FARMERS’ UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION.

THE TARANAKI BRANCH, MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE, A meeting of the Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held at Hawera yesterday. Present: Messrs. F. Mills, vice-president (in the chair), E. Maxwell, J. Sv; indiehurst, A. R. B. Pierce, T. J. Allan, H. B. Gibson, E. Betts. B. Orr, J. Cleaver, J. S. Barrow, H. Hodge, G. H. Buckeridge. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. Dunn, G, Burke, VV. Owen, and A. E/.Washer. GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES. The following recommendations, passed at a meeting of the Manaia branch, ■was received: “That in the opinion of this branch some place should be established by the Government to analyse soils for deficiency.” Speaking in this connection, Mr. Betts said that on inspecting some of the crops entered in the root crop competition it was found there were one or two that were looking particularly well and were expected to win the competition. Gn a later visit the crops were found to have stood still or even gone back. When moving in the direction of having the soil analysed for the purpose of finding the deficiency, he was astonished to find that the Government had no laboratory where soil could be analysed. The meeting resolved to write to the Department of Agriculture inquiring if the laboratory which had once existed had lapsed or whether such a place still existed, and to include this matter in a remit to the conference. DEMONSTRATION FARMS. Mr. Mills said that since the last meeting of the executive fie had visited the Moumakahi State Farm on the occasion of the recent visit of the Minister of Agriculture, and he had brought forward the matfer of combining the demonstration farms throughout Taranaki under one management. He expressed the opinion that all these farms should be worked in co-operation and on a commercial basis, aiming eventually at making them pay their No definite reply had yet been received to these representations. OPPOSITION TO TRUSTS. The Poverty Bay branch of the Farmers’ Union forwarded the following resolution for consideration: “That in the opinion of this branch the Government should take immediate and effective steps to absolutely stop the trust and big combines from directly or indirectly buying or controlling any freezing works in New Zealand, or operating in anyway with our produce, and in particular to stop Armour and Co., Vestey Bros., and the latter’s various organisations, from operating in any- way howsoever in connection with our freezing industry.” The branch also asked if the Taranaki branch agreed to the resolution that they write to the ActingPrime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and the members of the district, communicating their «o-operation in the matter. The meeting agreed that the trusts were a danger to the country and resolved to vigorously support the Poverty Bay resolution. WATERFRONT LABOR. The following resolution from the Tiraaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association in reference to water front labor was read: “That as the labor on the waterfront throughout New Zealand is most unsatisfactory and vitally eftediS the weitare of this country, the Timaru A. and I*. Associaion invites..all kindred associations and farmers’ unions in the Dominion to take the matter up and ask the Minister of Labor to convene a conference of all harbor boards with a ’ view to the adoption of some system of permanent labor on the wharves. Ihe association is also of the opinion that the harbor boards of the Dominin should have an executive in Wellington to regulate shipipng as much as possible at each port.” Mr. Maxwell said there was a feeling that the shipping companies would be glad if harbor boards took over the responsibility of waterfront labor and relieved them of the burden. He was of the opinion tlmt harbor board Control of labor would- not relieve the present unsatisfactory position, but would only shift the responsibility on to other shoulders. The resolution was received. FUTURE MEETINGS. The dates for future meetings of the executive were fixed for the Friday following the second Thursday in each month, the time to be 11.30 a.m.