N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI PEOVMCHAL' EXECUTIVE. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Executive • of tile New Zealand Farmers' Union was held at Haw-era last week. There were present: Messrs J. W. Jones (president), R. LamMe, J. Thomson, H. Sutherland, A. Hunter, and J. 'Davidson. Apologies for absence were received from and leave granted to Messrs F. J. Virgin, E. W. Sergei and S. Forsyth. CORRESPONiDENCE. The Minister for Public Works wrote acknowledging the resolution of the Provincial conference re urging the construction of the Opunake railway.—Received. GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO LOCAL BODIES. By direction of tfe Minister of Public Works, the Under-Secretary wrote, in replv to the Executive's resolution .protesting against the condition that the cost of supervision, etc., should be paid out of local bodies' funds instead of out of the grants, stating "that the .provision requiring that no portion of the cost of supervision should be made a charge against the amount provided on a road is not a new. one by any means, and has been consistently in force for some years wherever work has been carried out by local bodies under Government grant. The Minister was of opinion that when the Government provides money for the purpose of assisting a local body to carry out its operations in respect of road works, it is only reasonable that the small percentage required to cover the cost of supervision should be found by the local .body. With the exception of some of .the local bodies in the Taranaki province, no objection had been made by local bodies generally no nie requirement that they should pay the cost of supervision."

Mr. Lamtoie said that the condition had •been objected to in the Auckland province. The condition was probatory risrlit in parts of the country that were settled, tout in opening up Dew country it would be a very great hardship on the few settlers to have to findi the cost of supervision, etc., of public works. He moved s That the letter he received, and the Minister foe informed that wtih reference to grants for o/pening up new country, it would foe unreasonable to ask the local toody to pay the cost of supervision. Mr Davidson seconded the motion, which was supported toy Mr. Thomson and carried.

[STATE FIRE INSURANCE METHODS. ' In reply to the Executive's resolution protesting against the methods 01 tne State Fire Insurance Office, the general manager of the State Office wrote: ' - I am directed Iby the Minister to say that hitherto no complaints have been received from any other mortgagors of the Advances to Settlers Office on the score than confidential information respecting their mortgages has 'been disclosed by the superintendent. Information regarding mortgages in any case cannot toe considered as confidential as it is obtainable from other -sources which are o,pen to the .public. The information supplied to the State Fire Office regarding mortgagedl properties is similar to that supplied in many cases where mortgagees are concerned. All insurance policies are for a fixed period'only, and. it is frequently the practice of mortgagees to determine the insurance company in which the new insurance is to he effected. In the case of Mr. Maxwell, however, he was applied to in order that he might have the option of selecting the office in which to effect the new insurance, a privilege which is not afforded by some mortgagees. If Mr. Maxwell desired that his insurance should toe renewed with the company now 'holding the risk, his intention could have been expressed to the agent in the ordinary manner. It is, I understand, the practice of insurance companies—-your own amongst the number—to canvass . for business without improper or underhand motives being imputed, and I much regret that your Union should have expressed its resolution in such unusual terms." Mr. Lamtoie move!— That the letter from the general manager of the State Fire Insurance Office toe received and acknowledged, and 'he toe informed that, in the opinion of this Executive, his re,ply to the Executive's resolution on the methods of the State Fire Insurance is contrary to fact, evasive and unsatisfac-1 tory, for the following reasons.—(l) Information regarding mortgages is confidential; (2) the information supplied to the State Fire Insurance' Office regarding mortgaged .properties is not, as' is stated in general manager's letter, similar to that supplied in other cases; (3) the executive is well aware of the fact that it is the practice of insurance offices to canvass for business, tout it has yet to learn of any office, .besides the State Office, whose , agents are supplied—and that in a wholesale manner—by a de* J partment of State with the .particulars, i for insurance purposes, of properties I which another office paid to get. In this respect the State Fire Insurance Office has the unique distinction of standing alone; 14) in the Executive's resolution to the Minister Mr. Maxwell's r.*ma was not mentioned, and the Executive can only regard the general manager's reference to Mr. Maxwell and the mention j of "the option" and •'privilege" allowed I him as begging the question. Mr. Maxi well's case is only one of scores that ' I the Executive is aware of. !'Mr. Thomson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. , UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS IN AGRICULTURE.

Mr. P. O'De.a and Mr. Brown, a deputation from thfi Wauganui Education Board, waited on the executive with reference to the .suauested university scholarships in agriculture. Mr. O'Dca said the subject was one of very 'great importance to farmers. At the present time the subject of agriculture was tausht in high schools, but after a pupil had had a grounding in the high school there was no provision for his continuing his course except at the Lincoln College. That most 'boys, especially the sons of''poor parents, could not do. The Board had an idea of establishing an agricultural college in the Xorth Island. The proposal was to establish twelve scholarships to enable twelve youths to participate in a thorough agricultural education. They would ask the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union to establish one scholarship. Mr. Brown emphasised what Mr. O'Dea had said. The followin? resolution was passed:— That the Executive heartily approves the proposal of the AVanganui Education Board to establish agricultural scholarships, and will do all in its power to assist it, but that the question of finance be considered at a fuller meeting. DRAINAGE ACT. Mr. T. Chapman, Eltham, interviewed the Executive with reierence to an •amendment in the Drainage Act similar to that .proposed at the Dominion Conference last year. It was decided to send in the remit as a supplementary remit for this year's ordar paper. The remit was as follows:—"That the pro-

vision of part IV. of the Drainage Act be made applicable to maintenance as well as construction and that provision be made that costs arising through neglect or extraordinary damage be assessed against the person causing the sr.me'; "That a clause be added providing that all preliminary costs, including surveys, registration fees, witness and assessors be allocated toy the Court."