FARMERS' UNION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12545, 7 July 1905, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE

ITEMS FROM THE ORDER PAPER

The fourth annual conference of the NfcAV Zealand Farmers' Union will open ■:at the Museum Buildings, Wellington, •on Tuesday next at 10 a.m. The order paper contains sixty-three motions to be considered in open conference, and eight, dealing chiefly with matters of policy and oigamsation, to lac considered in committee. Following is a digest of the principal motions to ■-be discussed, showing the districts from which That the Government be urged to so lan-end the Land Act as to give Crown tenants the option of purchasing the freehold of their land at the original value, and tho payment ot the ditterenco between tho 4 per cent, now -charged on the l.i.p. and the 5 per cent, -charged to tenants with right to purchase.— Wellington, Southland, Otago, Poverty Bay, Auckland. That payment of compensation tor tho improvements made by surface sowino- under Government lease be urged, also that clause 100 of the Land Act, 1892 (which enacts that m cases ot the non-observance of the'«jonditions of "°" vernment leases, the lease is liable to absolute forfeiture with or without inquiry, without any payment whatsoever to the lessee or licensee) be amended. — Noith Canterbury. That all Government land put in the market in future be thrown open on the -optional system.—Hawke's Bay. That the Land Act be amended so as to include the old deferred payment -. system.—Taranaki. That the endeavours of tho union to .obtain for all Crown tenants the option to secure the freehold be strenuously continued. But that at the same time it may be made clear that any Act passed for tha purpose, contain a provision to prevent the obtaining of a title by any one to a greater area of land affected by the Act than provided under present land acts.—Taranaki.. That the conference condemns the enforcement of the residence clause in the -caso of Crown lessees till such time as

means of communication by way of reads and bridges have been provided. — Auckland, Taranaki. NATIVE LANDS.

Poverty Bay and Auckland both send remits on native lands, the latter being ai; follows—That all native lands be individualised, reserving sufficient land for the sustenance of the natives. All hind other than the reserves after three years from the individualising to be subject to the same rating and taxing as European lands. The natives to be free to deal with their lands other than tho reserves, as they think fit. Provision being made to present the aggregation of large estates to Europeans. Tho question of taxation involved in tho case of Ward. Bros., of the Hutt, will come under review m tho shape of a remit from Wellington. Taranaki asks—"That the Valuation Act be amended so as to provide for a recognition of all improvements, by deduction of the full value of all improvements to the soil as well as improvements in sight from the total value." POLITICS. In view of tho approach of the general elections the remits on the political attitude of the union are important. They are:— That the union as a whole shall take ?. strong political attitude and strenuously oppos9 those candidates at the general election who are opposed to its platform and support those candidates who will endorse it, irrespective of parties.—Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Auckland, Wellington. That provincial executives be empowered to submit the names of candidates for Parliament at the general election and that voting papers with the names of such candidates be sent to all branches which shall hold an election by ballot (and through the post where members are unable to attend the meetings). The result to be forwarded to tho provincial executives, which shall declaro the candidate favoured by a najority of the members to be the one who shall receive the united support of tho union throughout the electoral district.—Poverty Bay. Auckland wishes it affirmed that country constituencies should be represented in the House by farmers who are liK-mbera of the union, and further asks that a scheme of electoral organisation be drawn up. Taranaki wants to see the reduction oi the Customs tariff made a test question. Tho same province is averse to the referendum and the second ballot. TAXATION OF LAND. That tho Land and Income Assessment Act, 1900, bo amended in the following direction, viz.—Partnership exemption, taxation of mortgages, and general operation of the Act.—North Canterbury. That the using value of land be the basis of value of rural land for rating and taxation purposes..—Auckland. That it is desirable that all Maori lands should be equally rated with those of Europeans.—Poverty Bay, Taranaki. That the Government be approached with a view to farmers being exempt from laud tax on loans to improve roads, the same as private mortgages. At present the farmer pays double—lst, interest on loans; and 2nd, rates on property improved by same.—Taranaki. That the conference be urged to env deavour to have the law altered so as to have the entire cost ot* hospitals and charitable aid paid out of consolidated revenue.—Taranaki. . ANTHRAX. Otago, Wellington, North Canterbury, Taranaki, and Southland all send remits asking "That the Government be again most strongly urged to erect sterilising works in the colony or prohibit tho importation of bones or bonedust altogether." Southland and Taranaki oppose any change in the mode of electing representatives of local bodies. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. That the colonial, executive be recommended to set up a committee to in quire into the whole question of workers' compensation with a view ta bayJ ing" rhe law amended*—Wellington. That every working man be compelled to pay an insurance fee to cover accident assurance, and that the Government establish a fund to meet the payments of one-third of the cost. The employer to pay one-third and the employee to pay one-third.—Auckland. TIMBER DUTTES. Objection is made by Southland and, Wel!ingt:n to the timber duties being raised; Auckland wants timber and flax royalties to be handed, over to local bodies; and Hawke's Bay wants timbei called over public roads to be taxed for road maintenance. NAVAL DEFENCE. The following remit is forwarded by Southland and Wellington—"That in view of tho enormous expense entailed on Greit Britain for-the defence of the Empire ol which we form a part, this union h of the opinion that our Legislature should show a generous spirit in support of tho naval forces to which we owo our security from foreign aggression." Auckland vants the union platform revised with a view to making it of more practical value to the farming community. There are other remits objecting to preference to unionists, asking that the Ji<!ep tax be reduced, asking for more efficient earmarking of stock, that plantations bo relieved of local taxation, tlp.t the towns should share with the country in the destruction of small birds — "N.Z. Times."