FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

CONCLUSION OF CONFERENCE,

IMPORTANT DECISIONS,

(Pbe United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 18.. The Farmer's Union Conference to-day passed the following' resolution, brought forward by Mr Talbot (South Canterburyi :- "That this conference eonsideMhe time has arrived for eaclu provincial district to act up defence committees of town and country residents to take action to prevent strikes and also to organise free labour to take the place of strikers should the employees cease work.

It was also decided to ask the dominion executive to carefully watch the reintroduction of tho Water 'Pollution Bill, with a view lo preventing undue hardships falling upon factory owners and others.

DEPUTATION TO THE PRIME

MINISTER, (Pbb United Press Associatioh.)

WELLINGTON, July 18.

At. the conclusion of the Farmers' Conference the delegates waited on the ,Primo Minister, when Mr J. G, Wilson (president of tho union) placed before him tiio most important matters decided on at the conference.

Mr Wilson said they hoped the Government would soo its way to make some alteration or. concession in the matter of death duties. • He understood steps Irad been taken for the obtaining of a report on the matter of light railways. In regard to the monora;l, ho thought that the (lovernment might well spend about £500 in securing an experimental monorail for Ibo purpose of ascertaining whether it would bo suitable to the requirements of the dominion. He considered it an unreasonable thing to impose any further protective duties on the public. In .regard/ to immigrants,, they hoped the Government woifld-carry out tho policy outlined by the Hon. H. D. Bell. They hoped the Territorial scheme would be carried out thoroughly. They hoped the Minister would carry out" his promise to alter the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Act. They would like to again reiterate their objections to preference to unionists. , It would .be a great misfortune to New Zealand' if this thing was to continue. The question of Nativu lands was another very important one. They had talked of individualising these lands as long as he cou.ld remember, and they had got no nearer to it yet. Roads had been put through these lands, and they thought some legislation should be brought down. Tho Hon. Mr Maesey, in reply, said he believed that the greater the number of freeholders they had in the dominion the hotter it would be. In regard to death duties, the Government had now in contemplation an amendment to tlus Act somewhat in the direction suggested. He would be able to do something in regard to the estates of people who were- generously disposed. So far as light railways were concerned, the Government had devoted a certain amount of attention to them, and ono of its engineers now in the Old Country had been instructed to go to Belgium and look into tho scheme there. In regard to tho tariff, the Government did not propose to increase the duty on any articles the farmer required. It hoped to reduce the duty on a largo number of things on which a duty' was at present levied. . In regard -to railway freights, it was expected that the first duty of tho new manager would be to revise the stalo of. rates. He personally was opposed to the system in operation at present. In the matter of rolling stock the department was at present particularly active, and a large number both of ordinary trucks and passengers cars were now in course of construction. The Government was doing more in the way of immigration than had been done for some time, and great care was being exercised at the other end in selecting suitable people.. Mr Massey promisorf. to look into the matter of tho Insurance Bill. If he could get a Bill on the matter he would ask Parliament to put it through. In regard to Native lands, it was not proposed to wait till they were individualised before purchasing them". There, was a Bill now being drafted, and this Bill I would go further than anything that had (been attempted up to the present. In regard to Territorial training, he was the first member in liarliament to propose a motion in its favour, and he had not gone back on that. Ho was a strong supporter of tho system,.but at the same time they had to bo particularly careful that the expenditure did not exceed reasonable limits. They had also to do their duty towards naval defence. Ho ■was sure the people of Now Zealand generally were quite prepared to do what was right in the matter of tho defence of New Zealand and tho Empire.