THE FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11279, 21 May 1902, Page 5

THE FARMERS' UNION.

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

The Provincial Conference in connection with the North Canterbury District of the New Zealand Farmers' Union comnwnoed yesterday at the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations' rooms, Canterbury Hall. The following delegates were present:— Akaroa, Air J. Brace; Ashburton, Messrs 6. W. Leadley, J. Lambie, S. S. Chapman, J. Studholme' Jan.; Cheviot, G. Gardiner; DarSeld, Robr. Reid; Dnnsandel. J. Henry; Ellesmere, Wm. McMillan, C. H. Willis; Greendale, F. Holland; Harewood Road. W. Keith; Kororata, K. "Wilson; Lincoln, R. Rainev, Geo. Rennie; Rangiora, H. F. Recce; Sheffield, W. F. Pannett; Springston, .vi. ,Kyan; Templeton, Geo. Witty. W. Jcnes; Waikari, A. Allan; West Melton, G. Watson; Oxford, J. O'Halloran; Prebbleton, Robt. Wright; Greenpark, F. Hubbard; Kirwee, G. Bedford, and! Mr W. Harding (secretary). THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The retiring president, Mr G. W. Leadley, in the course of his retiring address, said the gathering was unique in the history of the city, for it was the first time that a "Farmers' Parliament" had been held in the city. Mr Leadley, referring to the South African war and the part New Zealand had taken therein, said that what the commercial results of the struggle would be they oould not at that time guess, but South Africa would afford a large field for the use of British capital and British produce, and it was for New Zealand to see whether she could not dispose of a large quantity of her produce in that country. Federated Australia had completed a year since the Conference last met, but at the, present time, owing to drought and the tariff, things bad reached a very acute stage in the Commonwealth. He hoped that the Australians would perceive it to be to their advantage that a reciprocal tariff should .be arranged between the" Commonwealth and New Zealand. (Applause.) The past year, so far as the Canterbury farmers were concerned, had been fairly satisfactory, and wheat stood at a payable price. Wool and frozen meat were inclining upwards, and the Canterbury farmers were not in such a bad state after all. There was still the complaint as to the way in which the foreign meat was placed on the London market, and this matter would be dealt with at the next Colonial Conference. _ne general elections were approaching, and it was open to the farmers to look to their needs in the way of legislative representation. Although the farmers contributed 11-13ths of the wealth of the colony, they only had thirteen members in Parliament. With 60,000 votes behind them it was their own fault :f they diid not make their voices heard. He din not see why the towns should have triple representation when the country districts did not. Another matter they should take up was the providing in country schools of technical education bearing on agriculture. This would have an important effect upon the life of the future man, and there would not be the same tendency as at present" existed among country lads to drift to the towns. The _armers Union should aim at the reorganisation of the Valuation Depart/ meht. As a matter of fact, the last valuation in Canterbury had cost about £10,000, and then had uot given satisfaction. The co-operative method of 'carrying out public works was costly in the extreme, siow, and unsatisfactory. (Hear, hear.) One of the thinga they wanted more than anv.uing was cheap transport rates for their products and something might eventua' c from the decision that the present 'Frisco contract should not be renewed, but that the trade should be by. direct line in English vessels owned by English capitalists; If '.-this' were done and the customs duties. between England and the Were modified they would- have cheaper tates for their produce. He _rged fanners to appreciate the true condition of affairs, and to throw off that cloak of apathy which had smothered them so long. -The influence of the Farmers' Union would be felt in widening circles. In all their efforts there must be a well-defined spirit of fairness. . (Hear, hear.) They must not expect to run the country- in their own interests only, but in the interests of the country. They must entrust the management of the Union to the most sagacious "and clear-headed men, and a.l should endeavour to do what they could tohetp on the work of the Union.' He thanked the Union for electing him as their first Provincial President, and he thanked the Executive for the way they had. worked with him during the year. (Applause.) REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE. The North Canterbury Executive, in the course of their