FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 818, 16 May 1910, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. Somie 47 different items are set down for discussion at the Wellington Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union to be held on May 21 at Marton. Remits in connection with the Land Act and land valuations have been received as follow:—

Makuri.—Thnt the Government be asked to amend the Land Act so as to give all Crown tenants tho option of purchasing tho freehold for their lands—bush lands at the original value and tho difference between i per cent, now chargSKl on the lease-in-pcrpetuity and tho 5 per cent, charged to tenants with the right-of-purchase. Settlement lands at a fair actuarial valuation. That tho sales of all future lands shall carry the purchaso with limitations of area. This •not to apply to endowments.

Hunterville.—That the executive be asked to point out to the Government the injustice being inflicted on landholders by the amendments in the Land Act preventing the retransfer of abandoned roads in exchange for more practical sites. When these exchanges were made the local bodies agreed to amend the titles and transfer the old roads for the new. We would point out that this legislation ■is retrospective, and therefore the more oppressive. Rongotea and Marton.—That while farmers in general disapprove of the manner in which land is valued for taxes, chiefly because the unimproved value is generally too high and the improvements too low, it. will not improve matters uy taxing buildings anU improvements as well as land. That this conference protests against the suggestion to make "the capital value tho basis of valuation of all land tax.-'

Shannon and Hunterville.—That this conference firmly adheres to the principle of land taxation on the unimproved values, but most emphatically protests against the continued increases being made by the Government Valuation IJe-i pnrtment on the unimproved, value of rural lands, aud against the system which enables their value to bo increased ut the cost of settlers' improvements. Eketahhna.—That it would bo a mistake to make capital value of land liable to taxation until the whole system of taxing tho accumulated wealth of tne community is altered to a tax on capital values. . • .

Maknri.—That tho present system of valuation of lands for taxation purposes should be abolished, and that tho valuation's should be.based on tho earning rapacity of land, extending over a term of years. Hunterville.—That this conference does not favour assessing the land tax on tno annual • value, as set out in,the resolution carried by the Taranaki Executive. Taranaki Executive Motion.—That, as the present system of valuing laud for taxation purposes has proved a complete failure owing to the impossibility of accurately separating the improved from the- unimproved 'value, this executive considers a much fairer and much simpler way would be to tax on the annual value with the same exemptions as money invested in other industries; tho annual ,yarue;'to,;be five per cent, of the capital value.. " ' : "■■' ' Tenui.—That all taxation, both Government and local, b« collected on the capital vahio only. . Other remits urge that Maori lands should be 'put on the same footing as European lands; alteration of land board constitutions; better trucking facilities on,, railways; improvement; of dangerous railway crossings'; profit on excursion trains to go to organisers, of excursions; that a farmer from West-Coast be, up-' pointed to' Legislative Council; condemning Government.. Fir/>, Insurance methods; urging the keeprng of Crown lands free of noxious weeds; more noxious weed inspectors';" grading and branding of seed; absent voters , permit for local bodies'. elections; annual' meetings and financial statements by locol bodies; subsidies for local bodies in proportion torate struck; power for local bodies to raise money and take land for waterins stock; that £1 per hundred for machineshearing grown sheep is unreasonable and excessive, and that full freedom of con-, tract in.shearingirbe insisted on; that auctioneers 'be 'asked to -give out names of vendors and purchasers at sales; that country and borough representatives bo appointed separately on charitable aid boards; that farmers' co-operative freezing works be established; that motions confirmed by Dominion Conference bo fofu-arded to- me'mbers ".at ' Parliament; that Crown Suits Act be'amended to cxState trading concerns; that postal facilities-be improved in specified ways; that a wool brands registering Act bo passed; no sales of stud stock without a veterinary certificate; that an inspection of stallions be made periodically.