FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1917, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

annual conference, concluding business.

annual Dominio'i Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was concluded in Wellington on Eridav. Sir .lames Wilson presided. The following resolutions were carried:— Mortgage interest.—''That the Government Life Insurance be asked to allow clients the privilege of giving three months' notice for the partial repayment of mortgages, instead of the present system of the payment of three months' interest."

Workers' compensation.—'That when an employer has insured his employees in any reputable accident insurance office, in tho joint names of the mortgagees and mortgagor, iSub-sections 4 and 5 of .Section 41 of the Workers' Compensation Act, 1908, should not apply." I'look-keeping in schools. —"That in the opinion of this conference the time lias now arrived when the sixth standard in our primary schools should be taught book-keeping, particularly as the law now provides that farmers shall keep books and sutflnit their income accounts to the Department."

Metric system.—"That this conference urge the adoption of the metric system of woights and measures, and the decimal system of coinage, and suggest the matter lie brought before the Government with a view of having them introduced at the termination of the war." White pine forests.—"Thai; in view of the threatened shortage of white pine timber in the near future, the Government he urged to consider the advisability of purchasing suitable areas of privately-owned white pine forests not at present being worked, which, together with similar areas of such forests owned by the Government, would form a, reserve of white nine timber for the future needs of the Dominion; and that the Government be urged to plant waste lands with trees suitable for butterboxes after the war."

Transfer of stock.—"That the grave disability that Marlborough is under in shipping stock to and from the North Island is one that is of importance to the stock-owners of the Dominion, and the Government should he called on to remedy this state of affairs by immediately providing proper stock facilities at the port of Picton." Control of guano islands. —"That the Government be urged to obtain the control of guano islands, with a view to reducing the present high prices of fer-

Soil survey.—"That a systematic; floil survey should be undertaken as soon as possible after the war." ■Diseases of turnips.—"That the Agricultural Department be asked to investigate the cause of dry-rot and club-roof in turnips (particularly swedes), which have become so prevalent as to be alarming to those who have to provide 'Winter food for stock. A remedy is absolutely noees%iry, otherwise the growing of turnips is threatened with extinction."

Stallion bill.—"That the Stallion Bill as drawn up by Dr. Reakes and presented to Parliament be made law." Stock census.—"That the stock census returns should be made complete by ohtaining more detail as to the classes and ages of stock, so as to provide data on which a correct estimate of the available stock in the country can be formed, and that information should be published as sooon as possible annually."

Railage of horned cattle.—"That It be illegal to truck horned cattle after a term of three years from date, show and stud cattle excepted."

Officers were elected as follow:—Dominion president. Sir James 0. Wilson (Bulls)"; vice-president. Mr. G. W LeadJey (Ashhurton) ; Advisory Committee— North Island, Messrs. E. A. Campbell (Wanganui), T. Moss (Eketahuna), A, A. Ross (Te Kauwhata): South Island. Messrs. IT. D. Vavasour (Blenheim), George Sheat (Dunsandel). J. M'Queen (Invercargill); treasurer, Mr. W. J. Birch (Marton). The conference concluded shortly after 5 p.m.