annual report to the Conference, gave a summary of their work during the The balance-sheet showed that on the North Canterbury district account the receipibs for the year had bee > £49 12s od, and the expenditure £44 10s Id, leaving a credit baance of £5 2s sd. On the provincial, account £112 5s had been received, through the Ashburton branoh, of which £90 4s had.been paid to the Colonial Executive, £20 to the Provincial Executive, and £2 Is was due from Ash"burton. The report and balance-sheet were adopt, cd. ELECTION OF PRESEDSEfNT. Mr G. W. Leadley, by a "unanimous vote of the Conference, was re-elected president for the coming year. The recommendations from the various branches to the Provincial Confernce • wer± then considered. RAILWAY WEIGHTS. The Greendale, West Melton, Malvern, Ellesmere, and Hairewood road branches made recommendations for securing a more satisfactory system of weighing grain for railway carriage, and for the convenience of buyer and sel'.er. Mr Lamlbie moved—"That the Conferencj recommend that the railway rates be taken as the basis of correct weights as between buyer and seller. He thought this would cover the recommendation. Mr Harding suggested that the West Melton recommendation should be adopted, with the addition that the trucks should be more frequently tared. Mr WiHis moved that railway rates be furnished from consignor, and consignee," and that trucks be tared more frequently,' the date of taring to be printed on the trucks-; Weights to be guaranteed, and to be made the medium of exchange between buyer and seller. The Secretary read the correspondence thai had passed between himself and the General Manager of Railways, in which it was stated that the weigh-bridges were regularly tested, and adjusted, and that any farmer sending grain by rail could have his grain weighed on payment of Is a truck. Mr Recce suggested that instead of adopting railway weights,, which were as often as not inaccurate, the farmers should pkce their grain in four bushel bags. Mr Jones said this could not be done with potatoes. The Chairman suggested that the Conference should adopt the recommendations of West' Melton and Ellesmere. The West Melton recommendation was that the attention of the railway authorities be drawn to the more accurate weighing of grain trucks, and that farmers should be able to obtain the weights of their trucks without additional cost, and the Ellesmere recommendation was that the railway weights be famished to the consignor and the consignee, that the trucks be tared quarterly, and that the date of the Last taring be shown on t!i& trucks. A resolutXon to this effect was carried unaninxraslv. "FROZEN MEAT. . The following recommendations on the frozen meat trade were considered: — West Melton—That a company should b* ___nad lately formed for the purpose of erecting coci stores in South Africa, for the distribution of New Zealand produce. .■ " Hororaia—That it be a recommendation to the Provincial Executive to formulate a co-operative scheme by which farmers can prepare their meat and grain productions ready for the consumers, and save the profits row going to middle men. Such scheme to provide for the buying of existing freezing works and nulls, and to erect others if required, and these works to be managed by directors elected by the farmers as -hareholders, giving the farmers the control of marketing their own produce, and free it

from the control of commercial speculation as obtains at present. Templeton—That the members c_ the Farmers' Union endorse the suggestion of Mr J. Studbolme, jun., at the last meeting of the North C_nte_bury Executive, regarding ths ________etory nature of the present system of disposing of New "Zealand frozen meat in London, and that the representatives of the New Zealand frozen meat companies should be invited to meet the colonial Conference in Weliulgton, and discuss tbe whole question, and if.possible formulate a better scheme. West 3£elton further suggested the formation of a company with British and colonial capital to open up the South A.rican market for the sale of New Zealand produce Tlie reccmmendations were considered seriatim. Mr G. Watson, of West Melton, _xp.