TRAIL OF REMITS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

TRAIL OF REMITS

FARMERS’ DISCUSSIONS. OTAGE MEMBERS DOUBTFUL. The question of what becomes of all tire remitfl considered by the annual Dominion Conference of Farmers' Unions was briefly discussed at a riieeting of'the Otago Provincial Council of the union. The ehairman, Mr. J. D. Revie, said that the last Dominion Conference was one of the most important ever held. All those in attendance were keen and seemed very much alive to the economic state towards which the country was drifting. The secretary, Mr. A. C. Cameron, said that only a few replies had been received regarding the remits that had been submitted to Parliament. Mr. R. J. E. Smith expressed doubt whether such conferences were doing any good. Many remits, he said, were thrown out and many went on to. the Government. However, it was his opinion that not one remit in ten was considered by the Government, and he was «ure that the replies were not satisfactory to the Dominion executive. It seemed to him that unless they were going io get better results it was a big waste of money sending remits to Wellington and considering them in conference. There was something radically wrong’ in Wellington, and he, believed they . would get better results by sending the reniijts to the Ministers themselves.

The chairman said that one great difficulty was the .large number of remits that were usually submitted to the conference. It would be much better if they cut them down by a third or a half. They should make out a few strong remits which affected the Dominion as a whole and follow them right through. Mr. D. M. Reid thought that it would be more satisfactory if they co-operated with other bodies in the sending in of remits. It seemed that when they stood alone they got no hearing, ’ When working in with other bodies there would be more chance of success.

Mr. J. Preston said that this was the first year that the Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Federation had. joined forces in forwarding remits. He did not see any reaeon why the two organisations should not be unanimous at all times, for their interests were the same.

Mr. M. A. Kinney considered that a full discussion on the important remit dealing with land values. was alone worth', a .conferenee. ■ ' ' ' The discussion lapsed. • ,