FARMERS' INTERESTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 6

FARMERS' INTERESTS.

0 POLITICAL PROTECTION FEDERATION. (By Telegraph—Prese Association.) Christohurch, May '26'. The Provincial Confcrenco of tlio North Canterbury branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union continued today. A letter from the Dominion secretary regarding tlio Farmers' Political Protection Federation, referred by the oxocutivo to tho conference, was discussed in committee. On resuming)- it waa reported that tho following resolution had been carried:— "' "That this conference approves of th 6 action of the Executive Committee of the Farmers' Political Protection Federation in regard to formation and work of tho federation." Invercarglll, May 26. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet at the tenth annual Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union, tho president (Mr. H. J. Midleton) congratulated tlio farmers on having iiad on the whole, a very successful year. Ho referred to the rather remarkable increase of land-values in Southland following on a succession of good seasons, and said ho feared that thoro was an element of danger for those buying in. Ho uttered a note of warning.

Resolutions wero carried as follow:— "That taxation should bo on tlio annual value of land, with tlio same exemptions as in other industries, tho annual value to bo 5 per cent, of tho capital value; that hospital and charitable, aid boards bo the recipients of all auctioneers' and public-house license fees; that Parliamentary candidates bo asked for a specific pledge in regard to advocacy of the optional system of land tenure; and that sitting memhsrs be ask to take, steps in that direction: that the Defence Act bo endorsed, and the niethods n f carrying it out; tint technical classes for primary schools bo ■discontinued;'and that an agricultural college and experiment farm be established in Southland."