Boar'. Witverlev: That a representative oi W Zealand. L jrefcrably the High rommissioucr.be placed upon the «hij. plugboard Committee, with interests of the British agencies I" ~„. , !in .iage of frozen produce iron, Acr. Zealand. producers' Representative. Wtiverley: That the Government bt

larked to arrange with the Imperiiauthorities for a New Zealand repn II , cnta tive on the Board of I'ood Mm- || try or Meat Control m England, tor tin distribution ol New Zealand meat; th representative to be nominated by th New Zealand Government, and appro^ L d of by the Farmers'Union and sheer

| owners. I Provincial Executive: That a repre , scutative in London for the producer' 1 of the Dominion be appoint" d to act n conjunction with the High Comnu !10 ner in the distribution, control, etc « ~j all primary product, from New Zca laud. imperial Purchase and Control. Waimnrino: That the Farmer r„tuii proti .t that the Imperial pui | rl .. c and control of primary product ' g uot boeu b: ' lc l u .d by proper centre! oi ~„.,. of production or proper control of retail prices. Taxation. Tiakitahuua: Thai the present sy- .,„, ~i LaxiiK? on amount of incom. aerived •>om the land, be amended, ami that revenue required should be rai.ed whollv as land lax", graduated accoru in „ to value of properly. The pre--' astern instead of encouraging prodm Hon, penali.es th. farmer who tries to make the most oil' his place. Kumeroa: That this branch considers that the Commissioner of Taxes should acknowledge on receipt all returns luiuished by tanner- on land and income I Subsidies to Local Bodies. Wangauui SJ.P.D.: That the Govern meat lie urged 10 increase subsidies to sub'sidv on total general rate.- collected

Forestry. Mastcrton: That owing to the increasing shortage of timber, the Union strongly urges all fanners to give greater attention to the establishing oJ plantations of suitable timber and tree-. Imported Timber. Feilduig- That the Government be urgrd t 0 remove the import duty on all timber, and the railway freights on imported timber be brought into line with N.Z. timber rate.-.

Railways. Masterton: That the attention of the Mia: tt," '-? K» ilw ' lL a =" i:J :i " :; '" to the urgent necessity .tor better communication between the Fort o; Wellington and the surrounding country districts. Wanganui S.P.D.: That the Railway Department be urged to advise consignees by telephone or post card o: the arrival of goods at flag stations. Kangiotu: That small railway stations be connected with the local telephone bureau in their respective d» triets for the convenience of settler. receiving goods and requiring tracks. Wanganui si.P.D.: That ihe Government lift the restrictions ofiE the sale of damaged railway tarp: -.: : ::s. Draft on Wool. Wanganui S.P.D.: That the Gorersment be urged to bring pressure to bear ou the Imperial Government .to da away with "draft ou wool" c!iarge= or lib per cwi. Payment for Woolpacks. Provincial Executive: That tic Union urge the Government to obtain uavment from the Imperial Govern-

ment for woolpac-ks. TertiUsers. urged ro do then- utmost to supply farmers with the necessary fertilisers, especially «upc-rpUo=phat6s and basic slag, otherwise the production of foodstuffs will be seriously curtailed. Provincial Executive: That Firr--«r; T Co-operative Companies in the Domin ; ion be rriven the option of J&6 SsZ; jnogortioa j»l ins KI3KS s*l|gS

phospliatie deposit in order that fertilisers may be secured at cost price.

