FARMERS’ UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7864, 28 July 1911, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

DOMINION CONFERENCE WORK AT YESTERDAY’S SESSIONS 'jfhe New Zealand Farmers' Union dominion Conference was continued in Wellington yesterday. )lr J. f ; - Wilson, liominion president, wns in the chair. LAND TAXATION CONDEMNED AB BEING VEIIY HNSAT ISTACTOi’Y. Tho taxation of land was the first subject considered, the dismission being opened by Mr T. luster (Southland), who moved— That as tho present system of valuing land for taxation purposes lias proved a complete failure owing to the impossibility of accurately separating the improved from the unimproved value, this conference considers a much/ fairer and much simpler way would bo to tax on tho annual value, with tho same exemptions as capital invested in other industries, the annual value to bo 5 per cent of tho capital value. He urged that rating on the capital value would bo on a basis much more easily arrived at. Mr J. McQueen (Southland) seconded tho motion, and urged that the present system of taxation was unfair to tho fanner. Mr Jones supported the motion on behalf of Taranaki, saying that his province had sent up a remit on very similar lines. It was— That Iho present system of taxing farmers on the so-called unimproved value of their farms be abolished: that farmers should pay tax on their income from land iu the same proportion as money invested iu other industries is taxed; tho farmer’s income to bo calculated at 5 per cent, on tho capital value of their holdings, after deducting all encumbrances in the shape of mortgages. JXo would withdraw the remit in. favour of the one from Southland. A Marlborough delegate, Mr Vavasour, said that the manner in which farmers had been taxed and ground down year after year was an absolute injustice. Ho could not see why one portion of tho community should be taxed double tho amount of any other class. All industries should bo placed on the same footing. It was urged by Mr (J. Ensor (North Canterbury) that tho conference ought to move very cautiously before adopting such a principle as was proposed. The man who made the land produce to the best advantage should bo exempt from such a graduated tax. After some further discussion, Mr H. J. Birch (Marton) moved as an amendment—

That the present system of taxation, based on the ■unimproved value,

being most unsatisfactory, in consequence of the impossibility of ascertaining the true unimproved value, ibis conference would favour some

more equitable basis of taxation which would place the taxation of land in a just proportion to that contributed by other industries. The amendment was seconded by Mi* ISrans (North Canterbury) and carried after consideration by 1-i votes to 6. GRADUATED TAX • EXEMPTION'S SUGGESTED. On behalf of Hawke’s Bay, Air J. Lane moved — That in the case of undeveloped lands tho graduated land tux bo not imposed for seven years from the time of occupation, on any area where improvements have been effected to tho satisfaction of the Laud Hoard. Ho said that there were very largo areas of land upon which men could not possibly pay the tax until it had been opened up, developed and made ready for subdivision. Mr A. L. D. Eraser (Hawke s Bay) seconded the motion, _ and said that it was absolutely impossible for anyone to take up certain classes of land and make bread and butter off them if he bad to pay taxes right from the first. Tho proposal was opposed by Mr McQueen (Southland), who urged that it would mako the way easy for speculators to take land up and hold it until prices rose considerably. Ho hoped that the conference would not countenance anything of tho sort. Another delegate? declared that adopting tho motion would lay the conference open to a charge of encouraging tho land speculator. The motion was lost by 13 votes to 6. Mr Ensor then moved for North Canterbury— That as a mortgagee has an exemption of .£SOOO from taxation under the graduated land tax, that such ixemption be allowed when his mort;age exceeds (hat amount, and that iho mortgagor’s exemptions from tho graduated land tax bo .£IO,OOO. Ths point of tho remit, said Air Ensor, was that of tho JIIO.OOO, one-half, or £SOOO, paid taxation twice over—income- j tax as well as tho graduated land tax. I " I am not sure you are correct/’ said the chairman, who pointed out also that tho first statement in the motion was wrong. The motion was defeated without discussion. MAORI LANDS THE EATING QUESTION. Mr Birch moved for AVcllington— That tho law with regard to tho rating of Maori lands is still very unsatisfactory, and should be so amended as to place the Maori owner on tho same looting as tho European settler with . regard to both general and special rates. Major Lusk (Auckland) seconded the motion, and said that settlers, in tho King Country especially, were suffering immense disabilities owing to the special legislation for the benefit of Alnori lands. Mr A. It. D. Fraser (Hawke’s Bay) declared fiat tho root of the whole trouble over native lands lay in tho special Maori representation in Parliament. Until this was abolished and special racial legislation was also clone _ away with they would still be faced with the same trouble. _ ' i The motion was carried without dissent. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF PROTESTS AGAINST INCREASES. Major Lusk (Auckland) moved— That this conference is of tho opinion that tho engineering trade should receive no more protection by way of tariff. Ho said that if the engineers’ requests vrero acceded to by tho Government the