__-._d tha proposed constitution of tbe company mentioned in the West Melton i -commendation. Mr Gardiner considered that West Melton proposition impracticable.. After discussion it was decided to forward the recommei-lation back to the West Melton Branch for further consideration. Tlie Hororata __.c__m*nda_ion was then considered. Mr K. Wilson, representing ths Hororata Branch, spoke in support of the recommendation, and moved its adoption. Mr Recce seconded Ine resolution pro forma, and pointed out that it would take a capital of at least five million sterling to buy up the existing freezing works and mills,* and to sell wholesale _nd retail at Home and abroad. Mr Gardiner read his own for the establishing of a Freezing Association, which he moved as an amendment. After further discussion, Mr Lambie moved as an additional am_nd__e_t that the iecommendations mad© bj_ the Hororata branch were of too ambitious a character for the Provincial Executive to undertake at the time. Mr Wiison having replied, Mr Gardiner's amendment was put and lost. Mr Lambi._ amendment was then put and carried. The Templeton recommendation was then .proposed for adoption by Mr Witty, and discussed. Templeton's recommendation, after discussion, was endorsed for consideration by the Colonial Contference. * MORTGAGE TAX. The fo_oiw_ug recommendations from the Ellesmere and' the Akaroa branches were co__idere_:— Ellesmere.—"That the graduated tax on mortgages be abolished." Akaroa.—" That the Farmers' Union protest aga!nst tlie present mortgage tax — (1) Because it is out of all proportion to other forms of taxable property unde. the land and incomie tax; (2) it is inequitable in its incidence, pressing as it does on the ii_c_ssito_s borrower; (3) That it is unfair in. its Operations, because it exempts the largest lender "on mortgage in New Zealand, i.e.,. the New Zealand Government. w ...".-. Mr Reeos saggested that a graduated income-tax should be substituted for the mortgage tax. Mr' Wilson moved' an amendment that the land and income tax as at present levied is unfair, and ineq_itable as regarded land andl mortgages, as compared with other taxable property and income; therefore the Conference is of opinion that the Land and Incomie Tax Act required to be revised, in ordar that the taxation under it should be levied more equitably upon the wealth or income of those taxable under it. The C_i__r__an pointed out how grossly unfair the present system worked when a man investing, say, £8000 in consols, was practically- exempt from the tax, while another putting his money into land or house property had to pay „a heavy taxation, wbetber the seasons were prc_perou_ or not. Mr Bedford pointed out that under the Mortgage Tax the mortgagee paid a tax on the money lent, and under the Graduated Land Tax the mortgagor paid a tax upon thie money borrowed. Mr Wilson's amendment was objected to on a point of order. . The Ellesmere and Akaroa recommendations were then adopted. Mr Wilson moved -his amendment as an original motion without notice. The resolution was also carried. BOOK-KEEPING AND MENSURA- '.". TION. Recommendations from Malvern and Oxford, bearing upon the above subjects, were received as . follows: — Malvern.—'?___t the principle or. elements of book-keeping, also of the measuring of land and timber, be taught to the boys ia our primary- schools." Oxford.-—" That tihe Farmers' Union be asked to issue a model set of books for keeping'branch account-.'" A resolution, _ecomm___ing the adoption of these suggestions was moved by Mr Pannett, and seconded by Mr Allan. Mr Recce suggteeted that the recommendations be made to the Department of Education from the Conference. Mr Witty thought that the decimal system should also be taught in the schools. It was pointed out, however, that the decimal system was already taught in the schools. The Chairman stated that the Ashburton A. and P. Association offered a prize for the best method of farm book-keeping, and several methods were'submitted. He thought auch a prize might be offered by the Union. Mr Gardiner suggested as an amendment that more prominence should be given to the study of these subjects, but Mr Pannett did not cot. to accept this in lieu of this motion. Mr Gardiner then moved 'his suggestion as an amendment. Mr Harding said that land measurement, etc., should be taught in a practical manner on the land*. - Mr Pannett's resolution was carried, and it was decided to bring the matter before the Education Department. CHRISTCHURCH-LYTTELTON RAIL. * WAY CHARGES. A recommendation was considered from the Malvern -Branch, that the effort be renewed to secure a readjustment of the charges on the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway line, so that they may correspond with those levied on other port lines in the colony. Mr Pannett, who moved tbe adoption of the recomanendation, gave examples to show how much higher th. rates were on the Lyttelton-ChTistchurch line than on any other corresponding line in the colony. Mr Bedford, who seconded the resolution, said that they must keep on agitating for this reduction. Mr Gardiner' considered it a scandalous thing *Khat these ' <__oes.ive rates should continue. He could not understand why the Canterbury members did not pull together in this matter, and force the Government to grant a reduction. Mr