FARMERS CONFER.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 5

FARMERS CONFER.

PUBLIC HOSPITAL CHARGES. NEW SYSTEM ADVOCATED By Telegraph.—-Prera Association. Wellington, Last Night. . The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union resumed to-day, the president (Mr. W. J. Polson) being in the chair. The following remit was carried: That in view of the alleged fact that public hospital charges are fixed at rates much below the cost of accommodation and medical attention, and as a consequence regulations have been framed which have the effect of shutting out all patients other than the altogether indigent, which is a distinct hardship to country residents who cannot afford to pay the high chargee cf private hospitals, it is advisable that an intermediate charge reasonably covering the cost of such attention and accomzboda* tion be fixed for such cases as may derite on the own volition attention in publie hospitals. That the remit pasesd at the conference last year, asking .“that all motor-car and motor-lorry drivers be c impelled to carry a license of efficiency and the same to be endorsed for inefficient driving, and tint motor-lorries be compelled to carry reflectors and headlights, and push-bikes red diw on the mudguards,” be again supported *iy the conference, and followed up till the request is given effect to.”—This was moved by a Wairarapa representative, but was defeated.

That the duration of Parliament should be for five years instead of three years as at present, and that in the case of a rerignation from the executive council of any public body or of the Legislature the vacancy caused by such resignation be filled by nomination by such council or Legislature, unless a fresh election can be secured without cost to the public.—This was a North Canterbury motion. Mr. D. Bates - (North Canterbury) stated that in only too many instances the intentions of Parliament were not what they might be from the point of view of democracy. In ’ many cases a member after election was only a disturbing element in the House, but he did not think that the time was opportune for the conference to consider the matter, and he withdrew the remit. The

second motion had been printed by mistake, as it had failed to find a seconder. Other resolutions carried were:— That when a revaluation of a district is made local bodies shall have, on the petition of a majority of the ratepayers o'f each riding, the right to have such riding revalued. That the basis on which the unimproved value of land in New Zealand is calculated is arbitrary and unfair;' the alleged exhaustion of the value of improvements is too rapid, and improvements of many kinds are not taken into consideration, no credit being given to settlers for the fact that they have contributed by way of rates for interest in the repayment of loans for roading and other public works in their district.

That as the super tax on land was admittedly an emergency measure imposed as a war tax. and was declared to be only a special and temporary experiment, we stropgly urge that It should be abolished.

That this conference appreciates what the department has done to prevent the spread of cattle tick, but would like to know what steps are being taken to prevent horses and dogs from carrying tick into clean areas.

It was recommended that a small commission be appointed to go into the question of soldier settlement.