FARMERS' UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12749, 19 September 1919, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

CORSfr]3SS!ON TO ENGLAND. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 18. At the Farmers’ Union Conference to-day Mr Vavasour’s motion regarding sending a commission Home was lost. The conference then carried Sir Poison's motion providing that a commission of one North Island representative, one. South Island representative, one representative of farmers’ freezing companies and one Government official should proceed to England to examine conditions and males representations to the Imperial Government concerning the New Zealand meat trade. Subsequently it was decided that Mr W. J. Poison (Wanganui) should be the North Island representative on the commission and Mr D. Jones (Lhinsandel) the South Island member. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. A remit from Otago, that the union should approve the principle of Government by an elective executive, was lost, as was an amendment that the whole of the members of the party in power should elect the executive. REMITS CARRIED. The conference carried the following remits:— “ That this union protest to the Government against double taxation of land in regard to land and income tax and payment of tax on mortgages. “ That in regard to direct taxation, it is inequitable that taxation of one class of the community should be computed on a different, basis from that of another, and recognising that it is only according to the amount of one’s income can ho based ability to pay, therefore taxation should bo based on income only. ‘ ‘ That seeing that taxation hea.rs so heavily upon parents of large families, this conference suggests that the regulations governing the filling in of income tax returns should bt? altered to provide that the allowance for members of families should be raised from £25 to £250, and that this allowance be made to apply to all members of such family up to sixteen years of age. “That an injustice is done to farmers’ naves engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such services, and the conference urges the Minister of Finance to allow reasonable deductions to he made in the assessment of income tax- “ That the land and income tax form be sent direct to the individual, notifying him when the same is due. “ That this conference considers that land valuations, are not carried out in a. just manner.' Improvements are not given fair value, and unimproved values in some cases are raised 100 per cent. We consider local men should act with the Government vtuuer. “ That the Government he asked to have the lands of the Dominion periodically valued at intervals of not less than seven years, and that valuations of contiguous counties be undertaken in rotation, according to their position to each other. That the Farmers’ Union disapproves of any proposal to levy special rates on land valu-.s for public works, such as a hydro-electric scheme, as any increased value due to such development is already taxed by the Government and local bodies. “ That the Government be asked to reorganise the whole system of public works, all work to bo let on contract by open tender where possible. “ That the Government be urged to amend the Customs regulations so as to provide that moto:- lorries bought by local bodies for purposes of road construction be placed on the same footing as other road-making machinery, and the duty thereon refunded. “ That thi* conference protests against the unjust charge for stock trucks by the Public Works Department on those sections of railways which have not been taken over by the railway authorities-”