FARMERS' CONGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 5

FARMERS' CONGRESS.

UNOCCUPIED LANDS. IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED. ROADING NATIVE -LANDS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Dominion Farmers' Union conference was continued to-day. Mr. W. D. Lysnar moved:—" That the Government he urged to deal at once with all unoccupied Crown and native lands, as they are a source of danger to neighbouring occupiers by fostering noxious weeds and rabbits. That natives be encouraged to cultivate their remaining land by extending to them the advantage of loans under the Advances to Settlers Act on terms and conditions similar to the advances made to European settlers, and that the land held under the native freehold title be accepted as sufficient security. That practical farmers be appointed as instructtors and paid by the State." Mr. R Dunn (Taranaki) was granted permission to couple with the remit a j resolution: "That the attention of the • Government be drawn to the need of something being done to help and induce i natives to farm and increase production : on their land." Both remits were carried. I The Auckland Union proposed that tiie native land laws be consolidated and co .' remodelled as to prevent the retarding | of production, and the proper • roading and railing of' the eoun- I try. and for the checking of purely speculative dealing in native lands. The remit further suggested that I where the Crown has to make and construct roads, or to construct roads already proclaimed or reserved through lands which are blocking the proper development of the country, such lands should be charged with their fair proportion of such work, according to the benefit derived, in the same manner as if such expenditure had been made by way of loan to the Native Land Board or local body, with provision for the recovery of interest and sinking fund charges. The remit was adopted. Upon the motion of the Auckland Union, the conference decided to urge the Government to acquire and open up native land in the Urewera country at the earliest possible moment. ■On behalf of the Hawke's Bay Union, Mr. J. H. Joll moved: "That the time has arrived \vhen native lands served by roads or railways, and held by natives, should pay the same taxes as the land held by Europeans." The remit was carried. A select committee made the following recommendations: —That the cutting up of large estates by compulsory repurchase at fair values is, in the best interests of the country. That suburban lands be cut up and roaded, and houses built for workers to purchase on time payment. That the principle governing the_» proceedings shall be the freehold. ! A resolution of the committee on capital and labour \va3 adopted with the following addition: "That it should be impressed on the farming community that proper and convenient homes must be I provided for employees. In order that this can be done power shouli_?be given to County Councils to advance borrowed money for the building of these homes on farms for the use of employees, such money to be secured by a special rate on the property concerned." The following remits were adopted: — That in view of the present position whereby middlemen are exploiting both producer and consumer, and the position is seriously misunderstood, particularly by the working class consumer, ; a literature committee should be set up, consisting of representatives of Labour and the Farmers' Union to compile leaflets showing the conditions of trade as shown by the costs of production and the prices received by the producers, the cost of distribution, and the prices charged to consumers, to be given the widest circulation. Further, that each provincial conference arrange for a conference between labour unions and farmers. That the Dominion Conference expresses its disapproval of the system of issuing loans free of income tax, as the inevitable result of such a system will be to throw a wider burden of the coming heavy war taxation on farmers. That a committee bo set up to draw up questions it would recommend provincial executives to put to all candidates for election as members of Parliament, with a view to safeguarding the intersts of the producing community and in the best interests of the Dominion, it to be understood that any executive may add or omit any question it may desire. That the conference is opposed to a)l fixing of prices, but where prices of raw materials are fixed the prices of the articles manufactured therefrom should; also be fixed. ' That fill! information of wool sales on the English market shall be published monthly by the Higli Commissioner for New Zealand. That the Government be urged to include in the repatriation scheme the amount of consideration due by the -State to the men who had spent only one or two months in camp, and were then discharged for pre-war disability after they had sacrificed or soli their ; business or farm to go into camp. That this union strongly protests against the practice of the Public I Trust Office in imposing the penalty of ■ three months" interest irrespective of any! notice given on all sums repaid on loan' -prior to its maturity, and that the Government be requested to at once do away with this exaction, as being extortionate. ! That the intention ot the Minister of Finance be called to the present unsatisfactory matter- in connection with State and private money-lending institutions. That where security is good the State should provide money at I reasonable rates for farmers' needs, and I should restore the tahle system of mortgage, and provide in every mortgage a covenant for the payment of sums before due date without forfeiture of interest. That the Government be urged to vote large sums of money to the Advances to Settlers' Department, so that all farmers mar have facilities to bring their holdings to the highest degree of I efficiency, and thus increase production. This conference most emphatically protests again-t the Government's continued J interterenie with prices either directly or indirectly now that hostilities have I ceased.