Pannett, in his reply, considered that each of the different branches should be asked to take the matter up to make it a test question for Parliamentary candidates. The resolution was carried unanimously. SELLING BY LIVE WEIGHTS. The following recommendation from Ellesmere and Akaroa was proposed for adoption: —"That it is' advisable that all fat stock be sold by live weight at the principal _alev_rd_, and that proper weigb-briages be provided for that purpose." After discussion the resolution was carried unanimously. ; CENTALSYSTEM. Ellesmere recommended that- the Government b3 requested to legislate in the direction of introducing the cental system in the con trade. Mr McMillan moved the adoption of the -.commendation, and Mr Gardiner supported it _o far a_ wheat was concerned. Sir Stodholme asked whether the proposer would consent to the addition to the resolution: That Mr Seddon be urged to bring before the approaching Colonial .Conference in ~ London the many advantages that would follow the adoption throughout th© Empire of a decimal system of currency, weights and measures. Mr McMillan consented to this addition. Several others spoke in favour of the resolution, which was carried unanimously. RATE OF SUBSCRIPTION AND ALTERATION OF RULES. Du___ndel i«comraen_ed that the subscriptions eh.ii__ be:—Farmers Ss, la,twureT. ls, women ls annually; and that the _üb_c_ip-ons should be d*. .ded as follows: —The branch to retain 2s, the Provincial Conference Is 6d. and the Colonial Council Is 6d. Also that rule 4. section A, shou-d be amended to prc*jid_s that each branch should elect a chairman,

treasurer, secretary, auditor and committee. Considerable discussion took place on tlie question of subscriptions, but ultimately it was decided to request tbe Exeoutdve to formulate a sliding scale on which members' contributions migbt be based, the minimum ____cription to be 2s. The amendment ol rule 4, that each branch should elect its officers, was also carried. MORTGAGE TAX. The Chairman explained that the resolution adopting tbe Ellesmere reco__mexw_ation that tbe graduated tax on mortgages ba abolished, although right in pr____ple. was wrong in form, and he suggested that the resolution should be altered as follows :—'• That, the value of all mortgages, should be deducted from the assessed taxation of kind bearing the graduated' land tax." This suggestion was agreed to. COMMERCIAL FUND. Dunsandel moved that a Commercial Fund be provided, to be used to open up new markets or otherwisce, in the interests of members. . Tbe motion was lost on tbe voices. LAND SETTLEMENT FOR WORKMEN. The Templeton branch recommended— "That the Government be requested to purchase blocks of land in congested districts, if it can be got at a reasonable price, with a view to assist working men; the land to be obtained under the Land for Settlements Act., 1892, or under a leasehold system, with optional residence." A resolution, adopting the recommendation, was carried unanimously. WEEKLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. The Harowood Road branch recommended —'■•That a weekly commercial report be supplied by the Provincial secretary to leading papers in eacb eeatre, a copy to be supplied "to the secretary of each branch, so that any member could obtain information as to prices ruling in any centre in New Zealand." Mr Bedford moved that the Conference request the secretaries of the various branches and districts to gather information as to sales and prices, and to send to headquarters, at' Tegular intervals, to be published in the local newspapers. Several speakers suggested that the information should be supplied to the local daily papers.. Other members considered that each farmer on the occasion of a sale should repcirfc particulars cf the ram® to the newspapers cmmediately. Mr Witty suggested* that the editors of the two Christchurch morning papers should be asked to publish immediately authentic information sent in by responsible members of the Union. Two country newspaper proprietors wrote offering to publish circulars containing information as to the produce markets if the information were supplied,to themAt Mr Studholnie's suggestion, Mr Bedford agreed to accept the following in Lieu of his motion: —"That the papers be requested to publish the resuf.ts of all sales sent to them through any officer of the Farmers' Union, and that all members be urged to assist the papers in obtaining reliable information." This motion was seconded and carried unanimously. ' iSIZE OF CORNSACKS. Harewood _oad reconimen___—"_____ the Conference be asked to make a recommendation as to the size of cornsackß." It was decided to reaffirm tihe decision come to at the Asfbburton Conference. The Conference then adjourned till 9.30 this morning.