FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 189, 31 July 1908, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE

By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Thursday. The Farmers' Union Conference today decided to urge the Government to assist local bodies in taking laud tor necessary roads to native lands, where such roads have not been provided for by the Native Land Court. It was also resolved that only ratepayers be empowered to vote on local government matters in counties, road boards, and rural districts, and that the Conference protests in the most emphatic manner against the proposal to extend the Parliamentary franchise for the purpose of electing those bodies. In the course of a discussion on the subject of payment to borough and city councils of all fees paid for the issue of auctioneers' licenses, the opinion was unanimously expressed that it was unfair to deprive country bodies of all share in such moneys. . The statement was made that the best method of allocating such moneys would be to devote them to Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. A motion embodying this view was passed. Wellington, Last Night. At the Farmers' Union Conference to-day resolutions were adopted as follows:—That tile Noxious Weeds Act be enforced, ami applied equally to Crown and native lands wherever the same adjoin lands occupied bv Europeans; that the Department be thanked for its action in the past and to be; asked to earn- out the Noxious Weeds Act with greater stringency; that in view of the marked success that has attended the introduction of small owls in the destruction of small birds, it is desirable to make Some united ellort for the importation of a sufficient number for distributing throughout Xew 'Zealand, and that local bodies wntch have power to make a rate for such purposes be urged to take united action accordingly; that in view of the present system of the animal sheep dipping without any strenuous attempt to exterminate the vermin, it is desirable to consider what methods can be adopted what methods can be adopted for securing the absolute extermination of all sheep, parasites; that the Go-vernment-be asked to endow a chair of agricultural science alone in the Universities of the Dominion; that the Government be asked to establish experimental farms in the South Island; that inspectors have power to order dairy herds, including bulls, to be treated for contagious abortion and contagious maiuitis. notice to be given to have herdß so treated by inspectors; that the owner of land wl'iere compensation is not provided for be liable for improvements demanded under tne Dairy Act provided that the tenant pays interest oil the outlay and depreciation during the term of the occupancy; that the Government be requested to establish a separate Land Board for Poverty Bay. Fraternal greetings were received from the Xew South Wales Farmers' and Selllers' As-ocialion now in conference, and a suitable reply was ordered to be sent.