FARMERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9053, 25 July 1917, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, July 24. At the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, to-day, it was resolved that the Government be urged to introduce a liberal scheme of land settlement to induce men to settle on the land in increased numbers; that when the Crown deals with Crown lands in any county council's area the council be represented in locating the roads, arranging; subdivision of the land, and fixing the rentals of same. ;

The conference discussed the question of taxation, and passed a resolution to the effect that in the place of the present excess profits tax the Government be requested to raise the necessary. revenue bys a graduated income tax.

The conference reiterated its protest against the imposition of an export tax.

A proposal that the amount of exemption should be lowered was defeated.

It was resolved—"That,this conference records its .'emphatic protest against the butter-fat tax as being unjust and uncalled for, and a special tax upon 0110 ; of: the hardest-worked' section? of the community." ( ■ Another resolution passed wits -t'oj .the effect that as the labour" of y$ fal}-j mer's family is so essential in carrying on farm work, there should be' vla'n additional exemption of, say, £50 for each member of the family over 14 who the head of the family declared was engaged at least one-third of his time in farm work.

The following remits were carried: Tha,t occupiers of national endowment lands be granted the option^ of purchasing the freehold, and that all be thrown open on these terms as required, and the proceeds, however invested, remain a nationa lendowment.

That the Government be asked to have . the ' lands of the Dominion periodically valued at intervals of not less than seven years, and that the valuations of contiguous counties be undertaken in rotation, according to their position to each other.

That it be a recommendation to the National Efficiency Board that in all cases of appeals of shearers and slaughtermen, a trustee board's report be obtained for presentation to the Military Service Board before any decision is arrived at.