FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 11

FARMERS’ UNION.

REMITS PASSED. AUCKLAND, June 13. The twenty-third Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union opened to-day, Mr R. D. Duxiiold (president) presiding. The

following remits were adopted: lhat the Government be strongly urged to undertake without unnecessary delay an adequate scheme of immigration and land settlement, to take full advantage of the Imperial Empire Settlement Act, 1922, and develop the waste lands of the dominion. That in all schemes of land settlement it- be the policy of the Government to proadequate transport facilities before placing settlers on the land; and where blocks of land are being hold for the encouragement- of immigration and close settlement they should be exempt from land tax during such limited time as be . approved, while the annual amount of capital is being expended for purposes of development. That to encourage immigration and to settle the Crown lands of the dominion, it is desirable that bona fide immigrant settlers’ furniture, household effects, and farm implements should be admitted duty free; and that free railway transport and passenger fares on the Government railways to their destination ha provided. That a complete revision be made of the system of levying taxation. That the Government be urged to bring in legislation facilitating the collection of rates on Native lands. That tho Bay of Plenty be included in the main arterial reads scheme. That conference reaffirms its decision that it is desirable to form a country party. The voting on this remit was 28-8. The conference was addressed by Mr W. J. Poison, dominion president, on agricultural banking, and a remit by the executive was carried —“That the union again emphatically press upon the Government the necessity for legislation to enable farmers to form agricultural banks. Other remits carried were:— That the conference strongly supports the passing of legislation to institute control of the export of dairy produce. That the time is opportune to urge upon the Meat Board the necessity of creating a superfine grade for beef, with a view to combating our competitors in the Argentine, and that the dominion executive be requested to urge on the Meat Board the adoption of a scheme for the export and marketing of pork. That the Railway Department extend ihe concession of 25 per cent, on export meat to all cattle consigned for slaughter. That the conference considers the time has now arrived when railway freights should be reduced, and that the matter he referred to the dominion executive with the object of requesting the Railway Department to hold a conference with representatives of the dominion executive to revise the railway freight tariff, and make reductions in freight on farm produce and farm requirements wherever possible, and that the railways be not used for protective purposes. June 14. The Farmers’ Union provincial conference carried the following remits: — That the price of Nauru phosphates be cheapened to farmers.

1 hat the preference clause be autc/natically cancelled from the award of any Lades union going on strike, or taking concerted action to the detriment of the community. 't hat the efforts being made to hav ? an agricultural college for the North I'lland placed at Ruakura be supported. lhat the Education Department be move sympathetic to country districts in th<V building of schools. that the Government he asked to r ■ point a committee of impartial busine-.s men to advise as to conducting the public services in a most efficient manner. lhat all employees in agricultural and pastoral industries be exempted from the operation of the Arbitration Act. That in the opinion of the conference a party truce should be arranged to enable the Prime Minister to attend the Imperial Conference. That the Government be urged to alter the system of taxation so that- money lent by large insurances and stock companies to farmers on mortgage shall pay the same rate of income tax as money lent by such companies to local bodies, and on ordinary debenture security, and that the income tax be paid bv the recipient rather than by the companies. lhat representations be made to the Government as to the urgent need of opening up unoccupied land for settlement on terms aid conditions that would give a man , of limited capital an opportunity to acquire a section. -i hat the Imperial Government he approached through the New Zealand Government on the matter of all future contra 4 for the -army and navy, so that all supplies be confined to the British Empire. * lhat the Government be requested tc pass legislation bv which money for hospital purposes will be collected on a more equitable basis. 1 cat the Government be again approached relative to the iniquitous position of local bodies and hospital boards through the nonpayment of rates and fees by Natives. That in view of the fact, that 90 per cent, of the income of the dominion is received from primary producers the Government be requested to devote more to facilitating agricultural education. Mr A. E. Harding, of Dargaville, was elected president.