FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3251, 5 July 1916, Page 15

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION REMITS, THE WAR, The fifteenth annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will open in Wellington on July 25, and the following remits bearing on the warwill bo dealt with : Internal Loans. —‘‘That the Farmers’ Union deplores the action of the National Government in taking no steps to float internal loans to relieve the Mother Country of the burden cast upon her in financing the whole war expenditure of New Zealand.”—(Pelorus.) Loans. —‘‘That funds to pay for Now Zealand’s war expenses should be raised locally by loan and taxation.”—(Otago.) Need for Economy-. —“That attention be drawn to the necessity for strict economy and increased production while our Empire and the Allied nations are engaged in a most bloody war against militarism and autocracy. Encouragement should bo given to increased production and economy in that which constitutes the products of nations which at the present juncture occupies third place in the great crisis.”— (Southland.) Supervision of Soldiers’ Farms. —“That the Government bo requested to give county councils authority to appoint trustees in each ..district in whose hands farmers could place their farms to bo managed or supervised during thei.t absence at tiro war.”—(North Canterbury.) Protection of Grain-growers.—“ That this conference is of opinion that the Government, in the interests of the people of the Dominion, should have placed a sufficient tariff on tire importation of wheat and flour during war time, to ensure for the farmers a minimum price of 5s per bush el. ”—(N or th Canterbury.) Oommancleorcd Meat. —’“That the Government shall assume ownership of all meat immediately it is put into the freezer, to obviate the chances 'of meat being thrown back on farmers’ hands when the present arrangement terminates.”—(Otago.; Meat. — ‘ That in the opinion of this conference the best method of payment for meat is ‘on hooks,’ and that the Government bo urged to adopt this method.” — (Southland.) Hotel Closing.—“ That this conference urges Parliament to pass legislation to prohibit ‘shouting,’ and provide for the closing of liquor bars between the hours of 6 p.m. and 0 a.m. until the close of the war, and for at least six months afterwards.”— (North Canterbury.) Preferential Trade. —“ That the principle of preferential trade within the Empire be reaffirmed.” —(Taranaki.) British Implements.—“ That the members of the union bo recommended to purchase agricultural implements of British manufacture, and as far as possible to trade only within the British Empire or with nations closely allied thereto.” —(Auckland.) Reduction of Duties. —“That preferential trade within the Empire should be attained by progressive reduction of duties on goods produced within the Empire.”—(Otago-.) Foreign. Trade.—“ That this conference strongly urges upon the farming community the urgent necessity for practising the severest economy in the purchase of goods manufactured outside the Empire, and especially regrets the heavy American imports, which further prejudice the financial position, and therefore assist our enemies and also accentuate our freight difficulties with Britain.” —(Southland.)

Trade.. —''That this conference strongly urges upon the farming community the urgent necessity for practising the severest economy in the purchase of all goods not manufactured within the Empire or Allied countries."—(Wellington.) Trade. —"That the executive, urges the fanners of the Dominion to practise the strictest economy, and in the purchase of machinery and farm necessaries that preference be given to the manufacturers of the products of the British Empire."— (Taranaki.) Embargo on Hides. —'That this conference enter its protest against the action of the Government in taking 10 per cent, of the hides over 451!>. at lOd per lb, whereas in the open market they are worth considerably more. The loss entailed should fall upon the revenue, and not upon the producer."—(Wellington.) Hides. —"That the conference protests against the protection of hides." —(Otago.) EDUCATION. Bookkeeping in Schools. — t; That elementary bookkeeping, based on rural operations, bo made a compulsory subject of the school syllabus for country schools, the subject being allowed to remain optional for other schools." —(Wellington.) Bookkeeping.—" That the time has arrived when the educational syllabus should be amended so that a method of bookkeeping suitable for farmers' purposes could be taught in the primary schools of the Dominion."—(Marlborough.) Agricultural Education.—" That the Board of Agriculture be urged to vigorously push on the. development of agricultural education, as on it depends in a large measure tho future prosperity of the Dominion."— (Wellington.) Rural Schools. —"That this conference is of opinion _ that at the present time too little attention is being given by the Education Boards to primary education in outlying districts; also that_ tho preservation of a sound constitution in a child should be tho board's first consideration, and to that end tho boards be urged to provide ample and sanitary accommodation for all children attending country schools, and that tho Min'ster of Education be asked to increase the subsidy for the conveyance of children to school in the outlying districts; and in lieu of employing uncertificated teachers, thoy provide a conveyance where roads permit to take tho children to largerstaffed schools." —(Southland.) Rural Schools.— " That this union strongly protests against the unfair treatment that is being levied on country districts in not providing fair and proper accommodation for the pioneer settlers' children."— (Peloms.) Aided Schools. —" That this union considers tho timo has come when more consideration should be given to aided schools, in tho form of a higher capitation."r—(Pelorus..i

AYAR TAXES. Marlborough. —"That this conference protests against land-owners being singled out to pay the greater part of tho war taxation, the present war Taxation being tantamount to a class tax, and this conference considers any taxation for war purposes should bo an equitable one, and should bear equally on ail classes of tke community." North Canterbury.—" That this conference emphatically protests against, an. export tax on farm produce, because it would not bear equitably on all tax-payers, and farmers who had a bad year and no profits would be taxed with those who had made war profits." Taranaki. — "That this conference is of opinion that in order to distribute the war tax fairly, a percentage increase on the Ewurces of taxation obtaining previous to tlic war should meet tho case." Auckland.—" That this conference is prepared to support any tax which will fall equitably on all classes of the community according to their ability to pay, but decidedly objects to an export tax." Otago.—" That the conference protest against any embargo on the export of produce, or imposition of export duties." Wellington.—" That the conference express its loyal support to the National Government in this time of national crisis, and in tho event of further taxation being necessary, would urge that the equality of sacrifice by all sections of the community be "kept in view, the farmers being cpiie willing to bear their share in such sacrifice." "Wellington.—" That the conference, while generally approving of the Government levying n. ore taxes on amusements and beer and spirits, considei-s it no part of its duty to instruct the Government how or on what to impose taxation." North Canterbury.—" That the Government be asked to increase tho taxation on luxuries and amusements." North Canterbury.—" That this conference favours tho system of taxing incomes as being the fairest way of reaching war profits from land and all other sources." Otago.—" That luxuries, such as horseraeing and picture shows, shall be specially taxed during the continuance of the war."