Farmers' Union Conference.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7871, 13 July 1905, Page 2

Farmers' Union Conference.

(Pet Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 12. The Farmers' Union Conference concluded the debate on politics this morning, by carrying the following resolution unanimously : "That it be an instruction from the conference to the Executive that the two questions dealing with the freehold and franchise be drawn up, and sent to the Provincial Executive, together with such other questions as they consider of colonial importance to the Union, to be submitted through the branches to the various candidates at the coming general election, with a recommendation that members of the collective branches use their Weight and influence to support out' candidate only, in each electorate who, replies satisfactorily to the above quest/ions." Mr J. G. Wilson, of Rangitikci, was re-elected President, and Mi" ti. ',V. Lcadley, Ashburton, re-elected Vice-President. Eulogistic references was made to the services of thesci iiOntlemcit, both of whom Were nominated by Mr McQueen, of Southland.

Mr Birch moved that the Colonial Executive of the Union should in futurc meet quarterly in Wellington, instead of in Palmcrslon North as hitherto, the. Executive to consist 01 one delegate from each Provincial Council, 1 ravelling expenses in connection with meetings to be borne oy 'the Executive. Other proposals were that the President should have an advisory committee, of three, that the headdiiarIcrs iif the Union be set up in Wellington, that the office of Colonial Organiser be abolished, and that a General Secretary be located in Wellington at a sufficient remuneration.

On the motion of Mr Clayton. (Poverty Bay) it was resolved to urge upon the Government the necessity of eflecting a speedy settlement oi native lands. The mover said that in his province there was 700,UU0 acres in the hands of lire natives unsettled.

Other resolutions passed were that the conference re-affirms its previous resolution that at, least one assessor should be elected to the Assessment Court by local bodies ; that the Valuation Act should be amended so as to provide (or the recognition of all improvements by the deduction of the full value of all improvements to the soil, as well as improvements in sight, from the total value ; that only men with local knowledge and agricultural exuerience be employed as valuers ; that the Union oppose the Referendum and Second Ballot; that native lands be placed on the same footing as European lands for tlie purposes of rating, taxation and collection ; that under the Land and Income Assessment Act allowance he made for improvements made by expenditure of special loans,