FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 159, 9 July 1903, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Per Prets Association. Wellington, July 7, At the Farmers' Union Mr. McQueen (Southland) moved branches of the Farmers' Union throughout New Zealand should urge their several representatives in Parliament to oppose any fresh legislation that may be introduced making it compulsory that unionists ehould have preference of employment in Arbitration Oourt awards." The Auckland, Wellington, North and South Canterbury, and Otago Councils also forwarded similar resolutions.

Mr. Birch (Wellington) moved a> an addition to the motion -" That in order to cirry out the desire as expressed by the various branches and this Council on the question of compulsory employment of unionists, a deputation, consisting of the president and members of the Council wait upon the Premier to represent our views on the subjects." The motion was carried with the addition.

Mr Buckland moved a proposition from Otago, Taranaki, and South Canterbury—"That the "Union protests against the suggested proposals that the Parliamentary roll be the basis of local bodies' elections."

Mr Leadley seconded, and asked what happened to the resolution passed | at the last Conference. The President said all resolutions had been passed on to the Ministers concerned, and in some ease?, and in this one he believed, they had received j mere formal acknowledgement. I It was agreed to refer the resolutions of this Conference to the committee, with a view of placing them before the Government. . The motion was carried. Mr T. W. P. Smith moved a remit from Auckland—" That the House of Representatives be asked to have Marching inquiry made into the alleged expenditure of special grants from Ap?il 1, 1901, to Maroh 31, 1902, as shown by the Public Works Estimates for 1902." After discuss'on the motion was withdrawn by consent, as being covered by a plank cf the Union's platform.

Mr Mergan moved a remit from Auckland—"That in the opinion of this Conference an Act should be passed giving local bodies increased rating powers, and providing for a graduated subsidy for same." After discussion, the motion was amended, and pissei as follows—" That in the event of the Government bringing in a Loc J Authorities Bill this cession it should provide that subsidies should be distributed on a sliding scale, giving those bodies which strike the highest rates a larger subsidy and ihose striking lower ra k es a smaller subsidy." Mr Phillips moved a remit from Auckland regarding the expenditure of grants for road works. The resolution of last year on the ■abject was eventually re-affirmed as follows—" That the Government be requested to give authority for grants for roads, bridges, e'e, to be expended within one month after the Estimates are passed by the House of Representatives.

Mr McQueen moved a Southland remit, endorsed by North Canterbury —"That the Colonial Council take steps to secure a reduction in the rates of freight on live stock, secure better arrangements in the running of stock trains, so that leis time will be occupied in transit, and also to urge the Bailway Department to classify and reduce rates on farm produce in sacks or bales, also frozen meat and its byeproducts." Mr Usees seconded. He thought it was an extraordinary thing to see hundreds of thousands of sheep being driven along a road alongside a railway, deteriorating on the journey from fats to stores.

Mr Backland pointed out that nobody could cope with the demand for tolling etcck at certain seasons. The motion was carried. Mr Rutherford moved a remit from Auckland and South Canterbury regarding faulty railway weights, Mr Leadley and he knew a case in which a man lost five hundred bushels of oats out of a consignment of fifteen thousand beshels. A resolution was carried as follows: " That in view of the greit benefit; to farmers which will result from the Issue of a certificate of guaranteed weight of fa. iu produce carried by the railways, a deputation wait upon the Minister of Railways respectfully askng that inquiry be made as to the

possibility of the Department issuing certificates guaranteeing the weight of produce, and the approximate cost of Buch certificate." Mr Recce moved a North Canterbury remit—" That tho weighing of grain in railway" trucks is unsatisfactory, and tint threshing machine weights, checked by percsntsg« of bags weighed oa scales ia the presence of a stationmaster, be th° basis of exchange as between buyer and Heller."

The motion wis earned, Mr Ohaytoo (Marlborough) proposed —" That the insufficiency of railway stock to cope with traffic, without unduly inconveniencing consignor, be considered." The President read a letter from the Minister of Railways,, in which it was st -.ted the D-'partmect had under consideration the matter cf further increasing the number of sheep tracks on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section, and anticipated a large number of trucks would be ready for next season's business. The motion was canied. The Conference adjiuined till tomorrow.

Wellington, Ju!y 8,

This afternoon resolutions were carried that all lime for agricultural purpises, including ground lin.e, should be carrisd free on railways imspecive of distance ; that tho attention of the Government be drawn to the danger at railway level crossings caused by plantations and live fences preventing persons, seeing approaching traits; that t 'e Land Act, 1892, be administered in its entirety, giving the option of three tc'ires; that the co-operative l-ibfur sy'fia should be replaced by, let iiig contacts wherever possible. j

A long discussion took place on the Wellington remit that tho right of obtaining the freehold bo extended to Crown tenants on certain conditions. Eventually on the President's suggestion a resolution was parsed that Clause 3 of the platform clearly defines the views of the Union on the question.

It was decided that the attontion of the Minister of Lands be drawn to the very unsatisfactory way in which the ballot system of disposing of land results, especially when sections have been grouped. A deputation from the Wellington Employers Association waited on the Conference and stated they would wiiliugiy co-operate in resisting compulsory preference of employment being given to unionists.