FARMERS’ UNION.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 289, 30 July 1908, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION.

The seventh annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was opened in Wellington on Tuesday. In his annual address,- the president (Mr J. G. Wilson) expressed regret at the death of Mr Peat, who had been an active member. He commended the Premier’s action in granting the request of the union that the .sheep tax should be abolished. The considerable falling off in prices of wool during the

past year caused a fall in the price of sheep, and cattle also were very unsaleable. Wool at its . lowest point fell 50 per cent, on last year’s rates, and there was at present a fall of 33 1-3 per cent. There would not seem to be any reason to fear such low prices as we had a few years ago, which were again touched in March of this year. Frozen meat prices were fairly maintained, especially lamb. The lamb trade was assuming large dimensions. Prices for butter and cheese were very remunerative, and the total export of these two products was over £2,000,000. The piospects for the coming season appeared to be excellent. Increased interest had been taken by farmers in experimental farms, which were doing -good work. Mr Wilson also referred to the fact that we were nearing the end of our timber supply, and laid stress on the necessity for reafforestation.