FARMERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 244, 3 July 1918, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION

SUBJECTS FOR DOMINION CONFERENCE VARIETY OF MATTER TO BE DISCUSSED The seventeenth annual Dominion conterence of the New Zealand Fanners' Union will opjn in Wellington on TuesJuly .10. Some IGO remits havo l>een set down for discussion, aud they (■over a wide range of subjects, including matters arising out of the war, national economy, the settlement, of soltuei's on the land, hydro-electric power, the frozen meat thwjc ami shipping, taxation, and improvements in the governmental and educational systems of tne Dominion,

11 w jth the question of peace, the Ji\ritnnki Union suggests the adoption of llio following remit: "That this tanners' L nion do its utmost to bring before the people, of this Dominion the lact that in order to win the war it is necessary that we should all 'be inspired with n united determination lo c-aeh do his or her utmost in helping to win;; about ;he desired result, a lasting and an honourable peace." "That the Government: be urged to close all race ireetings during the war," is a matter to be brought, forward at flip instigation of the Wellington Union. _ 1 ne principbi of (he control of prices is another subject which is likely to ealMorlh eriticism, based'upon the following resolutions received from the unions mentioned '.-Auckland: "That this conference disapproves of tho principle of the Government controlling prices except ftrr Imperial war purposes, but as practically '.ill farmers' product? have been requisitioned and the prices regulated, we call upon the Government to protect us from exploitation bv tolling st3ps_ to check the unwarranted increase in the prices of materials .tikl machinery and other necessaries whip!' f.re essential to farmers for the maintenance of production."

Southland: "That in view of the fixing of prices by the Government on primary products, it is reasonable to ask tho Government to control tho prices of f.T-m necessaries deemed essential for tie' increasing of production." Auckland: "That the Government be urged to regulate the prices of manures, and control supply of oil fuels, so that the requirements of essential industries will have precedence." The agenda, paper contains several remits anont (he settlement of returned soldiers upon the land. Amongst these the following- ars submitted from Auckland

"That this conference affirms the principle that every encouragement and assistance be given rn returned men to set He on the land, who desire to <lo so, but strongly urge« that, only land in suitable localities and of a suitable nature bo used or bought by tho Government for this purpose." "That if the Government take up a blnck of suitable ■ unimproved land for sold lev settlements, that, the Government farm the snid lands for a period with returned soldier labour, and if tho lands aty proved suitable for soldier settlements, that il: be sub-divided, at'd fliat. tne soldiers who have been working on tho said blocks filmll have the option of taking up these sections." "Thnt; this conference wishes to strongly urge upon the Government, (lie necessity of appointing competent fanners' boards, in an advisory capacity, to reporl: on suitable land for settlement, of returned fioldicrSj and also the necessity of sub-dividing the large areas of unoccupied land in Ike Auckland Province."

The Wellington Union desires thai (he eonference should approve, of the T.anii I'urclmse Board acquiring areas of various qualities and size for returned soldiers, so that tliey iuay 1)6 ablt lis take, up such holdings as they are likely to be successful on. Tn some cases areas of 111 to 'JO ?.::res of first-class land bandy to towns would be taken up successfully, ond il consider* this conference should urge that ■ more attention should lie given to reasonable roading facilities. In connection with land taxation the following are among the remits to bo dismissed

"That, it is ndvisabln in llir interesls of just, taxation that the piesenl; system of collecting graduated land lax from mortgngess be amended in I lie following manner, i.e., Uiat moneys ilivested in morlgasros upon lands 'bn apportioned upon the unimproved and improved value, pro rata, tho part apportioned upon the improvements to bo exempted from taxation, as under Ihe Land Tax, and tlie part apportioned on the unimproved value to pay tho same Viito of tnx in the ,C as is paid upon (lie unimproved v-tlue free of mortgage." "That this conference protests against the laud tax on mortgages, as it is purely a tax on indebtedness': is most unjust and oppressive on the mortgagor: whilst ilie mortgagee, llie real owner of (lie land, is exempted from this lax." "That this 'conference protests against the inclusion of the mortgage in land tnx and asks that land-owners be allowed to deduct the amount of their morlgage. before being asked to pay land tax."

Tlin frozen meat trade, find skipping. i\tp lii.iltevs l.pmi which a very 'large number of remits kave been received, iiiclmlin? lensHiy recoimneiidntious from Auelilatul, wliieli, inler alia, wishes tlie copferenco to nffirrn its appreciation of the New Zealand Parliamentary Committee's report upon the meat, ami shipping trusts, and to say tliat il« fitidinct? fully justified and confirmed the main resolntions wliieb the Dominion conferenco of Ike union passed in .Tilly, 11117.