FARMERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8464, 1 June 1916, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

GTAGO PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. (For Press Association). DUNEDIN, May 31. At the annual conference of delegates to the Otago Provincial Council oi tho New Zealand Farmers' Onion, it was rosoived to protest against any embargo on the export ot: produce or the imposition of export duties. It was also decided to protest against any award for farm labourers, as it would be unworkable, owing to tho peculiar combinations which apply to rural work. A resolution was carried that the Government be approached with a view to purchasing suitable lands for returned soldiers; also that the Government take into consideration tho establishment of a training farm for soldiers before placing them on Government sections. A proposal that a tax on wealth bo imposed in lieu of income and land tax was lost.

Mr A. S. Orbel! introduced a remit— " That we are in favour of compulsory military service, and aro prepared to support the Government in any measure necessary to carry out the principle." . Mr Orbel] said that no doubt the ] Conscription Bill would be_ carried, j There v, ras a natural aversion in o, country like this', to any .sort nf compulsion, but when' an urgent call came its answer had to be assured. __ Already J one person in every 16 of New Zealand's population had volunteered and J gone bo the front, and that was something for the country to be proud of; but trhey needed yet more mon. Our 1 existence depended on winning, and statesmen assured us that the only way i to get every man was to enforce compulsion. A delegate: Would it not be still easy to shirk even under compulsion ? If a district supplied its quota throughout without the measure having to be applied, then the shirker would still be iiTilo to skulk at homo. I The motion'was carried.