AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 170, 27 June 1900, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. (PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, June 26. The Agricultural Conference opened at the Museum this morning. About fifty delegates from various agricultural societies in the colony were present, Mr, W, Reece, chairman of the last conferencßj presided, and gave an address on "the business done at the last conference, a formal report on which was read by the secretary (Mr. M. Murphy).

Messrs. j. S. Ritchie (Secretary of the Agricultural Department), J. A. Gilruth (Government Veterinary Surgeon), Kinsella (Dairy Commissioner), and T. W. Kick (Entomologist) represented the Government. Mr. W. 0. Buchanan was l elected chairman, and delivered an address.

A resolution of condolence was passed to the relatives on the death of the late Mr. A. McHardy,* prominent member of the conference.

Resolutions were unanimously passei in favour of increased facilities fo; obtaining trucks and sheets for thi conveyance and covering of produce an< stock, and that the Government bi approached with that object; that i reduction in freight on produce am drain tiles be made; that the gros; weight of each loaded grain truck out ward be given, and that such truck b< weighed after unloading in order ti arrive at the tare to be deducted, am chat such weights be furnished to thi consignor as well as the consignee fchat the Railway Department be askei for the following concessions, viz.j " i the whole or part of a consignment bi returned to the original station withii one month from the closing of a shov or parade, the exhibits will, on pro duction of a certificate in writing from the owner or his agent that the; consist solely of exhibits taken or sen by himself to the said show or parade be carried back free, but at the owner'i risk, and one-half of the freight bi refunded. All exhibits purobased o: exchanged and returning with sucl consignment, and not requiring addi tional trucks, will be carried free, and if additional trucks be required, thei at half ordinary rates " ; that the Oon ference request the Government ti issue free passes on railways to judge while exercising dutieß at shows; tha the Government be asked to take suet measures as will expedite the transport of stock to and from shows by running special trains and minimising the number of shuntings; that steps be taken to open up a market for New Zealand produce in South Africa, and that a produce commissioner be appointed to encourage the trade; that this Oonference protests against the increased freights charged for the conveyance of live stock to South America, and, to encourage this export trade, urges shipping companies to return to, or even reduce, last year's scale of freight, At the afternoon sitting, a motion that the question of freights and insurance on frczan dairy and other farm produce be considered by the conference evoked considerable discussion, in the course of which the Hon. T. McKenzie, who was the London representative of several New Zealand expoiters for some years, gave an explanation of the working of the trade there, moving an addition to the motion to the effect that the State system, of insurance be established with a view to a reduction in the premium on frozen produce. The mption was carried, but the addition proposed by Mr, McKenzie was negatived. The following motion was also agreed to: —"That the conference be asked to consider thp advisability of approaching the Union S,S. Co, with a view to inducing them to make their charges for carrying stud stock mere reasonable."

The qnestion of the size of sacks for grain, with a view to reduction, caused censiderable discussion, A proposal was made that sacks be 23 by 48, containing three and a half bushels, in place of §6 by 48- Ah antendmept that the size be 44 by 26 was moved. Ultimately, it was earned that no expression of opinion be made. Mr. T, Brydone read a paper on lime. With regard to commissions, it was resolved that all produce should be sold net. without discount, and sacks paid for, ' '

In connection with a proposition that the conference should consider the question of federation, Mr. 0. Shepherd (Auekland) read a paper on that gutuect. The conference adjourned at 6 p.m. till 10 a.m. to-morrow.