NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8229, 5 September 1906, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

/ ANNUAL CONFERENCE,

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON,. September 4. The Farmers' Union annual conference opened here this morning. TLe President (Mr J. G. Wilson), in his opening speceb, gave an exhaustive review of the past yeßr from the farmers' point of view. The year 'bad been most successful, and so far as prices were concerned tbere was nothing to complain of. The crops, however, had been very uneven. The large quantity of lamb going in late this season, and the very large expected production of fat lambs in Australia this spring, would probably cause prices to ease. It was satisafactory to note that flocks had begun to assume their normal numbers again. In regard to batter and cheese, the prospects for the coming season seemed good, still a great many dairymen are going out ot business' owing to the difficulty of gptting suitable labour. It had been calculated that ono million sterling per annum was lost through not properly culling the cows after testing the cows for a few months. After referring to the need for further advance in rural education, and the establishment of an agricultural college for the North Island, and the multiplication of experimental stations, ho urged farmers to watch their interests in connection with the proposed tariff charges. Touching on the question of land tenure, he reiterated the Union's arguments in favour of the acquisition of the freehold \st the original value. With the present leasehold of Crown lands there was a sense of insecurity nacl farmers could do more with their laud if undisturbed by that brake upon their energies. A vote of thanks was passed to the President for his addreso. The first subject discussed was the laud question, the Taranaki delegate moving "that the agitation for the option of the freehold be prosecuted with the utmostwigour." The mover (Mr Forsyth) expressed the opinion that the Government's latest proposals would only suit the Socialists. Mr McQueen urged that the freehold tenure made the best farmer. If the Government proposals were passed to-day they would be repealed later on. The motion was carried after further discussion.