FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 293, 20 May 1915, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

(.';>:>:''!■:;:!•:>:('!■: at pahiatua. My 'l'd-, graph, -l'.ess Association. I'ahialm;, May IS. At (!..' ir.v.vi,.,.;-,) r e■)■,.,'. aee "„;• f],e f.'.nu-rs' 1 "ni-.-i. 7,rY. T. l.Kiiai. Hie orosi.hsi. ~,:,! Hie farmers' i'cnl'ei'.'iii'i' had ahvavs been palri.,Hc, li ml l'c instanced !];.,!; fermi-i- ennfe,--tnces Lad i-i-i;hc-.(-.j! I lie (levoninemi, (e contribute mere In 1!.,. defence of (lie Kmpiro, and (he annual siil.shjv. :■■: a result, lia.d been increased to CHiiHUi'l Tn regard l<i Sir Joseph Ward's gift of a battleship, the fanners swept parte aside and supported it. The farmers also supported the compulsory miliiai",' training scheme. With' regard lo fluhigh, prices for produce, lie Relieved the fanners were prepared to tche less, provided the British (!oviaanuent and people at Home got |],e benefit, ],, it tli" farmers v.'ere not going jo lie exploited liv companies in enr midst. Thev li.ul their merchant princes who were taking advantage, of tli« unfurl unete position and holding stocks valued at Iht)iis:Mi.l ■- of penc.K Xo sooner lead Hie war been declared (han thev inccrc-.sni (he pri,vof these stocks. He dealt with ihplight of Hie baekb'ock sett lees, (heir isolation, had roads, and had seasons. Tie criticised the I'arni Laborers' Union t iiioveracnt, strongly condemned preference lo unionists, and urged that farmers slionld have better representation an the Wellington Harbor Board. The conference resolved that Hie (!oveminent; be requested to experiment on Hie eradication of noxious weeds, especi- | ally (lie California thistle, by vav of j inoculation. Mr. I'ope, of (he Agricultural DopartI niont, addressed the conference re C'alij fornian thistle. It was resolved that the (.'overiinient have control of the pig weighing scales at the railway; that the Railway Department be urged to remove the dill'eyential tarilT on imported timber, and remedy the delay in the delivery ot poods amounting to less tlnuj. one truck I load; that special legislation be provid- | ed giving first preference at hind ballots to men with the expeditionary forces; that the Covernment be urged to set aside blocks of land to be balloted for by returned soldiers; that the Hoard of Agriculture bo urged to establish an agricultural high school in the Wellington province. A lengthy discussion took place on the Mnrton remit re stock and auctioneers' commissions and charges, which were declared to be much bigger than in several other districts. A farmers' cooperative company was advocated bv some, while others defended the auctioneers. The debate was adjourned. Pahiatua, May lfl. Mr. Leigh Hunt, manager of the New Zealand Cooperative. Distributing Coiuj pany, suggested that the Dominion con- | ference of the union be requested to act with the Chamber of Commerce regarding the overseas shipping ring. Referring to one local shipping company, fe declared they were in the hands 'of a frightful monopoly. A good deal of coercion was going on. Contracts entered into in good faith were taken and pressure brought to bear. This company hud ramifications all over the country, and freights were continually going up with no justification. It was a most serious matter. He urged farmers to realise this.

The election of officers resulted: — President, T. Moss (Ekctahuna); vicepresident, (!. L. Marshall (Marton). treasurer, W. J. Birch (Marton). Sir James Wilson was elected a life member of tbo executive.

Mr. F. S. Tope, secretary of the Agricultural .Department, announced at the banquet that Mr. John Brown had been appointed director of the fields division in succession to Mr. Clifton. Mr. Brown was a student at Glasgow University and dislinguished himself in the agricultural course. He was a practical fanner, and previously instructor to Ihe South. Canterbury Education Board. Then he held a similar position in South Australia, and was latterly director of the Queensland Agricultural College, which position he is relinquishing to accept the New Zealand Government's position. At the banquet there wore many patriotic items, and subscription lists for the Belgians were taken round, and realised over £73.