N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

ELEVENTH DOMINION CONFERENCE. THE PIUNCH'AT, BEMITS. The agenda paper for the eleventh annual Dominion Conference of tho New Zealand Fanners' Union, which is to comnieuco i'u ,luly .'lO, Ikis been issued. In all, tliero are tIW remits from all quarters of New. Zealand. Land Laws. Viuler tho head of Land Laws, the conference will be ;i.sked Iα reaffirm the .union's land policy, and, iu connection with hind settlement, the following remits will be dealt with_Auckland.—"That tho union urge the Government to adopt a vigorous land settlement policy, so that any suitable land, wholly or partially unused or unoccupied, whether held by Natives, by the Crown, or by private individuals, may Le made available under the optional sy.-tein for 010-c in sufficient areas to meet the requirements of all genuine settlers." Ilawke's bay.-'Tlisit the attention of tho Minister for Lands be drawn to the necessity of giving tho best facilities for acquiring farms in small areas, and that owners of. large estates be encouraged to cut up their land into suitable areas for small farming." North Canterbury.—"That the conference, recommend the Government to discontinue the practice of buying comparatively small, highly-improved farms with huge -sidelines instead of large unimproved properties." Limitation of Area. 'live Wellington delegates will move:— "That the conference is in favour of the limitation of area, but before thU could be given effect to, the laiuls of the l)o- ---| minion should be carefully ami practically c)us»ilic(l." The Optional Tenure. The following motions in regard to the optional ti'iiure will Le moved by Auckland:—'That rural endowment' lands which have failed to lir.d occupiers, bo thrown ojie'M for selection under the optional tenure, proceeds from same to be re-inve;-ti';l for endowment purposes." "That this meeling is iu favour of all Crown lands heiiig ofi'trod oti'tht optional tenure, and that all Crown tenants Iμ granted lh\< option of purchasing at the original value, plus 1 percent, per milium, cmipnuml interest.". "Thar Hi;- disposal of all C'rown and Native lands be under the optional teuiu'e." Crown Leases, The followine remits deal with Crown leases:—North. Canterbury: "That in all districts where existing Crown land leases are about to expire, the local body in uhost! district such lands arc, he represented on (he board appointed to adjust the system of tenure- and the rents of such lands, (lingo: "Thai the union protest against tire extra rating on pastoral and small grazing runs, and that the conference bo asked to lake same up in the interests of the holders."

Xorth Canterbury will move, that the conference lisa its'influence, to have thn deferred payment .system put into force in preicvence lo any lea-shoid tenure. Valuation of Land. Tho Ti'.ranaki delegates will move-:— "That the Valuation of I.onds Act be so altered us to permit of all improvement. , ! of whatever nature made to land, and also capital value, on o '< per cent basis of any'•special rates paid on such land for ronding. etc., being reckoned as improvements." And North Canterbury will move "That the conference is of opinion that the Government .system of lnnd valnatiou is not satisfactory and considers that t! local body should have power to appoint a suitable man lo act with the Government l-.ind valuer." Taxatiori. Taxation remits'will be moved as under: MarJlioi'uiigh—"Thnt a strong protest should be "forwarded to thn Government against any increase in tho hind fax." T..irar:.ki-"That Jill Native laiuls shall In placed on the same footing for taxation, purposes, both, local and general, as lauds held by Europeans, .and all lands nut required for the. Natives' own use, h? purchased by (he Government. g;kl leased with of purchase." North Canterbury—"That the Government be requested to nbelish the tux on morl/wgos." j Railway Matters. ■ liaihviiy remits deal villi the old qiw- | ticn of the shortage af trucks, f,-.st<.,-stock trains, reduced rates for manures, excursion rates for farmers as well as reduced rales on iinpnrteil timber, and the abolition of all preferential rates. Military Camps and Parades. In addition to remits expressing appreciation of the stand taken by the -Minister far Defence iu adiiiijiisfering the Defence Act, and approving the Territorial system are the following:—Hawke's Bay— "That the conference recognises the necessity for compulsory military training as provided in the Defence- Act, but considers that the training of young men eiii,ployed in agricultural, pastoral, and dairying pursuits should lie s;> arranged as io reduce the serious inconvenience and expense to employers and employees by their liequeut attendance required at paradfs, <uid Miggi-sis that the annual period of coiiliniiuii- - (raining in camp during the slack season b: , increased, whil-t the parjdi's during (he remainder «f the year lie. reduced correspondingly." M:irlborough—"That the Defence Act lys.t amended as to abolish imprisonment under the compulsory clauses of the Act and siibslitnt* therefnr service on a training ship/' Tiiratialfi -"That il i-u i rc-'ipi-meiidiitinn to the Government to send drill insti'iictars iutii c<:uiiiry district., whereever a sufficient number of Toruterials Kind cadets cnmbincil can be mustered at a central place."

