NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2371, 30 May 1906, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. (Continued from Second Edition >it yesterday). Mr. Guthrie, delegate lrom tlio Rangiwahia branch, moved and M». Richards seconded: That the f jlouiai Council he asked to draft a Bill granting the freehold to Crown tenants, and to take steps to have the -ame introduced early next session, ami use all its influence to secure tor it the fullest support of the freehold . members of the House. Mr. Tansey said he would support the motion if a clause were insert. <. with regard to area, so as to guard against the aggregation oi large estates. Mr. Morrison said if the Union -ns determined it could get the freehold. The farmers would only have to go straight at the point, as the people of Ireland did when they got what they wanted. The motion was put and carri.d. THE LAND ACT. Mr. Pearce, delegate irom Feilding branch, moved : That the Land Act he altered to allow ti ;i----ants under the Land for >ettlem< Act to take seven crop- off their land before sowing down in gra--. and that crop eaten hv cattle or sheep be n t counted as a crop. Mr. Afills, of tlie Cheltenhai i branch, seconded the motion, and in doing -o -aid lie was pleased to uy that he was not a leasehold tei aiu. He hoped this law would be amended, so as to give tenants a little liberty. -Mr. McKenzie said lie tliougni it was quite clear that three years wu. not sufbeient. Mr. Perry moved as an aniendme: That Land Boards lie given the p-.v.er in their regulations to allow the t* nants under the Land lor Settlement Act to cultivate their larnis a- ..ey pleased, provided they had spent i sufficient amount on the farm to protect the lessor. Mr. Tansey seconded the amendment. which was cari.-d. alter

lengthv discussion. Mr Nevin. of Whareama in. i~>-»d and Mr Morrison seconded: That tic Colonial Council be urged t 1 iaiii the recommendation of the Lmid (’>>;;. mission re subsidies to Local Bode - being given effect to. Mr McGiegor said he coulo i >T -«• vhy a body that raises a sjiei ml i- .1.1 to construct a road, should t !.- ceive a subsidy Mr R. B MK< i - zie supported the motion. Mr Richards moved as an am* udnvent- that the Government be a-k. J to give all subsidies on a grad .ut.-d scale. Mr. Redpath seconded the amendment.—Carried bv 22 v .- 13. THE ASSESSMENT COURT Mr E. Law iShannon Bi.i’ j repost'd and Mr Newman »<■(..: u«d: That t I- considered n< • have representation ot laical B-xiu - on the Asst ssment Courts. Mr Law in moving the mo!:,in -.ml lie considered that a member «>i . i, t of the Local Bodies should si: . n Assessment Court.—Cairied. RAILWAYS Mr Peat (Wanganui) mer. ' a d ."«n Higgie seconded: That the Railway authorities be urged to : .» siding at the Wanganui R.>. so for the convenience of countiy v ors to the Agricultural Show itid other gatherings. The chairman corroborated at Inul been said in reference • me motion by the mover and the r nder. the chairman of the Wanganui Biancli wrote to him (tie -;x;ik»i) icgarding the matter, and h< nph.ed that it should be placed upon tie order paper, so that it could be brought up for discus-ion. Messrs Neuman. Morri-.ui ,;:iC M< K snzio spoke in tavour ei n e mot ion. --Carried. Mr Kumer (Maurieevillei i.« came from a district when a large number of tat sheep are trucked i vt iy year. mid he considered that the number of stock trains should he increased. and lie moved: That the Railway D.partinent he requested to run as i ~i._ as po--il>le exclusively stock trim's during the busy season. Mr .1 C. Coojh'T said be had -. :y great pleasure in second tion which was carried. WOOL CHARGES-. Mr Halsillie (l’aluier-tei N u; moved: That the Gor< nimnit . ise the Agent-General to i ;: «• ate the excessive Loudon war. a charges on wool, with a view ~> pelting the same reduced, and it- attention he drawn to the in’. ~ tiee not in vogue, ot dedueting alt charges of llli. in each cw,. l •, M 111. Mr Newman seconded the Captain Hewatt.said be < on- ... i. the High Commissioner should do something in the old count iy > > \.:- conie tlie difficulty. (.’allied. COUNTY FR ANCH !>!• Mr Morrison (Hahand > ~ i and Mr Newman seconded: i ■ extension ot the tranchi-e in • i direction of giving non-rat.p.iv, i - , vote On local matter- i- i and unjust. Cur rush Mr McCurdy, on behalf ot • gate from the Pahiatua hraiich. . o was absent. moved: That no t : . r increase of duty he imiHi-ed <>n imported agricultural linpi.m. iMr Halsillie second's! the r • i w liicli w as carried. FENCING IRON. Mr Nev in (To \ui) moved Mr MmI'.ington seconded: That the iron ; r fencing standards (unpuinhed) , ; in free owing to the imreosing city of fencing timher. i'arr;< d TIMBER DUTIES Mr Fidc-mcr (Koituna) moved .. .d Mr Nevm sts-omhd: That the duty he taken off all imported tiiuhci Mr I'ansey (Mangaweka) nppo-isl ♦he resolution, giving his ieas,. t . |,, r doing so that if the motion was carried the Americans wouM he to land t lUilm'l in New Zealand. 1 , or Hum it can h,> produced her. t aptam Huwatt opposed the 'lotion.

(hi being put the resolution was lost by 22 votes to 17.

DUTY ON POTATOES. Mr Matheson (Eketahuna) moved and ill' ltedpath (Nireaha) seconded: That the Government be urged to exempt potatoes from the Customs duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem, owing to the unfortunate continuance of the potato blight throughout the colony'. Mr McKenzie did not agree with the reason given for the motion. The motion was put and carried. HIDES. Mr McKenzie (Rongotea) moved and Mr ltedpath (Nireaha) seconded: That the proposed export duty on hides be opposed.—Carried. CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Mr Foreman (Gladstone) moved and Mr Redpath (Nireaha) seconded: That the Union strongly objects to any increase in the Customs Tariff, except for revenue purposes.--Carried. REMOVAL OF DUTIES. Mr Millar (Kaitawa) moved: That as the fist step towards the removal of all restrictive duties should be to disclaim and desire to benefit our selves at the expense of others, the lai mers I nion urge the Government to remove all duties from farm products.

Mr J. Manson seconded the motion. Captain Hewatt said he supported the motion, and was a believer in free trade.

Mr McFarlane said in the face of the existing conditions he could noi support the motion. Mr Matheson (Eketaliuna) moved as an amendment: That the Union psk the Government to remove all duties from produce coming from all countries that meet New Zealand on the same basis. The amendment was put to the Conference and carried unanimously.