FARMFRS’ UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12453, 22 May 1926, Page 5

FARMFRS’ UNION

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS PASSED. T» rtr Pr«c CHRISTCHURCH, May 21. The mid-Canterbury Conference of the Farmers* Union, to-day, passed a resolution urging the abolition of ' the present system of motor taxation and advocating an ad valorem duty on all tyres; also urging a compulsory national provident scheme; a compulsory comprehensive insurance by mo-tor-car owners; that the present system of election of the Meat Board be abandoned, and every registered sheepowner be given a personal vote through the post. The conference also favoured the standardisation of the size of wool packs and the compulsory dehorning of cattle; registered cattle to be exempted. As regards the wheat problem the conference carried a remit as follows: “That as the declared policy of the present Government is adequate protection and encouragement of all Dominion industries, we submit; (a) that the production or manufacture of those articles which constitute the food of the people is the most essential industry of the country as it makes p.ll other industries nossihle; (b) that many secondary industries are protected by duties to the extent of from 25 to 60 per cent, ad valorem; (e) that the present duties on imported wheat and flour are from 17 to 13J per rent ad valorem : (di that as a mcasuro of justice to those engaged in the growing of wheat or the manufacture of flour import duties on these commodities should be brought more into line with those levied on goods which come into competition with the secondary manufactures of the country.”