farmers would have to pay another 10 pen cent, on their implements. This they could not possibly stand. On the suggestion of Mr Birch the motion withdrawn in favour of the following one from Wellington— That this conference use its influence 1o protest against any threatened increase in the import duties as being prejudicial to the producers oi

the wealth of tho Dominion. ’Mr McQuoen ('.Southland; seconded pro forma. ' As an amendment Mr Vavasour {Marlborough.) moved the addition of the word-: “with the exception of grain.” 11m considered that the duty on imported grain .-hould be increased, as at prceKit shipping companies were being subsidised ami enabled to bring grain in, to tho detriment of New., Zealand grower*. Tho ammidmo.nt was not seconded, and after some discussion Mr T. Tester (Southland) moved to insert after the words “import; <lllllo9'’ tho words '‘upon, agrieulloral machinery.'' Delegates pointed out that there was now no duty upmi agricultural machinerv, and tin* arm-mlniont was altered to protest against -any threatened import duty upon agvieuT ural machinery.’' In this form it was seconded by Mr Vavasour and lost ail or protracted debate. In the end the Auckland remit was reinstated and carried. GKAIN DUTY. Mr Mackay moved for Marlborough— That the duty on all imported grain be substantially increased, except where such is imported for seed p urposet*. He said the remit was the outcome of the recent extensive importations of malting barley from California, fur the specilic juirpose of cutting down the prices of the Marlborough growers of (lie grain. Tour hundred farmers in Marlborough were watching tho conference cm this cjuostiou, and if the remit wero not earned they would say “It is the parting of tho ways." Mr Vavasour seconded tho motion. He said that while malting barley was being imported from California at cheap j rates the Marlborough growers had been forced to send their grain over to Australia. 'TTho proposal is in direct opposition to plank r> of tho union's platform." said Mr McQueen, “as the tax it proposes is clearly not for revenue but for protective purposes." Ho considered the farmers wore tho last persons and that New Zealand was tho last place tbat_ should seek for protection on grain. Hero was a proposal to raise tho price of tho people’s food. “Beer!’ 5 interjected several delegates. After a long desultory discussion the motion was defeated. An amendment to rcaflirm plank •"> of the* platform, “That Taxation through tho Customs should be for tho purpose of raising revenue, and not for protective purposes," was withdrawn. Without discussion, it was decided, on tho motion of Messrs Evans ami Birch— That tho conference strongly objects to the imposition of an export duty on hides and greasy wool.

EXPERIMENT FARMS

Mr Foster (Southland) moved —“That experimental farms bo established in the Dominion."

ilr Silent (North Canterbury) moved an amendment —"That experimental farms or experimental plots bo established in other districts in the South Island in view of the diversity of climatic conditions/’ Plots, ho said, might be established where tho Government could not buy a larger place right out. A farmer might give a plot which could bo worked by a Government inspector. The Government in his opinion .would always help a farmer who was willing to help himself.

Air A. Fraser (Otago) seconded. Major Lusk (Auckland) said tho difficulty in regard to tho farms was the procuring of tho proper staffs. Mr Makgill (Auckland) said a system of co-onerative experimental plots had been tried in Now Zealand and such a scheme mis of great benefit to the community. They had lost confidence in the experimental farms. A remit would be brought forward later on tho subject. Tho president gave an interesting address on experimental farm work in New Zealand. In regard to the Levin and Momahaki farms, they had done very good work but nobody went to visit them. They had endeavoured to get the farmers to go, but the efforts availed nothing. The expense was too great and tho Railway Department would not meet them. The farmers could not supervise co-operativo plots*. A man was needed to take charge of them. Ho hoped the conferonco would assist in some direction. He had not quit© made up his mind in regard to experimental farms, but ho was sure that there would bo great benefits to bo derived from the establishment of co-oporativo experimental plots. The amendment was curried unanimously. MISCELLANEOUS Major Lusk moved for Auckland—That the conference be asked to urgo tho Minister of Railways to grant an extension of time before demurrage is charged at all stations where there are no seeds; or" where consignees live at a considerable distance from the railway station, and that it bo made compulsory for stationmastors to immediately notify consignees of tho arrival of goods.—Lost. Major Lusk, on behalf or Auckland, moved—That all tablet stations bo connected by telephone with tho nearest post office, so that settlors can receive tho earliest intimation of arrival of goods, the telephone to be available to the public,—Carried. Mr Makgill (Auckland) moved —That system of charging extra rail freight on imported goods should be abolished.— Carried unanimously, with the addition of tho words ‘* and timber/’

Mr J. W. Jones (Taranaki) moved — That this conference enters an emphatic protest against tho system now in voguo on the New Zealand railways whereby two or more farmers taking stock (rams, for instance) from one station to any one destination, cannot combine together to hire a truck or trucks and send them as one consignment; and would urge tho Dominion executive to bring the mutter to tho notice of tho Minister of Railways for his favourable consideration.—Carried.

