FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6918, 25 May 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

Remits Considered

.Lt the annual provincial conference •f the Farmers’ union held at Auckland last week, the desirability of farmers being protected against vendors of patent stock medicines was emphasised during a discussion on stock foods, and the following remits were carried: — That the Dominion esecutivo should engage a competent veterinarian or chemist to report fully to branches upon all proprietary stock medicines which arc placed upon the market from time to time; and that such medicines should come under the provisions ot the Foods and Drugs Act. That a Stock Food Act be placed ou the Statute Book, to eliminate the possibility of adulteration of stock foods, and that the attention of the government be drawn to the fact that a Stock Food Act has been in request for many years by the union, and that the request be now treated as one of urgency. Th’c necessity for strictly enforcing the cattle dipping regulations was emphasised, and it was decided to urge this, particularly with regard to cattle being moved from an infected area to a clean one. The following remit-, from the Pnparoa and Bar of Islands branches respectively, were also carried: — That the loss of cattle, through dips being too strong, be paid out of the Consolidated Funk That the iinaneial position of cattle dipping associations be again piu before the government and assistance be | urged for guarantors. . The following remit was approved on | fairly even voting: That the conference reaffirms the principle that none but dc-. horned cattle over 18 months be offered for sale in anv public snleyard, or be trucked. That all registered pedigree stock be exempt. A remit was passed to the Shccpowncrs association in its efforts to have any further importations of Alsatian dogs prohibited. Protest against the railway tariffs being used for protective purposes was made in a remit brought forward by the executive committee, and carried

unanimously. Mr H. M. Rushworth said n large number of imported goods paid duty and were also charged penal freights when carried on the railways. There were over 400 articles in constant use ■which were subjected to the penal freights. Considerable difference was apparent in charges for the New Zealand and the imported goods. It was not right that the country dwellers should be penalised at the expense of the coastal residents. Other Remits Carried

The following remits were carried:— Recognising the imperative need of reducing costs or production and the close bearing the present high protective customs taxation has to such costs, this conference calls upon the government immediately to Teduce such taxation upon the necessities of life and production. That customs duties and penal ranway freights on stock foods be abolished. as they arc restrictive of primary production. That the government be called upon to remove duties on butter, incat, cheese, and similar agricultural produce, such duties being not only unnecessary, but liable to create wrong impressions both within and without the Dominion.

This conference is opposed to duties or restrictions on the importation of tire necessities of life and production, and considers any assistance ncccssa-ry to local industries should be in the form of subsidies.

The conference decided unanimously to protest against the action of the government in withdrawing the easli-ou-dclivcry system through the post office.

Th’b view that urban and suburban 'securities had unfair preference over rural securities and were attracting money away from the producing centres was advanced in a discussion, regarding a remit from the Wailsato branch that the proportion of state advances on the urban and suburban security should be placed on the same level as applicable to rural securities. It was stated that the present rate of advances was 75 and 95 per cent, respectively. Following lengthy discussion the remit was passed. Stating that present currency methods pressed very heavily on the producers at times, the Marohcmo branen suggested that the adoption of British currency would remove the difficulty and would facilitate trade generally with Great Britain. The remit was passed unanimously.