FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 11, 1 June 1914, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

A POWER IN 'POLITICS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, May 30. The Thirteenth Annual Southland I Provincial Conference of Farmers' Uni ion opened this morning. The president (Mr Ford) in his address, referred to the ] strike as the greatest industrial upheaval in the Dominion, mid, taking into consideration that ports were for the time held up, the results were rightly satisfactory. They must recognise the fact that it was owing to the organisation of the Farmers' Union Dairy Asj sociation, and to a certain extent the i Employers' Association, that things J were readjusted to enable the business j of the country to proceed on the normal ; course. Southland had a little trouble ! as the result of the strike, though it J was felt indirectly. Grain returns were [diminishing, a s the result of the pro- ; gross of science in the matter of locoinoj tion and the substitution of petrol for oats, wlifch was a- serious problem. i The Farmers' Union was now regarded as a power to lie reckoned with, and its I voice in Parliament had a greater force . than in the past. Mr Ford referred to the cost of living, the money market. I land values and settlement, anil exports, and concluded by appealing to all fanners for encouragement and support. I Mr Ford weas re-elected president, and Messrs John McQueen, T. W. Foster ami .1. Smaill. vice-presidents. Amongst 'the remits carried was that the Government should continue the system of im-piu-ting farm laborers ami dumi-slies. i | .-