N.Z. FARMERS' UNION-

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION-

'AUCKLAND PEOYINCIAL CONFER- , . . , ENCE.(By, IWesrajli.—Press laiociation.) Auckland, May 22. The Provincial Conferenco of the New Zealand Farmers' Union opened to-day. : The following remit was. .'adopted:— "That this conference is of opinion that t)io pnly satisfactory solution of the problem of_ the construction and maintenance nf main arterial roads is for tho Govcrnmcnt to undertake tho work, and suggests, that part of the Crown land revenue should bo mado available for,this purpose."

.An address was given by Mr. Edwin Hall on railway matters, and tho following remit was adopted:—'"That this'conference urges the Government to .adopt a progressive policy for tho development of a system of light railways, and in cases .where the Government cannot undertake their construction .to afford facilities for tho work undertaken by privato enterprise, on lines of tho Belgian system." The present system' of charging extra rail freights on certain classes of imported goods was dealt with, and tho following remit was adopted :—"That tho present system of charging extra rail freights 'ou certain classes, of, imported goods is very unfair to inland settlers, and should be abolished."

Dealing, with the land tax,. Captain Colbeck moved, tho following remit:— "That this conference ■is of opinion that the land tax, as compared with income tax, is acting very unfairly on the farming community, and that tho system requires altering so that there would be an equal .burden on all capital, whether invested.jn land or any other class of investment."

■Mr. Macgill said it should ho made clear •that farmers aro not in favour of the aggregation of lands, and,at his sug. gestiou the remit was .opened with the following sentence:—"While in 110 way wishing to removo the restrictions framed lo prevent undue aggregation of land." In Its amended form tho remit was adopted. Other resolutions discussed and adopted, including one in favour of better control of the sale'of Now Zealand products on Home markets.