Farmers in Conference.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12289, 23 June 1903, Page 7

Farmers in Conference.

FRIDAY'S SITTING.

(Continued.)

DUTY ON 'AGRICULTURAL MACH-

INERY.

Mr Burgess in tho absence of Mr Maxwell,* moved an Opunake remit/ w That no increase- be made in the import duty on farm implements &nd agricultural machinery." This was seconded by Mr Tisch, and carried without discussion.

THROWN OUT.

An Opunake remit, protesting against the present wilful destruction of val^ uable timber, and want oi encouragement of forestry, was thrown out. ...

STUD STOCK.

Mr Hine (Waitara) moved : " That the Agricultural Department be requested to have some, of, the lately im-. ported stud catt'e placed in a central, position in this province, for the convenience of farmers-" He said the matter was of obvious importance to, iarxners, and did not need much discussion. Mr Kickard seconded. Mr Davidson drew attention to the, expense v of the Momohaki State Farm. This was in about as central a position as cotrld be wished. If they practically made two or three stations like the Momohaki the cost of maintenance would be too great. If set* tiers were anxk as to avail themselves of the stud facilities for doing so were at hand.

The resolution was lost on division 5 by 14 to 9.

REJECTED.

An Eltham motion, urging the desirableness "of encouraging the immigration of suitable persons to- occupy; the waste lands l ~df* the colony, was' thrown out.

A motion, from Carrington Road, -That all Bills affecting- farmers should be forwarded to the Coloni&l Council for its consideration before being placed on the Stat ite Book, , was thrown out.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

jin Eltham remit was then read : ** That this branch, cousiders that preferential treatment of British ' goods is the niost pressing question affecting, the farmers' interests, and urges the Provincial Executive to use every efort in assisting the Government to bring such » system into force." The opportunity had now come, Mr Parlane said: for farmers to do themselves a gr,eat deal 1 of good. A greatdeal had. been heard, during the past two or . three years, of patriotism. Now they ought to seize the -chance to . consolidate the Empire through the channels of trade.- In these days of "hustle" it did not. do to follow, the old English style of drifting along with the times. Every Britisher, was at heart a freetrader, though a great many were not- willing io stand •up for their convictions when it came to touching their pockets. Countries having free trade within their boundaries were coining fast to the commercial front, as Germany, and the United States. If free trade ruled within the Empire it would arrest the decline of Imperial trade. Me hoped the Union would support the motion strongly. When Mr Seddon came back from England he seemed inclined to favour granting a rebate of duties on' British *made and carried goods. Sow he seomejl desirous of following what might be \**iled , the line -of least resistance, and placing increased dutr 1 ies on foreign • goods — which, was 4 practically "squeezing" the farmer. The speaker believed there was a cycle of good years coming for Australia, and she would produce beyond her own needs. In thfe Home markets New Zealand produce. was dearer than^Australian o"r Argentine. Therefore, especially if a drop in values * occurred, \New Zealand would have to reduce the cost -of production/ The British artisan: was"ttoe" onljr class able td fcuy the farmers' produce in any quantiey, and they should therefore do their utmost to place their goods on a market at a price within reach of the best custom-ers-r-the. artisans. They should •be prepared ' to sacrifice a little in the way of high profits for the good *of the Empire — they owed that Much to the Mother Country for the cuval protection so long afiorded.- 3Je moved the following resolution :— * That in the opinion of this Conference all goods of British manufacture, growth, or produce, carried to this rolony in British vessels, should be admitted at a substantial reduction upon the present Customs tariff ; and tbat the Farmers' Union make a effort to remove as far as possible all fiscal obstruction to trade be t-veenthe colony and the -Motherland." - Mr Astbury' seconded. Mr Forsyth suggested the addition of the words, "but would "j-roae. any increase of duties- against ft .reign countries." Mr Davidson atked how the run action in revenue brought ui\>ont ,by the reduced duties was to be r.ade v.p to the amount necessary for ffowniuient. It looked as if it would have to come out of the pockets of ihe f.irmors. Mr Blair suggested that any loss' of revenue might be made up by reducing the exemptions £or land aiid income tax.

Mr Astbury, after referring to the theory and practice of irjoUade, sv-id that if they opened up their ],:oducts to the British workman then tfaty should open the way •/> r'i'joivs 'his manufactured goods. To deal P«perly with the Mother Country, if she were willing to accept their goods on free trade they suould accord her tLe same privilege. The resulting uf extended trade would, he oelieved, soot indirectly increase the re i/«nuo.i /«nuo. Mi Astbury, referring to. rcceit v'« Frances by the Secretary of .State la: tbe Colonies on the subject, <iavl Mr Chi, m berlain was mistaken '.n his surges-* tions as to preferential Ira'ie with tbe colonies.

Mr Parlane .briefljr reptle-J. Mr Forsyth asked 'that the feeling of the meeting be taken on the u"<ution to the motion of the words s;-.igtjesi<d by him. The President said Mr SOMOII vas reported to have stated that be woLid advocate increasing the <lutk i s on io~ eign goods, which was direztly c gainst the farmers' interests, asi they largely used Amerban-made agrj.raHt»ral hiner

The words were added, and the &- mended resolution was then varr ; ei. The Conference adjourned at .12.13 for luncheon-