FARMERS UNION CON-FERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 10

FARMERS UNION CONFERENCE.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON', July 31. An interesting discussion took place at the. Farmers' Union Conference, to-day on the following remit:—'"That, in order lo encourage tho planting of forest trees, sill land over one acre in extent planted witli forest trees should he exempt from the land tax and from local rates.' 1 Several speakers urged that Now Zealand was on tho eve of a timber famine, ami that some encouragement should be given to the planting of trees. Tho motion was passed. Ii was also decided to bring under the notice of the Government, the question of granting a bonus for all land "planted in trees.

The union passed a motion that the conference is not in favour of any alteration being made in the size of cornsucks.

It was also resolved that, the names of vendors and buyers of stock he given when stock is 6old at public auction. Advocates of the motion contended that its effect would be to prevent' the " trotting " of prices and the giving of misleading statements as to tho place of origin. It was also decided that the conference recommend the selling of beef by weight instead of at per head.

Tho president, imimated that tho conference had thrown out a recommendation from Southland—"That, in view of tho danger of the throe-party system being introduced into New Zealand polities, the Farmers' Union discuss tho advisability of urging, the Prime Minister and Lender of tho Opposition to consider the question of coalescing." He added that an important resolution had been passed by the conference in the following terms:—"That the time has arrived when the union as a whole must take, a more aetivo part in polities and a firm stand against Socialistic legislation; and that all farmers' candidates should bo asked to pledgo themselves to oppose all measures detrimental to the farmers of the community, whether they be Governmnt measures or otherwise; njid that in any electorate where more than one candidate pledges himself to do so the meeting of delegates from each branch in the .electorate shall' be called by the premier branch, and such active steps be taken as are deemed desirable in (lie electorate to secure tho return of the candidate who can be relied upon to support, the union's platform i.u Parliament irrespective'of party; and that this conference draw up a series of questions, embodying, the policy of the Fanners' Union, for use in the electorates."

The following resolutions wore carried:—

"That the annual rental of post office boxes gjid bags where letter-carriers do not exist l>e reduced to the exist of the initial outlay of snob boxes, etc."

' That the conference strongly protest against the proposed Shearers' Accommodation Bill as being .harassing, impracticable, and unnecessary, and that representation be made to ihe Minister."

"That this conference' recognise that some system of voluntary conciliation in tho settlement of labour disputes is necessary, and that the executive take steps to procure information from such countries as have adopted this form." "That the conference express satisfaction that tho proposal first enunciated by tho Fanners' Union that the Dominion should contribute, a larger naval subsidy has been practically adopted by the Governmen in raising tho subsidy to £100,000." "That the Government he requested to amend the Local Bodice' Finance and Powers Act in. the direction of subsidising the general rates of local bodies on a graduated scale."

"That this conference is opposed to any chango in the electoral law in regard to the absolute majority or second ballot." "That the conference cannot see its way to federato with tho Employers' Federation."

Officers were elected as follow:—President, Mr J.-' G. Wilson; vice-president, Mr Lea^ley; treasurer, Mr A. Russel J auditors, Sir-SSl's Rutherford and O'Connell; Advisory Board—Messrs Biroh, Ooopor, Richards, and M'Gnogor. Messrs Jones, Evans, and Aoton were .warmly complimented on the B ood fight they had put up on behalf of the farming community in regard' to the Canterbury farm labour dispute.