FARMERS’ UNION

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION

THE.AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 14. The Farmers’ Provincial conference carried the following remits: —That price of Nauru phosphates be cheapened to farmers; that the preference clause be automatically cancelled from the Award of any trades union going on strike, or taking concerted action to the detriment of the community; that the efforts being made to have the Agricultural College for the North Island placed at Ruakura be supported; that the Education Department be mere sympathetic to country districts in building of schools; that the Government be asked to appoint a committee of impartial business men to advise as to the conducting of public services in the most efficient manner; that all employees in agricultural and pastorl industries, be exempted from the operations of Arbitration Act; that in the opinion of this 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 debentures security, and that income tax be paid by recipient rather than by the companies; that representations be made to the Government as to the urgent need of opening up unoccupied land for settlement on terms and conditions that would give the man of limited capital, an opportunity to acquire a section; that the Imperial Government be approached through the New Zealand Government on the matter of all future contracts for navy and army, so that all supplies be confined to the British Empire; that the Government be requested to pass legislation by which money for hospital purposes will be collected on more equitable basis; that the Government be again approached relative to the iniquitous position of local bodies and hospital boards, through the non-payment 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 products, the Government be requested to devote more to facilitating agricultural education. Mr A. E. Harding of Dargaville, was elected president. The conference has concluded. The following additional remits were passed:— That owing to the unsatisfactory result of Parliamentary elections from the farmer’s point of view, the Government be urged to adopt a more democratic electoral system than now obtains, and suggest the adoption of preferential voting; that the Government make a determined effort in the direction of opening up surplus lands, whether held by Crown or otherwise under optional tenure at a reasonable price; that Crown tenants be given additional representation on the Crown Lands Boards.