FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12507, 21 May 1906, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

> THE ASHBURTON BRANCH.

A largely attended meeting of the members of tho Ashburtoh Branch of the Farmers' Union vrtxe hold en Saturday afternoon, the Chairman, Mr W. T. Lill, presiding. Mr G. W. Leadk?y gave an instructive address on the question of the proposed revision of the tariff during the ensuing session of Parliament. He expressed his pleasure at eeeing so large an attendance, as it wae a sign that the farmere were taking a keen interest in political questions which deeply concerned their own welfare. He had some letters and other information on the question of farm labourers, but if they wished to go into that matter it would be necessary to go intto committee, as the information Jho possessed was of a private nature. 1 They were aware that Mr Seddon had I foreshadowed a schema for making eerI tain alterations and reductions in the I Customs duties during tiie coming scei sion, but it was by no means clear that if-these reductions were effected it. would be to tho benefit of the ordinary consumer. Ho was not sure that the proposed reduction of the duty on tobacco would bo a good thing, and the proposed reductions on other articles were co small that ho was afraid the only effect would bo to increase the proiits of the merchants without in any way benrfiting the consumer. There was, on the oilier hand, jiint as much likelihood that there would bo nn increase of duties on certain articlrs as there would he reductions on others, and that when Mr S?ddon tbruw down hits tariff proposals they would lead to : a lot ot wian.y;:.»]g and lobbying. Mr ] Seddon 6 whole policy had always Iwen ; in tho direction ct having plenty of \ money to spend, and if the duty on ( ! certain articles was reduced, it was just as likely that the duty on others would be raked. They hail * body of < protection itsi-s in the towns who could largely outclass i-iie froetrade principl.'s i of people in the country, and it was ' vastly important that-tliu tanners should ; be on the alert to protect th-air own interests and eicsely watch any alterations which were made in the tariff. Mr Seddon had said that any decrease j in the revenue could bo made up by increasing the land tax, and he (Mr j Lendley) was cf opinion that it they j were not careful this particular ta: might start at 2d instead of l<l. Thi farmers should bo alive iiuid stand v] for their righte The Chairman and Messrs J. C. N Grigg, J. Studholnie, W. Harding, J Lambie, and C Keid briefly adclresset tho meeting, sfter which the following motion was carried unanimously :— "That the Aehburton branch of tin Farmers' Union expresses its thanks U Mr Leadley for his address, and hopa that the Provincial and Colonial Conn cils will take such actoon ius will hel{ to protect the farniers , iiiierests in th< colony, and that, with a view to tht protection of the trade and the friendlj relations with the Homo land, in anj revision of th-a New Zealand tariff tlu question of preference should always take a proniine'iit place."