FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 17, 8 June 1914, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

HAWKE'S BAY CONFERENCE. ! :.v Ca'iV—l'i-vis Associati"-.--i ' .'.light Hastings, Friday. "\".:' :imv;al general meeting of the llawke.-/ bay district Fanners' Union. mn hi. Id this !i'.):>rning,-M.r.j«lwyn Chambers, provincial president in the chair. In the.course of his address, the president said farmers generally had had a very prosperous year. Prices for all farm produce had been very good, and those obtained for woo] and mutton combined had proved the present to be an exceptionally good year. Some of those who sold their wool early in the season were disappointed'. The alteration .in tihe American tariff in the beginning of December did not have an immediate result upon the prices obtained. This was to a great extent accounted for by the fact that when the duty was removed there was enough wool in bond to give six months' normal consumption, and this and other factors tended to retard the inevitable effect of the alteration of tariff which was now haying a tangible effect upon prices, but in on.er to obtain the full benefit growers should bear in mind that it would be necessary to study the requirements of American buyers. Prices obtained for mutton and beef had been very good, in fact prices for the year had been a record for the district. Dairy producers had realised excellent prices. Every year more and more of the best land in llawke's Bay was being turned into dairy farms. "The closer settlement of our district," said the president, "is a subject which is well worthy of the ■ serious consideration of the Farmers' Union..There is not the slightest doubt that every man who owns his own farm, or even a small piece of land, is a groat asset to any district, and Hawke's Bay lias done well in the number of settlers placed upon the land. Amongst ofjier land* opened up for selection recently, wore the Hmtclien, VVaihou, Ahutluranga. and Otawlmj blocks, comprising- about 53;11fK? acres. In all, 1021 applications were dealt with in connection with these lands, and settlement proceeded rapidly.

Mr S. Chambers moved the 'following remits ton. the Dominion conference: "That it he a recommendation to the Government when considering the. establishment of new country schools that the minimum urea, of land attached to nny .school shall be «n;>re.i.sed fi\~m 2 aeres to 5 acres, in order that when the time arrives, sufficient space shall be available." for practical .instruotdon i» agriculture, horticulture, besides learample room for open air physical instruction and playing grounds; that it be brought to the notice (if the Government that the burning' of rank grass along the railway line is dune at a time when there is no great risk of damage to adjoining pastures, that the Union considers that not sufficient, ear* is exercised in burning the grass." . Both remits were carried-ninmimous-It was decided that the farme.rß' Union deplore the frequent prosecutions for retailing impure and adulterated milk, and urge the fioverniiicnt to take more stringent mea.sures in milk inspection, and if necessary, to increase the penalty for this offence. It was also resolved that the Farmers' I'nion compliment the Government on the firm steps taken by them to preserve law and order during the late watersiders' strike, and on their efforts to keep the ports ef the Dominion open. Mr S. Cambers was ie-ele,ctc<l pro; vincial president.