NZ FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 May 1913, Page 6

NZ FARMERS' UNION.

THE PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE

The following remits appear on the agenda paper for the Wellington Provincial Conference of the New Zealii.tid Farmers' Union, to be held in Masterion on May 27th and 28th: — Land Act. —That in granting the l;v s-'iuule to all Crown tenants the most stringent conditions shall be ini|i;i -t'd, so as to make reaggregation impossible. That provision shall be made for thr> establishment of village settlements.

\'alllations. —That in oases of disagreement, as to value, the Governiiieni -hould bo compelled to take over all land at the Government valuation, or reduce to t.lie owners' value. ■ Pollution of Water Bill.—That the "Pollution of Water Bill" he considered hv the conference.

Board of Agriculture..—That the Conference views with pleasure the ovoposnl of the Government to establish a Board of Agriculture, and is of opinion such Board should have the assistance of local committees to advise as to matters of detail in the management of our State Farms. ThaN a continuous Board of Agriculture bo founded and that its (members he -elected from A. and P. Societies and other sources. Government Stud Stock. —That the Conference endorse the proposal of tljo Secretary for Agriculture re .t'hjfe slisppsal stock (by, ballots in-'-stesjd of- auction) i -.price to be fixed by - the department.. on a basis of. actual cost. ; • Railways.'^— I Thai .the . railway, charges wilj neyer be.satisfactory until \hey are made uniform throughout the Dominion at per ton per mile according to cost of traction. That the Government be again urged to remove the preferential rates cn 'bardwood timber and imported coal on the New Zealand That signals dr other means of warning be provided at dangerous* railway crossings, ajjd plantations near crossings to be kept down to nlltviv approaching trains to be seen That ;;t tent ion be drarfn to the practice of the Railway Department of burning off he growth along the railway lines, and not sowing same: thereby encouragin.r the growth of fern and noxious weeds, and thus creatine: the growth of fern and noxious weeds, ard thus creating cover for rabbits and -other nests, and frequently damaging by fire the private property of neighbouring farmers. That the Government Ire requested to provide insulated trucks for the carriage of dairy produce by rail. That the Government be urged to provide better .means for the carriage of dairy produce, from the factories to the port of export. \ That the Government be requested to provide greater facilities for loading stock at Flag Stations.

Noxious Weeds. —That it be the duty of local bodies to keep the roads free from noxious weed s and, not the adjoining owners as at present. The Railway Department to do likewise as regards the railway lines.

Employers' Association.—That the time has come when the Farmers' Union should affiliate with the New Zealand Employers' Association with, the object of combining forces against the unjust claims cf organised labour.

Workers' Compensation Act. —That tlie Workers' Compensation. ' Act should he amended, so that farmers wlio --take out an Employers' Indemnity policy against . accidents, should not be compelled to take out tlitei Mortgagees Indemnity policy.

Grass Seed on Crown Lands.—That the Government be asked t-o hnrv' the da.nthonia grass seed from Crown lands and supply it to the farmers at cost price. Conference Remits.—Tliat it be a recommendation to the Executive that all remits for the Provincial Conference be printed in the "Farmers' Union Adyicate" at least three weeks before the meeting of the Conference, so as to enable local branches to consider same, and that the agenda paper be forwarded to the secretaries as early as possible. That the Conference should, at the start, .fix on a time limit for remits so that it will ensure each remit being discussed in the given number of. hours allotted to the Conf"">'enee. . Draft on Wool.—That the Government be asked to assist farmers in getting the diaft on abolished. And that tare should be I;he actual weight of the bales and not lib in exceiss as some brokers now charge. Stallion Bill.—That it be an" in- , struction from the Provincial Conference to the Colonial Conference to wait upon the Minister and endeavour to obtain from him a pledge that the Government will not fail to bring j up the Stallion Bill in the coming session of Parliament. Watering Places for Stock. —That the County Councils be empowered to acquire land and provide* watering places for stock being driven on the roads. Contagious Ma mm it is. -^-T hat all cows that have suffered from con-

tagious mammitis be branded with a Government brand to safeguard buyers at stock auction sales. That the Government be requested to pass legislation that will prevent cows suffering from contagious mammitis being sold as dairy cows. Stock Auctions.—That it be a punishable offence to offer ewes heavy in lamb at a public saleyard. Daylight Parades.—That the Defence authorities be requested to alter the starting time for daylight parades : from 1 p.m. to 10.30 a.m. in dairying districts. Postal. —That in country districts past offices bo not. closed'-for a halfday in the week as* at present. In lieu of the weekly half-holiday, officials in charge be given an extra 14 days' holiday on full pay. That subsidies for inland mail contracts should be for the quick dispatch v of mails, and that mails should ; n all cases be sent to their destination without delay and have priority over passenger traffic. Labour Bureau. —That the interests of farmers would be considered by the establishment of a Labour Bureau 'n connection with each 4 branch of the Union. Motor Ca. T.ix.-—1 hat this Conference endorse the meditated action of the County Councils in taxing motor cars and that the money so raised be spent in the upkeep of arterial roads v That this Conference urge on the Government the necessity of establishment of a better system for taxation of motor propelled vehicles. Probate Duty,.—That a farmer, or, who so wishes, may be-permitted to deposit, with . the State Guaranteed Qivfeimilai- institutipn a sum .of -sums of-xnojiay sufficient to cover, his . prospective, probate duty. The amount lodgtcL to ijfear. interest annually at current be exempt from Probate Duty at maturity. Land Agency.—That in view of the many successful co-operative movements that have been initiated by the Farmers' 'Union from time to time, it is highly desirable in the interests j and for the protection of fanners, that ' the sale ar.] exchange of farming properties should be undertaken by t'ho Union through the agency and cooperation of each local branch.