SOAP-BOX ORATORS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 6

SOAP-BOX ORATORS.

AND SINGLE-TAX PROPOSALS. "That farmers be urged to uso their I>e,it endeavours to .frustrate tho singletax proposals being nirged by certain interested associations and individuals," was moved at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday b.v Mr. W. Ford (Southland), who thought the time had arrived when should take a stand '«n the subject. The whole burden, ho said, was being put on the farmer. Mr. J. Bell, who seconded the motion, said they hail to show a "stiff backbone," The whole of the single-tax proposals were to nationalise, the laud, and tako tho duties oft' the necessaries of life, and put tVni on the land. It was a distinct, contradiction. There woro too many "soapbox" agitators going about such things. i Mr. G. Gardiner thought tho farmers wero a great deal to blame for not taking stops to combat ,the "single-tax, land nationalising sort of orators." If they did not combat it, brute strength would put them down, and not intelligence. Mr. J. M'Queen Said they were shaping now to get their organisation as complete as that of tho proposers .of thip single-tax. He advocated that the press should Ixi utifed to meet the arguments brought forward in the press by tho siugle-taxers. Tile motion was carried. Mr. W. .T. Birch asked leave to uiovo an additional motion: "That thp. Death Duties Act be so Amended as to exemiit such gifts as wr<ro made for charitable purposes, or for the public benefit,'from such duties." .Major Lusk seconded the motion, and thought it ridiculous that public boquests should be subjected to deatli duties. The motion was carried.