Scarcity of Labour. No foww limn ciglif remits will be put forward dealing with the scarcity of labour and urging tho Government lo inaugurate n policy of ii-sirted immigration. ISemiU doiling with labour's wase and labour unions include I In- following:— Auckland—"That we, as primary producers, view with alarm the artificially high temlenry of the present high wane., in the cities to withdraw labour from agricultural pursuits, and also recognise that the farming industry cannot p-.iy the necessary high wage u> compete with other indu-tries, and wo fear so long as this stats of lliinj;:; exists the rural population cannot materially increase." Legislative Matters. A number of remits dealing with legislative matter., have been sciil in:—Auckland—"That die coiileience considers that the time lui u <:ome when the prt-rnf party system slumld bo sii|.prscdnil by soini) toim oi l-iovi-rniiu-nt by elective executive, as brins " f'-i'iu "f fiov-nimcnt c,ilculnlnl lo more truly carry into effect tii,- view.- of ihe '.'lectors and triuling to eliminate from the politics of this Dominion Ihe many evils which have grown u;) around the parly sv,tt>m." .Miu-lbor-oii»h-"Tliiit the ciinfi-i-euce h:i- no sympathy willi the recent' policy speech .if iiie Premier at Opunakc. limiting llm nrr-ji and amount of property hi be left by any pvi-on In his heirs inilividiiiilly, and strongly protest against simp." Jlarl-Uroiigh-'ThiM, the vicioiN M-stoin of oxpending lingo sums of public money iu tin erection of costly public buildings in the- largo towns bo discontinued, and that more attention lie. given to die requirements, of the back-blocks iu the way of roads and bridges." Polonis Sound-

"Tliut the cunfort'iicc , represents to the Ciororninent the desirability of granting iiiwuicial n«.-ii>lniifc In lliou- rei|iiirinK it, in llir- fnvjii nf fencing niiiiteriiii to Crown tenants having badly infested fern country, on terms similar In the fifiniicinl nid Bivi'ii to sfttlci-.-j in procuring seed, die:. The I«aii3 to be. granted liy the Innil Land lionrd.s, ciic.h iiidiviiliial eii.-o (i> l;c reported 111>011 by the Crown Land. ItouKcr. Tlki maximum ninoiiiif nf | ra » j 0 I),. ,t3: Mw ciineney live years. inU-nvl "1 per rciil. per aniiuni, and repayments t--» 1,0 lmlr-yciirly." Packinn of Manures, ffiho fpUowing remits d<d .with tkq

packing of innniiro-: —Otngo-'Thnt- 'ho union draw attention lo (he unsatisfactory proposition of manures packed in paper-line;! l;a;;s. a< ii would nut hi- in the interests ul the workers or importers, a< same would not meet the trouble complained of, and recommend-; that fortyfour inch corn sacks be .iL-rd." Nelson and A\'rllim;ton-"Thnt all manure he pliiced in bass of not more than MOlb. weight. Bags to be made with lour lugs, one lug ul; i-ncli curner, for ronvenicnci! of the lvulcr-idc workers handling tho same. No hooks k> be u.-.ed in handling." Miscellaneous Matters. ■ Other matters which (igm-e on (lje agenda 'paper are:—Wellington—"That a seed-growing association bo formed under the-X.Z. f-'armers' I'nion." North CaiikM-biiry-"Tliat the Minuter for Agriculture be requested to establish an experimental station iu North Canterbury." Auckland—"That tho Government lie asked to arrange that all male students attending Teachers' Training Colleges shall have six months' education on a Government farm." Wellington— "That as the Stallion Hill agreed ti> by both the Provincial and Dominion Conferences, also by the A. and P. Societies' Conference, nrnl which was .strongly recommended by the Veterinary Department, has not yet been brought before Parliament, the conference expresses its intense disappointment thai a matter of so great importance to the country should have been absolutely neglected by the Government through' two pensions of Parliament." Wellington— "That the conference consider the question of forming a Farmers' I'nion Accident Insurance Company." llavkc's liny-"That tho union do all in it.- power to defeat the ends of (he extreme Socialist party." Wellington—"That the union take Mops to organise a strong opposition to the single-tax proposals now being urged Inroiigliout the countrv." Auckland— "That laud agents be legalised mid licensed the same as auctioneers are licrn--0(1." Tho hardy annual, noxious weeds, local government, education, and past ami telegraph matters also appear on the list of remits.