FARMERS’ UNION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 249, 17 July 1937, Page 13

FARMERS’ UNION

Annual Conference Decisions THE FINAL SITTING Remits on Varied Topics Passed The thirty-sixth annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which opened at Wellington on Wednesday, ended yesterday. It was decided to draw the attention of the Government to the necessity of protecting arable lands from erosion by river and sea. The conference expressed the view that the problem of river erosion wscs a national matter, and that the appointment of a competent river engineer to carry out scientific investigation and research regarding the problem as it applied to the rivers of the West Coast was a matter for immediate Government consideration. In regard to taxation, the conference decided that women should be exempt from the unemployment tax until they became eligible to benefit from the fund; that the land tax should be levied only on the equity in farmers holdings; and that the Dominion executive should try to obtain J. more liberal allowance for the cost of rations bought for employees. (It was pointed out that an employee was taxed at the rate of 15/- a week for his keep, but the farmer was allowed only 10/a week.) . To assist farmers in producing better wool and looking after it to the best advantage, it was decided to ask the Government to appoint competent officials to give instruction in the. various districts throughout the Dominion, the cost to be taken out of the wool levy fund. : , t « The opinion was expressed that the destruction of ragwort should be made a national affair, with a national body in control. The conference decided to explore all possible avenues with a view of overcoming the shortage of domestic servants in country areas. The following remit was submitted by Auckland-That the union closely scrutinise the use of the powers taken in the Reserve Rank Amendment Act, and exert its influence to ensure that credit and currency shall be put into circulation to the end that our money shall keep pace with our production and so that producers shall not be penalised by rising costs.” Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Auckland) said that the objectin view was the jirevention of both inflation and deflation. The remit was referred back to the Auckland executive, on the motion of Mr. W. A. Sheat (South Taranaki), who contended that it was too vague. It was decided to urge the Government to put into operation a plan whereby the housing scheme could be extended so as to supply the need foi houses for farm labourers and farmers’ sons on reasonable terms and conditions. The Dominion executive was asked to oppose the purpose of the Government to establish a monopoly of the manufacture of motor tires in tiie Dominion and its intention to impose a/i embargo on this commodity. The Dominion executive was also asked to approach the Government for assistance in the reticulation of electric power in sparsely-populated districts.

As a further step toward placing the whole of the burden of reading costs upon the users of the roads, it was decided to urge that the 124 per cent, rebate on rural rates, which was in operation for several years, lie reinstated and increased to 25 per cent. The Government is to be asked to give larger grants for tlie metalling of backblocks roads.