FARMING INTERESTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 August 1926, Page 10

FARMING INTERESTS

CONFERENCE DECISIONS. AIANY -MATTERS DISCUSSED. (BV TELISCKAPII PBES3'ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. At the Farmers’ Union Uomerenee to-day, Air. \Y. 13. Alathieson (Eketaliuna) moved that the public contribution through rates anti taxes to the .superannuation funds should cease, or be made universal and the benefits made available to all. Air. A. E. Robinson (Auckland) seconded the motion stating that most of them were not aware, unless they were members of hospital boards, that they were being taxed lor the purpose of providing superannuation. iiis district had to find £BOO anil had they had to take a polL on the matter there would have been an outcry. They were under a penalty of £SO a day if it was not paid on due date. Air. R. D. Duxfield moved as an amendment that superannuation be made- universal and the benefits be made available to all. Mr. Feisst seconded the amendment, but doubted whether they could .stop the present system of superannuation. The amendment* was defeated and the remit carried.

The following remits were carried: That the Government take immediate steps to give financial assistance- to settlers on fern infested land; (1) to enable them to fence and subdivide their properties for carrying cattle; (2) to top-dress where suitable; (3) that the Agricultural Department import new grasses known to he suitable to conditions obtaining. —(11-ae-tilii). That the Government be urged to have a- more liberal and progressive land policy, so that it may be- able to offer and make inducements to people to take up and farm many of the vacant -sections now lying idle. —(Combined Conference). Air. Jackson (AYairarapa) moved the following remit: “That- the, Government be urged to proceed with their policy for the prevention of land aggregation to adhere rigidly to its observance.” The Land. Committee had decided that the remit be omitted as the policy already existed. The remit was re-iustated. Air. Jackson remarking that aggregation was still going on. Thousands of acres of land in the AYairarap'a were being joined up to larger stations, in fact aggregation had taken place to -such an extent that rural districts had been denuded of their population. If they were going to keep the rural population in tliecountry they must prevent land aggregation. The policy might have been adopted but if those who did aggregate land put the title in the names of brothers, sisters, mothers, or sons, it was difficult to put it into operation.- —The remit was defeated on a show of hands. The Conference adopted a remit: That when the Government takes over returned soldiers’ abandoned farms it should be equally responsible for rates, clearing of fence lines, etc., on the same basis as settlers. It was stated that the fact'that the. Government had not- taken over the responsibility for rates had meant bankruptcy to some tidings. A riding in the Auckland province was mentioned as one of the richest. in the Dominion until it was reduced to penury in tlie way mentioned in hhe remit.

The following remit from Otago was carried: “That this conference protests against the Government handing over good grazing land for afforesttion when there- is other suitable land available.”

It was also decided: “That the Valuation Department and Lands Department he brought into line,” the mover of the .remit .stating that there were instances of land being valued at £6- -gold for £2 and valued for probate at £6.

“That legislation ho passed without delay to enable town hoards and boroughs to strike differential rates within tlieir own boundaries,” —Referred to the executive to consider with the Housing and Town Planning Bill.

Mr. Feisst (Auckland) moved: “That the Government be called: upon to give more considerate attention to land owners through whose property electric transmission lines are taken. 5 ’ He stated that the Public Works Department was running transmission lines over all parts of the country, often passing close to and even over cowsheds. In many cases the land owners had not known the route selected until a lorry appeared on the scene with a load of poles. Deceiving no official notice, owners should also be compensated for poles erected; and other, use made of tlieir land. —Carried. . The conference passed resolutions that in view of the supreme importance of a continuous and adequate supply of phosphates, and in view of the, fact that New Zealand- is already absorbing more than her allotted share of the output of Nauru, the Government be urged to take an early opportunity of getting, an alteration to the Nauru agreement to secure for New Zealand a larger share, at least 150 per cent, of the output. It was also agreed that the executive appoint a. representative to act with the assists,nee. of the Government to investigate the costs of manufacture and distribution of fertilisers in New Zealand. A recommendation that works be established at (Napier and other centres to save freight charges was not entertained.

It was agreed to urge the Government to have the Fertilisers Bill passed this .session. Officers were elected, as follows: —- President. Mr. \Y. J. Poison; vicepresident, Messrs Duxfield. Murney and Stuckey; treasurer, Mr Chadwick; advisory committee, Messrs Doss. Morrison, Oolbeek (North .Island), Dickie Cameron and Mulhollruid (South island). A remit was. carried that the fax a tion of vehicles be in Ihe form of a petrol tax. , A remit for flic compulsory and comprehensive insurance, of motorists was referred to- the Dominion executive. Another remit, urging that the Government take over the maintenance of all main; highways was referred to the Counties Conference. Mr. .Wilson, of the Railway Department-. stated that it was- the intention to reduce the freight on New Zealand ma mi facta red ren lie t.