FARMERS' UNION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 66

FARMERS' UNION

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Mr McCurdy, Organising Secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, gave an address at Feilding on Friday, 25th Hilt., on the above subject. There was but a small attendance of farmers. Mr G. Wheeler, Chairman of Feilding branch, presided. Mr McCurdy said the chief planks of the platform of the Union were the demand for the right h.y farmers to acquire the freehold 1 , an adjustment in the incidence of taxation, and an equality in the treatment of Maoris and Europeans—paricularly in regard to local rating. The right of the freehold the union was determined to get. When people said the union was antagonistic to Government he referred' them to the fact that the Wellington Ministerial journal supported the [union platform, while the organ opposed to Government had expressed determination to fight the union tooth and nail. The Auckland “Star” had asserted that country settlers were better off than town artisans. This he did not believe. However, the union was formed to further the interests of both, small and large settleis, particularly the former, who without it would have a difficulty in putting their views prominently be>fore the public. It had been asked “What did the farmer get through the influence of the union in return for his subscription?” He would show that the return had already been ample. There was the passing of the Act to give power to Land Boards to suspend payment of rent of lessees on swamp or hush from three to five years, while preparing it for cultivation. Single Electorates, Insurance. Mixed Clothing. Fertilisers. Taxation Amendment, and Maori Rating Amendment Bills, all brought forward practically owing to the influence of the union. The Insurance Bill was one of the most important. The matter was first discussed in a branch meeting of the union three years ago. It was then asked' why were farmers in New Zealand paying premiums from 17s to 30s for the same risks that an English farmer paid hut 2s 6d to 5s for. Following that discussion the companies were asked to reduce, but all refused except one, which agreed to give a rebate of 7s in the £ in case it could arrange for a reinsurance of its risks. It was unable to make that arrangement and the attention of the Union was called to the Mutual Fire Insurance scheme as in operation in “Canada and the United States. After inquiry from the highest authorities in those countries in regard to the scheme, it was adopted by the union, and Mr Kirkbride succeeded in carrying a Bill through the House to make it legal in the colony. It was when there was a dead lock in its passage that the influence of the union was made manifest. The Premier was bombarded with telegrams from branches in favour of the Bill; he bowed to the inevitable. and passed it into law. The union was now prepared to establish mutual insurance .committees throughout the colony, and that done the farmers would reap a substantial benefit. On it being ascertained that farmers were liable under the Employers Liability Act. an endeavour was made to induce the Government Accident Insurance Department to give union members some concession. The request was refused. Only one company would give a reduction, and on it giving a rebate of 5 per cent, the Government office immediately did tlfe same, and when the rate was again raised, to 10s and 13s the State office followed. It was believed by the Executive that it was possible to bring a scheme of accident insurance into operation, and it would be done as soon as possible. Owing to the exertions of the union the quantity of land opened for selection had increased fourfold. The need of the Fertilisers Bill was shown from the fact that one sample sold' as bone dust contained 84 per cent- of sand, and another 33 per cent of brick dust. The Premier introduced the Bill to make if a penal offence to sell such fraudulent manure, and giving power to officers of the Agricultural Department to take samples and publish results. In regard to seed, Professor Kirk had found that inferior stuff was often, sold. The Premier had promised to introduce a Seed Warranty Bill to remedy the evil. The sheep rate had originally been imposed to provide funds to eradicate scab. It was now only a class tax, and part of it, at any rate, should be taken off. The union had received a promise that action would be taken to that end. A practice had long obtained in the cities for Magistrates to give incorrigible rogues two hours to quite., and these men often became a terror to country women and children. At the instigation of the union the Minister of Justice had intimated that he disapproved of the practice. Benches of Justices in Wellington and Dunedin had in couse'quence declared that they would no longer he parties to it- The mortgage tax iiad been reduced and a rebate granted on the carriage <?f rough as well as ground lime over the railways, and promises of various otKpUreductioiis given ; a reduction on some over charges on the Manawatu railway, assistance giyen to farmers, against the Nelson wheel .fax, assistance piven to farmers' in order to ob' Ain better terms from shipping companies, and assistance to combine in various ways for the sale of their stock and purchase of articles used on fTte farm The union

believed that agricultural education should he given as trades wove taught >n the towns. The country settlers numbered three-fifths of the total population. paid three-fifths of the taxation and the union wanted to iyiow why the farmers should not have three-fifths of the educational expenditure. They believed that practical education in husbandry with laboratories for research would go far to assist in making the land more productive. It had been suggested if encouragement were given that travelling lecturers should he engaged, and provided with lantern slides, in order to demonstrate from branch to branch the origin and effects of several diseases that affect stock. One of the functions of the union was to act as a sort. of vigilance committee to watch legislation in the interest of members, also to keep in -touch with commercial matters. Last year the unimproved value of land had increased eight millions and the value of improvements a little under 5} millions. During the last' eleven years the increase value of land had been 46 millions, of which 27 millions had been on the unimproved value. Daring the period s'even millions of borrowed money and three from the general bind had been expended and the union wanted to know how all the rise in the value of land had taken place. The constitution of the Assessment Court was quite unfair for in it the plaintiff had no voice. It would only he fair if the local body were allowed to appoint one assessor. On that point the member in charge of an Assembly Bill last session was defeat exl by one vote. Only Messrs Lethbridge, Vile and Field of this coast supported Mr Kirkbride. As the public debt was a mortgage to the extent of one third on the landed property of the colony and was practically a handicap to obtaining advances for working the land; it was, therefore, for the farmers to watch that discrimination was exercised in the expenditure of loan money. The public debt had increased 43 per .cent., while the population had only increasc/1 80 per cent. The union desired to see those who desired to obtain land in order to make it productive, have the preference of speculators in land. The speaker referred -to the_ largo increase in the cost of colonial defence, and concluded by urging upon each farmer present to> act as an organiser of the union, holding up as an example of what could he done by individual effort the example of the Awakinoi branch", where each member had resolved to recruit his neighbours, withthe result that every farmer in the district was now a member of the branch. Ho said that these were the days that numbers told, especially in politics. Mr Wheeler, in moving a vote of thanks to tlio speaker, commended the j advico that each member of the union ! should act as an, organiser. _ j The vote was carried by acclamation, j