Cemmercial Fleet. Pulmerston North: That the Conference consider the desirability of the Harbour Boards of the Dominion being empowered, and assisted by the Government, to purchase a commercial fleet, to be subsidised by the Government. Snipping. Eketahuna: That legislation be asked for to enable, a poll to be taken for raiding a shipping loan, on the teeurity of occupied hind. Eastern Markets. Palmcrston North: That the Government be asked to appoint a representative to investigate the possibilities of opening up trade with the Eastern countries, with a view to opening up new markets for our dairy produce. National Committee. Wangauui S.P.D.; That the Farmers' Union supports the National Committee, set up by the butter and cheese producers., in their endeavours to secure an open market for dairy produce.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBPROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. The first annual meeting of the Manawatu Sub-Provincial Executive of the Farmer--' Union was held in Palmcrston North on Saturday. Mill. Vile presided. Other delegates present were: Messrs F W, Hubbard iTiritea), -J. Gloync (Rongotea), J. A. Sanson (Taikorea), N. Campbell (Kautvhata), T. Eraser (Waikanae), 11. linnd and A. A. Alsop (Rang'iotu), O. I'. Lynch (Paraparaumu), I'. G. Mildou i Kairanga), Duucum CManaknu). 'fully i 1,,.••.-in). J. C. McEweii (Tiakitiihuua), I. fowler (Bunnythorpc), J. J. Lynch Ashltursl i. .1. Balsillie and J. A. McI.envoy (Palmerstoti North), and A. Smith (Linton). President's Address. The President, in addressing the meeting on the working of ihe organisation during the year, said they must ail agree that when considering the immense handicaps that were experienced before they started, much good work had been done and much achieved l.y the branches federating and working together as one- body. After re-

viewing other successful achievements of the year Mr Vile # said that as a j -mall farmer lie welcomed the subprovincial scheme of organisation which had proved so beueficial even in the short time of its existence in this district, and it was a- th.' organiser had claimed it would be—practical, democratic and cosmopolitan. lie trusted that old and new members of the executive would strive to get every farmer possible into the organisation. .financial.. In the. balance-sheet the general accouut showed the receipts for the ending April Suth to have been £707 19s 6d. and the expenditure £664 3s 7d, leaving a balance of £133 15s ltd. The assets amounted to £241.1 !'.- lid, and ilja liabilities to USI tt- lid. In a statement of the anticipated revenue for 192.1 il was estimated that it would amount U/s-119 M« M, and that if the Sub-ProVincial Union did Us own erganisation it should receive about £250 that would otherwise be paid to the Provincial Uuioe. Also, ill 'hat event the possible revenue might amount, to : £O6O. The report and balance-sheet v,erc adopted subject to the latter I being audited.

Organisation. A recti; forwarded by the Kauwhata branch urged that the executive either appoint the present secretary (Mr G. W. C. Moon) or some other, who in addition to doing the secretarial work, should also take up the duties of secretary to some larger branches and the organising work of the district, at the same lime pushing mutual fire insur-ance.—-The remit was approved for discussion among the brauchcr;. Other Remits. Other remits were agreed to as follows: Levin: That the Farmers' Union should strongly protest against

| the closing of schools for the purpose , of Using such as polling booths while I halls :-.re available. Whakaronga: I That owing to the high price of land I the Union /-hould push the formation jof heid testing associations. TiukitaJhuna: That an objection be made 1 to the present system of taxing on

amount of income derived from the land, and that revenue required should be raised wholly us land tax, to be graduated according to value of property. The present system, instead of encouraging production, penalise.-, the farmer who tries to make the most off his place. Kauwhata: That the Farmers' Union protege against demurrage being charged on trucks after eight hours, especially ou lime, coal and lirewood for farmers and dairy factories, in which case we consider demurrage should not take effect until after twenty-four hours from the time that consignees have been notified. Tiakorea-Glen Oroua: That the Bailway Department be- urged to discontinue supplying class \V waggons tor carriage of cheese daring the hot months of the year, and that only ventilated Xor Xa trucks } : . e n-?<l. Also, that the Department be most strongly urged to expedite the delivery of cheese to grading stores. Election of Officers. The election of officers tor the cn;uin_ year resulted: —President. Mr F. W. Hubbard: vice-president. -Mr O. p. Lynch; trea-surer. Mr P. G. Mildon; auditor Mr W. Hunter: udvi-i>ry and finance committee, the President. Ves-r- P. 0. Mildon : A. Smith. O. P. Lvnch. A. A. Also?. J. H. Dixon. J. Balsiliie. E. Bond, ana H. Vil».