Mr Campbell (Wellington) moved — That tho Government bo urged to give a better supply of trucks for fat stock during the months of December, January, February and March.—Carried. On behalf of Southland, Mr Foster moved—That tho railway authorities bo requested to give tho exact and correct weight of all produce conveyed whero possible, and the users will be prepared to pay a higher charge for same if necessary.—Carried. Mr Foster (Southland) moved—That as there has been great loss and inconvenience again this season through the scarcity of grain trucks, the Minister of Railways bo again urged to provide a large increase in the number to be available for next season, as well as covers.—Carried.

Tho following South Canterbury remit was earned on the motion of MLr Talbot—That the Minister of Railways be urged to reduce the charge of ,£25 per annum for private sidings and the erection of sheds thereat to a nominal sum. Mr Foster (Southland) moved, and it was ngreed—lliat a better system bo adopted iu the construction of yards and trucks for loading and discharging sheep, and all sheep trucks should be battened, and that iu future all now trucks should have end-on moans of communication with each other for loading sheep. Mr Campbell (Wellington) moved — “That where roads and tracks arc cut through bush land, the Government or local .body in charge of the-work shall cause the road lino to be sown with good, clean, grass seed, to prevent the spread of

woods, ami as an assistance to travelling stock. ’—Carried,

It, V.-US ogrwl on motion of Kouthlanil—"That all lolpnlmiio rTmrgfs hcthc tmmo in each i)n,-,lal dm'ritt irrc.-iiocTivo of ilistiuicfs/' ‘ Ai'lf r ooushloraMc dmcu.-oTun on a roinit li.v iir’l-Jaml in royanl !o {ho hours ami chnr K -os lar couulVy trl-plinr.r*. it

ii:ifw! o;i lim motion of .Mi- MaxI (Taranaki) -’’That (he Tanners’ I’niou urges th.it (lie count ty esrbangea and telephone bureau:: lx* open between tlie hours of 7 ami ft p.m.. ami that in ilia ease of country telephones, that 1 ha lines lie connected with the nearest doctor. hospital or chemist when retimred. Mr Msikgill (Auckland) move,l—‘That the charge fur telephone messages ho reduced from sixpence to threepence, amt that, greater facilities lie olionled to country telephone systems."—Lost--Ur \evins (Wellington) moved, and it was i!ecii!ed--That a reduction bo made to telephone subscribers m eases where more, tliaii one subscriber is using the

')n behalf of Wellington, Mr Nevhis hioviml—That iho Government bo ashed to subsidise the erection of all rural telephone lines, and the cost of administering, rural telephones.—host. Mr A. Fraser (Otago) moved—That this conference again urge upon the Government tin* necessity of revising the seliool syllabus so as to as far ns possible remove anomalies under which country school children labour,--The remit was withdrawn, as the conference had not sufficient information on the subject. -Mr Foster Gr'oulhland.) moved —That technical class?for primary schools bo discontinued.—Withdrawn in order that •full in formation, could ho obtained on the question. The following Southland remit was withdrawn after discussion That country schools be grouped and supervised by a competent inspecting teacher, and that the present system of examinations as to standards of children in x>rimary schools is unsatisfactory. Air K. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved—That with a view to encouraging: re-alforcstu-tiou by private enterprise, to supplement that carried on by the State, more particularly with the object of making trocphuihng more general instead of being confined to a few localities, the Dominion Go n tore nee endeavour to promote legislation so as to exempt planta lions for timber and shelter purposes, of over an acre in extent, from rates and taxes and to provide for subsidising such limitations by grants.—Carried. Other resolutions carried were;— That iu view of tho depletion of natural forests, tho Government: continue afforestation in suitable localities. That branches bo urged to experiment with manures, crops, and fodders. That the manufacturers be asked to add a distinguishing markon grain sacks, showing tho different sizes of sacks. That tho present system of electing representatives of tho Hospital and Harbour Boards is most unsatisfactory, and that tho old system of election bo re-, verted to, ELECTION OP OFFICERS. Tho following officers wero elected for tho ensuing year:—President, J. G. Wilson, Bulls (re-elected); vice-president, G. W. Lcadley, Ashburton (rc-olocted); treasurer, , W. J. Birch, Marten (re-elected); auditor, IV- Butherfurd, Palmerston North; advisory committee, Messrs J. C. Cooper, AV. J. Birch, F. F. Hockley, and E, Campbell.