FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 29 May 1911, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, Saturday Night. The annual conference of the South Canterbury Farmers' Union to-day was largely attended. It discussed affiliation with the Employers' Union, which was disapproved of, fear of being involved in industrial awards being expressed. The proposal to form a political party connected with the union was also disapproved of, but it was decided to refer information on the subject to the branches for consideration.

Several farmers expressed strong objection to the new railway regulation regarding the delivery of 'goods at small stations on certain days only, as it would cause inconvenience when goods were wanted urgently, such as tags at threshing time. Mr. John Talbot was re-elected president, and also to represent the union at the Dominion conference.

At a subsequent luncheon, Mr. Turner (president of the local Employers' Association) assured the farmers that industrials wanted as little to do with the Arbitration Court as possible. A freezing works manager said his establishment had to work under 110 less than sixteen awards. SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE. Jnvercargill, Last Night. The conference of delegates from the various branches of the Farmers' Union in Southland was continued in Inveroargill on Saturday. The conference unanimously approved of the introduction of suitable youths as farm laborers, under careful selection, from Great Britain. Other resolutions carried were, inter alia, favoring a further amendment of the Crown Suits Act, making the State as liable as private employers in regard to compensation claims; favoring the importation of female servants; advocating a universal system of cow-testing in the interests of dairying; affirming that the pasteurisation of milk and when at dairy factories should be compulsory; urging the Government, in lien of natural forests, to continue afforestation in suitable localities, and remove the duty on imported timber, and also to abolish the differential railway rates. The conference also passed a motion expressing appreciation of the efforts of Mr. Lysnar, Gisborne, to improve the handling of JTew Zealand produce in London.