FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 81, 12 April 1902, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

> THE AIMS OF THK FABIIBRB. PEE PBXBS ABSOGIATIOIT. Adoklaho, April 11. At a meeting of the executive of th* ' Farmers' Union this afternoon the ' ohairmao, Mr Kirkbridf, s«id the fink • subject af the reoent Trades 1 and Libour Conference was the inoi* 1 denoe of taxation. One speaker »• ' minded the confeienoe there might bo such a thing as taxing a man oft th* 1 land. Yet if one speaker favoured an ! increase in the graduated tax and a ' heavier t»x on absentees, or another suggest d an inorehfle in income tax, 1 w.re altogether unanimous that the burden of taxation should bs ' thrown on " the other fellow." After proposing to " pile it on " the people who make their living out of the land * it teemed tomewbat iionical to sug« gest as one speaker did "that 1 they sb-.uld try to work in har- ' mony with the Carmen' Union." During » di-cuasion on the revaluation of Crown lensxe it nan threatened ' hat "if th- Farme s' Union poriistcd in its effirte to secure the freehold 1 they would at ouce come into oonfliet ' with the labour party." Members of ' the Farmers' Union would not be ' deterred fiom carrying out it* opinions 'on ques'ions affecting latd. Ihey were'banding together to protect their ' interests and would not be dictated to by men ignorant of the conditions of the f .ruling community. Without ons 1 the conference proposed that all Orowu l«aseß should be revalued periodically. They cams as pioneers from the Old Country to secure freehold properties, but bow many would -havs come out to be offered UaS'held with revaluution •nrf five y- are ? The greater weight which the Government attached t» the opinions of tradesmen in prefdeaoe til farmurj aho «ed the ueocwicy for oompleting thi organisation of the farmers, who should tak i up that p.wit on ia the body politic which their uumtiers warranted.