OUR FARMERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 27 July 1909, Page 3

OUR FARMERS.

THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE

INTERESTING SPEECH BY MR. WILSON.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 27. The colonial conference of delegates of the provincial branches of the !*»w Zealand Farmers' Union opened here to-day. Mr. J. G. Wilson, who presided, said he thought the jear had been one of encouragement to them. He referred with satisfaction to the tact that the Arbitration Court had refused to make an award in the agricultural labourers' dispute to tic down farmers to certain hours and havo !<■- strictions placed upon their work in addition to other difficulties with which they had to contend. This would Into further increase the cost of living and decrease the opportunities of making one. Some of the anomalies, he said, would require to be adjusted when the shearers' award ran out. The election of 1908 had been a triumph for the views of tfie --union. It was a source of gratification to the union that tho socialistic element in the new House had decreased rather than increased, and that a majority ot the House in favour of the freehold had been returned. Mr. Wilson showed that in ten years up to 1908 the taxation on the land had increased tn>in £267,286 to £537,846. It was s..te to say that land had paid a great, i ratio of taxation than any othei to- m of taxable, property. Altogether l.u •<! paid well-nigh two millions sterling per year in taxes. Based on the mini ber of land owners in the dominion, he calculated each land owner paid ta\<-s which amounted to £12 6s 7d pei .■sear. or £17 6s lid if the general taxation were added. I?' r ring to the mortgage tax mid iln- agitation that it should be brunch' under the same heading as the income tax. Mr. Wilson said tho present difference had a deterrent effect on money-lending. He also referred to what' he termed the extravagance o' the Government — particularly in ieferenco to post office maintenance, alterations, etc. The president alluded to several warnings by the Premii r that the taxation might be increased. and he asked: "Is it not therefor? oui duty to tell the people of the domimim that wo are developing the count r> ;<; a greater rate than population can take advantage of?" He went on to ask whether inenil.i . •. of tho House should not l>e urg«d l-s the electors to stay their hat'ds o>i (he demands they make on the public |mrv. He expressed gratification at tho iidvance made in the consideration gnen to military training, and said that tie personality of the Minister of Ag! ieulttire had not been, he thought, to the union's disadvantage.