THE SESSION AT WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 29 July 1909, Page 3

THE SESSION AT WELLINGTON.

-"' ' WELLINGTON, Thursday. . At the Farmers' Union Conference toda.-; 'a' long, discussion ensued on the mortgage tax. It: was unanimously agreed ' 'that this conference endorses the resolution passed by- the conference of the United Chambers ..of Commerce, to the effect that the mortgage tax should be abolished and.thajt.taxation on mortgages should be in the form-of income ..i Ito.was also agreed thatsthe Government be again requested lo v collect agHculttiral statistics".-bj£-:p6st£:arid that "a penalty be imposed"-.if;ith'e;:Teturns were no'lT^sent id' to date.:"£^D"elegates. urged that/tho statistics at. present, were most unreliable. "<• • ;. ■y' - Later. 1 At the Farmers' Conference there' was a good deal of discussion on the--necessity for' providing for the purity of seeds. A. resolution was passed asking that,power be given to the Department of Agriculture to publish an of seeds, chaffy and .manure, together with tho . vendors'"name .Where samples for the purpose of analysis liavo been properly obtained. It was claimed that at present farmers suffered great damage through impure seed being supplied to them. Mr G; W. Leadley (Canterbury) moved: "That the Dominion Conference recommend;.-, to tho Government that steps be taken to remedy many of the complaints made regarding tho defective grading .of numerous farm seeds by the passing of- "a Seed Warranty Bill." 'Mr O. F. C!o'thior.> (Canterbury) seconded the motion. •. Mr D'Arcy GUaytor: suggested, that a seed merchant should be called upon to give a guarantee that tho seed ho had'for sale was pure. The motion was carried, anil it was further moved, .■■-That the Dominion Conference be • requested to promote a Bill, to be introduced next session of Parliament, requiring that moichants should guarantee the purity and germinating power of seeds of all descriptions ' sold by thorn." After hearing the 1 Minister of Agriculture, who said ho was-prepared to promote such a Bill with the necessary safeguards, the motion was withdrawn.