FARMERS' UNION.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 6853, 16 April 1917, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

A meeting of the committee of the Tauranga Branch of tbs Farmers' Union was held on the 7th inst., when there were present Messrs T. Lochhead (chairman), Earle, Lysaght, D. Taylor and Putt.

Mr R. S. Ready, Secretary of the Tauranga Ctismlier of Commerce, wrote inviting the cooperation of the Branch in organising and arranging a district exhibit at the Waikato Exhibition.

Mr Lysaght moved—That the Branch gise the Chamber its hearty support and that Messrs Earle and Tavlor be appointed to represent the Farmers' th'ion in co-operating with delegates from other bodies.—Seconded by Mr Earle and carried.

Tlie Chamber of -Commerce also wiote requesting suppnrt of resolution asking the Hon. W. H. Herries to use hia beat endeavours with the Government to induce tuem to acquire occur more blocks of land in this district for the settlement of returned soldiers.— It waa agreed that the request bo acceded to.

The Manager of the Farmers' Union Trading Company (Auckland), Limited, wrote at length on the subject of combined orders, etc.—Received.

Tbs Provincial Secretary forwarded circular concerning appeals to the Military Service Boarda.—lt was considered that this had been received too late.

The Provincial Secretary wrote advising that it is proposed this year to amplify the arrangements made for the annual Provincial Conference and to hold in conjunction therewith what will be known as a "Farmers' Week," at which alt farmers, irrespective of whether they are members of the Farmers' Union or not, will be invited to participate in the entertainments provided. The Conference will start on May 22 and will finish on May 25.— Approved.

The Provincial Secretary forwarded circular stating: "It has come to the knowledge of this Executive frum various reliable sources that bb a re- j suit of the working of the excess pro-; fits tax, there are serious inequalities of sacrifice *uid grave injustice in many "cases. On the principle- that where a 8 a result of the war a genuine profit has been made, it is a fair proposition that a considerable proportion of it should be taken for public purposes, this Executive has not opposed tha excess profits tax. .We hold that if properly levied it would fall only on those well entitled and well able to bear it, and that it is a far sounder scheme of taxation than the butter-fat tax or an export duty, which besides having other "fatal-defects,, will fall un the wealthy and struggling indiscriminately, not in proportion tq their, ability to bear it, but simply in proportion to their output. In view of the widespread feeling that injustice is being dons under tbe excess _ profits tax, we feel bound to take action in the mattar. .We invite members to communicate with this office where they know of such cases, giving all 'the facts within their knowledge. The General Committee will undertake to have investigation made and to give all assistance possible.—Approved. ! The Trovincial Secretary forwatded copies of resolutions passed at the monthly meeting of^theJExcutive held on March 15, 1917, *a" follows: (1) Befo/e any farmer or member of any other essential industry ia finally enlisted in the Expeditionary Force, that the Efficiency Board make full enquiry into ins case, and if it be found that hia leaving the Dominion would seriously diminish thp production of foodstuff 3or other essentials, thai such enlistment be not' allowed. (2) That "alien or enemy subjects who are not considered to be available foi service at the front, should be conI scripted in the same proportion as' our ! men and employed under supervision for public purposes, other than work at the front, as may be found most advisable. - • ■

; (3) That this Executive desires to draw the attention of the National Efficiency Board to tha fact that there are from five to ten thousand men engaged in the kauri gum industry, which we consider is not an essential industry at the present time, and that the labour engaged therein could be much'rnore profitbly employedjn eoms other work during tte present cjisia.

(4) That the time has now certsm.ly arrived when in order to utilise our man power to the beat.advantage, the voluntary system of enlistment should be entir«ly abolished. We feel sure that thia step would be in the public interest in .various ways. It would do away with the waste entailed; it would place every available man under public control so that his services could be availed of where-they were most useful, end syould place the Notional Efficiency Board in a better position to effectively organise the economic resources of the Dominion.

The resolutions were approved. Mr L. J. B. Grant, Fields Inspector,, wrote as follows:—"I am instructed to ascertain fronvthe farmers in my district who have land suitable for growing wheat, apart fr«m those farmers who grew wheat last year, what acreage they 'have-.available, and to what extent they are xprepared to devote it to wheat this year. The Government will guarantee for the 1917----18 wheat harvest a minimum of 5s 5d per bushel with a maximum of 59 lOd if circumstances warrant it, or to purchase at these rates. The Hon. Minister of Agriculture has written to all farmers who grew wheat last season, asking their co-operation, this year, and urging that they take a broad national view of the matter. Yotr might kindly let me.know of any farmers in this district likely to grow wheat this corning season. I should be glad it you will forward me the information as early as possible."—The Committee considered that the soil in the district was unsuitable for wheat growing. ••