Second Edition FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 20, 28 May 1913, Page 6

Second Edition FARMERS’ UNION.

“AX UNHOLY ALLIANCE.” Dunedin, May 27. The Press Association telegram from Christchurch concerning a report that a conference is to he held there between representatives of the Christchurch shipping companies and the Federation of Labour, to discuss arrangements by which the companies will virtually exclude free labor from employment on the wharves, has caused some comment in Dunedin. Enquiries made amongst the local waterside workers drew the information that so far as they were concerned, they had no knowledge of the suggested conference, while the representatives of the shipping companies likewise expressed their ignorance of any movement in the direction indicated. Further investigations, however, revealed the fact that there is no doubt that such a conference is proposed, and several of the Otago Employers’ Association, when seen on the matter, expressed themselves in strong terms of disapproval of the action of the representatives of the Christchurch shipping companies. It was also gathered that the movement within the city is entirely a local one, without other centres appearing to have been consulted in regard to the conference, and the suggestion' was made that it is a diplomatic move on the part of the Federation to save its face after the rebuff it received over the Timaru strike. There seems to be no question, so far as the local employers are concerned, hut that strong criticism of the proposed conference will go forward from Dunedin. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. , Masterton, May 28. The Farmers’ Union Conference resumed this morning. It was decided that the executive consider the question of a better scheme of organisation of the Farmers’ Union.

A remit by Tainui that the- defence fund should be taken out of levy, and that to provide funds a levy should be on a gliding scale, was lost. It was decided to ask the.. Government to allow danthonia to be cut by contract on Crown Lands as is done in the case of cocksfoot.