FARMERS’ UNION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION

Conclusion Of Provincial Conference LABOUR FOR FARMS

The annual interprovineial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which opened in Wellington on Tuesday, concluded yesterday. Delegates representing the Wanganui, Southern Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington Central and Makara-Hutt Valley provincial districts attended. In a remit from Bulls, adopted by the conference, the attention of the Minister of Public Works was drawn to the fact that farm labourers are still being absorbed into public works by the simple process of leaving farm work and registering as unemployed. The conference, adopting a Westmere remit, requested the Government seriously to consider reducing the public works programme at such times as the farmers required labour for seasonable work.

The following resolution was carried : . "That in compiling returns of income for taxation purposes a loss sustained in one year should be allowed ■to be set off against income in the succeeding three years for all taxation purposes, and that in returns of income from farm sources losses by fire, flood or other cataclysm of nature or disease lie allowed as a deduction from gross income.” The resolution added that the recent Hawke’s Bay flood and the facial eczema outbreak in the Waikato were striking evidences of the justice of the request. Other remits adopted included the following:— "That the Government be requested to enact legislation enabling electric power boards and the Public Works Department to provide an insurance fund to meet claims for compensation arising from loss of life and stock caused through breaks or faults in power lines.” —Featherston. "That this conference heartily endorses the statement of the Dominion president, Mr. W, W. Mulholland, on the subject of the Government’s proposed national health insurance scheme.” —Wellington central provincial executive. “That this conference strongly protests against the proposed legislation curtailing freezing companies from conducting retail butcher shops as they have done in the past.”—Marton.

“That the Government be asked to support apprentices for the farrier and other similar trades.” —Bulls. "That a protest be made against Saturday half-holiday being made compulsorily universal.”—Taihape.

“That the whole of the motor and petrol tax be utilised for reading purposes.” —Wairarapa provincial executive.