FARMERS CONFER.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1922, Page 5

FARMERS CONFER.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. “WORST PROBABLY OVER.” CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE. S : 'i By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington July 25. Forty-eix delegates, representing branches in all parts of New Zealand, are attending the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which commenced here to-day, the president (Mr. W. J. Polson) occupying the chair. The presidential address was very comprehensive. Inter alia, it stated: “I say with confidence that no clase in any community ever bore such severe trials with more exemplary fortitude than the farmers of New Zealand. They have not flinched, and to-day, feeling that die worst is probably over, they are looking forward with calm courage and. renewed confidence to the future in the certain conviction that their industry is sound and that this Dominion must sooner or later come into its own. Constructive work is needed.”

Mr. J. G. Anderson (Sounds), in moving a vote of thanks to the president for his address, said Mr. Polson had been a live wire and had done most valuable service in the interests of the farmers of the Dominion. The vote was carried by acclamation.

The Southland remit that the conference disapprove of the way the present method of military instruction is carried out was referred to the executive for consideration. Mr. Arnott (Southland) said the country was not getting value for the money spent. The conference endorsed a motion that the large expenditure entailed upon the country under the various systems of pensions, other than military demanded serious consideration. Mr. Stace (Marlborough) moved tha* the Government take over all the main highway roads in the Dominion and maintain them, but an amendment that the Government be urged to push on with the Main .Highways Bill this session, was carried. THE ROADING PROBLEM. TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS. DAILY WEATHER REPORTS. Wellington, Last Night. z At the Farmers’ Union conference the following remits were passed:— Mr. G. P. Johnson (Southland) moved: “That in the opinion of the conference the time is ripe for some improved system in making and maintaining roads, and that county councils be urged to take the matter into serious consideration.” He did not wish to press too hard on county authorities, but they and road boards should carry out the maintenance of roads better than, the Government. Mr. P. Arnett (Southland) moved: — “That the Government be urged to provide cheaper methods of telephone construction, thus enabling many farmers to link up to telephone bureaus.” He urged that telephones should be made as cheap as possible to encourage people to go into the backblocks. Pelorous.—-“That this conference advocates country post and telephone offices being 'furnished daily with a weather report.” It was urged that this could be posted up in the office in the same way as the official war bulletins were treated. It would be of the greatest practical assistance to farmers m getting in crops and in other agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Mr. R. D. Duffield: “That in view of insufficient facilities in New Zealand for training students in agriculture, the Government be requested to immediately proceed to establish an agricultural training college.” Discussion showed that sueh provision was very much needed for training farmers’ sons. Mr. J. Clark (Otago): “That the present method of raising money for hospital and charitable aid purposes is an inequitable tax on ratepayers, and that the Government be requested to pass legislation by which the money required for the purpose will be collected on a more equitable basis; also that the law be altered so that where a special rating area, or drainage or other district is seeking to be proclaimed, or any public body proposes to embrace new territory or alter in any way its rating area, it must have sueh proposals printed and posted up in the post office in the affected areas, or sent by Registered letter to the ratepayers concerned.”

Mr. C. K. Wilson (Auckland): “That the conference urges the Government to immediately give effect to the recommendations of the Hospital Commission of 1921, which provides for an adjustment of the subsidies paid to hospital boards throughout the Dominion, as many districts, especially those having a large Maori population, require urgent relief.”