The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1911. THE FARMERS' UNION.

Southland Times, Issue 16792, 22 July 1911, Page 5

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro . SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1911. THE FARMERS' UNION.

The agenda for the tenth annual .dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which will meet at Wellington on Tuesday next, comprises a formidable series of important questions. The remits from the various branches have been carefully classified and grouped under headings. Their number and diversity illustrate clearly both the scope of the farmers’ interests and the activity of the various branches of the Union. Naturally, resolutions affecting the laud laws are given pride of place, and from four branches there are remits urging the endorsement by the conference of the freehold principle. It may be anticipated that these remits will be adopted, for the consensus of opinion in the Farmers’ Union, as among the farmers of the Dominion, is strongly In favour of affording all tenants of the Crown an opportunity of purchasing the freehold on fair terms. There are differences of opinion in respect ts the terms. Some maintain that the tenants should have the right to acquire the freehold at the original value of the land; others are of opinion that the basis of purchase should be the present value; others, again, contend that the original value plus a percentage should be the selling value. But while these differences of opinion exist there is but little contention in respect to the principle of the freehold. The farmers of the Dominion do not waver from the strong conviction that from the point of view of the fanner, as affording the highest degree of security and the highest encouragement to industry and perseverance, and from the point of view of the country, as tending to promote the settlement of the land, the freehold form of tenure, ■with safeguards against the aggregation of large estates, is the best for the Dominion.

The dissatisfaction that exists among fanners in regard to laud valuation Is indicated by the number of resolutions tabled under this heading. Jlarl borough, North Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington, all submit remits condemning the present system of land valuation, and urging improvement. A North Canterbury resolution refers to “the grossly unfair and inquisitorial system by which increased taxation is levied upon land

owners through the loose and perfunctory way in which the valuations are repeatedly made.” Another remit from North Canterbury refers to “the present farcical system of so-called valuation,” while the Auckland branch submits for the endorsement of the Conference a resolution "that the present system of valuation ... is unjust and needs reform.” As to amendment, many suggestions are made, as for instance that Road Boards, County Councils-or Farmers’ Unions should be given power to appoint a representative to act with the Government valuer in making valuations. Another suggestion is that two practical farmers should be appointed to act with the valuer in each county, such farmers to be resident in the county for which they value, and that the local body interested and the owner of the laud should be notified of the approximate date when valuations will be made. Closely associated with the question of valuation is the question of taxation, and in this connection the Conference will have a proposal from Southland that the basis of taxation should be altered from the unimproved to the annual value, the annual value to be 5 per cent, of the capital value, farmers to have the same exemptions as investors in other industries. The Southland remit affirms that “the present system of valuing land for taxation purposes has proved a complete failure.” Taranaki will suggest that the basis of taxation should be the farmer’s income calculated at 5 per cent, on the capital value of his holdings, after deducting all encumbrances in the shape of mortgages. In view of the approaching general elections the discussion by the Conference of these matters affecting the administration of land will be followed with close interest, for the speakers at the Conference will doubtless express accurately the opinions of the majority of farmers. The Conference will also have before it resolutions touching the customs tariff, the railways, public works, the post and telegraph services, defence, immigration, education and general agricultural and pastoral subjects. In respect to defence it is worthy of note that the Southland branch of the Union asks the Dominion Conference “to endorse and support the Defence Act and the system of working it out as now being made by the Commandant, General Godley.” There is a somewhat similar remit from North Canterbury, but it is particularly appropriate that the Southland branch should give the Conference a lead in this matter. The Southland branch of the Farmers’ Union has always been distinguished for a keen and intelligent interest in all matters pertaining to defence. If our recollection serves, the Southland branch of the Farmers’ Union was the first body in the Dominion to move in the direction of an increased subsidy to the Imperial Navy. The universal principle in military training was approved by the Southland branch before its adoption by the Government, and when the first steps were taken to bring the new Act into operation the authorities met with no greater sympathy or support than they received from the residents of Southland. This district was one of the most satisfactory as regards the registration of those liable for service, and on his visit to the district General Godley found ample evidence that his endeavours to establish the .new system on a sound basis would be strongly and warmly supported by the residents of this district. It is appropriate, therefore, that Southland should submit this resolution to the Conference, and we hope that it will receive endorsement in the name of the farmers of the whole Dominion. The Order Paper covers in all 128 resolutions. It contains material for three or four days strenuous work, and the result should make for the improvement of the farmer’s lot.