FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1919, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

ADDRESS BY MR. MASSEY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Mr. Massey addressed the Farmers' Union and advised the extension of the meat commandeer another twelve months as' the safest way. . The Imperial Government was negotiating with the South American republics to renew contracts, and he assumed there would be no difficulty as far as New Zealand was concerned. The extension of the commandeer would ease the shipping position, and he thought that at the end of another twelve months the stores would be empty. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. The conference of the Farmers' Union elected the following officers: —President. Sir James Wilson; vice-president, M: G. W. Leadley; advisory commit;. v: North Island, Mr. E. A. Campbei. (Wanganui), Mr. D. Moss (Wellington), Mr. R. D. Duxfield (Auckland); South Island, Mr. H. D. Vavasour (Marlborough), Mr. O. G. Stent (Dunsandel), Mr. J. J. Bitchener (Makikihi); treasurer, Mr. W. J. Birch (Marton). THE CATTLE TICK. The Director of Agriculture addressed the conference on the subject of the cattle tick, saying that there was no immediate danger, but the time was opportune to get to work to eradicate the pest, to which end the Agricultural Department had drawn up regulations of a drastic character. The regulations were adopted by the conference. Dr. Reakes said they would be gazetted as soon as possible. NOXIOUS WEEDS. COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSALS, Wellington, Last Night. The following remit was moved by Mr. R. Dunn (Tarauaki): "That in the opinion of this conference noxious weeds have become such a nuisance as to warrant a complete change in the provisions for their control, and would advise the following: That legislation be passed providing that, on petition of one or more local bodies, or a proportion of ratepayers in. any district, a noxious weeds board may be set up, consisting of local representatives, either by election or nomination, with, say, a representative of the department, the board to have powers including the following: (1) Classifying and dividing the district under their control into areas (not necessarily contiguous), such as, say, (a) clean, (b) fairly clean, (o) bad., but reclaimable, (d) extremely bad; (2) differential rating powers, either for tho purposes of providing funds for the management of tho work of weed suppression'or as security for loans to be raised for the same purpose; (3) to enforce control or eradication of weeds in any part of an area under their control, either by owner or holder; (4) on failure of the above, to carry out the work of the owner or holder or out of rates or loan; (o) to obtain through the ceurt an order empowering the taking over on valuation any land which it has boon proved to the satisfaction of the court that practical reclamation for fanning purposes is impossible; (6) and for the board to undertake the suppression by afforestation of other means." Dr. Reakes, Director of Agriculture, said that a proposal on somewhat similar lines had been receiving tho attention of the department. He had prepared regulations covering the details of the remit, and lie could sav that the department was about to introduce legislation similar to what was proposed*' Mr. G. W.. Leadley, Ashburton, said that the present legislation was not effective. Something should be done to improve its administration. The remit was carried unanimously. lh e following was carried: "That the Agricultural Department should bo requested to declare lantana a noxious shrub and prevent any lantana »eed being imported into this country." THE WATER PERN. ~J h<! f ? l!owin g rcm 't was also carried: that the Department of Agriculture be asked to institute research for the purpose of finding means to cope with the creeping or water fern, which is a great pest to settlers on the high lands of north Wellington and Taranaki provinces. Dr. Reakes stated that the department was already carrying out extensive experiments to discover the most practical and economical methed of abating the growth of this noxious fern. SHIPPING. Other remits carried were: That immediate steps should be taken now that the war is over to proceed with the project of the formation of a snipping company. That in the opinion of this conference there should be no shipping contracts, but if thev are forced upon us they should be co-terminous. SHEEP DIPS. That the Government be asked to secure an analysis of all sheep dips on the New Zealand market, with a view to having those tested from time to time to secure their being up to standard,

THE RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. That this conference expresses its dissatisfaction with the railway administration, and considers the time has come when the Government should adopt a more progressive policy, both with regard to the pushing on of new railways and as a matter of adopting more up-to-date and progressive methods of administration, so that the needs and convenience of the public may receive more consideration. ' That the Railway Department be requested to arrange for the faster carriage of cheese and butter from factories to the cool stores. That the Railway 'Department be requested to keep railway fences running through private lands in a better state of repair, and, failing that, the department be held responsible for any loss of stock caused thereby. THE BUTTER INJUSTICE. Remits were earritd protesting agairfst the action of the Government in fixing the price of butter at 2Jd per lb. below the export price, and urging the Government to make provision for the repayment of the butter-fat levy out of the consolidated revenue. OTHER REMITS, That the 'Department of Agriculture be asked to provide increased inspection in the extermination of rabbits and noxious weeds. That the Government he asked to take steps to keep down rabbits on native lands, and also on all unoccupied lands held by them. . Shaft tfejit Mttfarwnffl oouuUm ibifeUfi

facilities should be given to back-block settlers for getting schools. That this conference is of opinion Mat teachers in small country schools are.at present insufficiently paid, and tflat tho Government be asked to pay full salaries for schools that have an average of five pupils. It was decided that the New Zealand banners' Union should inquir* into the question of co-operative export and sale ?l A W Zealail,i me *t on the v-wsMion of the Government commaliJeir. It was decided to urge the Government to prohibit the importation of ess Dub into the Dominion