N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

I ANNUAL CONFERENCE ■' THIRD DAY'S PROCEEDINGS The Dominion Conference of the New ; Zealand Fanners'-Union was continued :. in Wellington yesterday. Sir James i Wilson presided. ; Native Land. ! , On the-question of the settlement of I land, the following Auckland lemit was ; carried:—"That the Govcniment be i urijled to hasten the settlement; of Native' ! land so as to increase the productiveness ! of 'the Dominion." ; Valuation and Special Rates. ]'■ It was resolved:—"That the Govorn- ; ment be urged to alter the present logis- , lnlion with inference to the valuation of ; Native lands, eo as to give the purchaser ; (in opportunity for a right of appeal for ; a fresh valuation, should the value be :. excessive." '■ Settling Returned Soldiers, !■' It was resolved:—"That this conference affirms the principle that every en- : .couragement and assistance be given to ;'. returned men to settle on the laud, who i desire to do so, but strongly urges that : only land in suitable localities.and of « ';. suitable nature be used or bought by .'.the Government for this purpose." ' SouthlaiuT moved the following, which [was carried:—"That the hand Purchase i Board should purchase some of the best ! quality .land Imiuly to good towns for '. cutting up into areas of 10 In 20 acres I. for returned soldiers, and more nltcn- ; tion should be given to reasonable road- ; ing facilities." > ; , Defence Matters. i" It was resolved:—"That the Fanners' t:TTniou assures the I'rwnier tlint the ! producers will support the Cloverninent in carrying into effect any measures ! which the Government deem necessary ; to take in sending additional reinforcements to help the Empire at tliie critical : time." ; With tut little discussion, it was rei solved :—"Th at any man refusing to carry out his military duties be dis- ! franchised for at least seven years." '. ■ The Defence Department is to be urged to suspend the holding of/ territorial camps during the period of the war. ; Deductions from" Income Tax. Wγ. E. Dunn (Auraa) moved:—"That rthe land and income tax be amended in the direction of allowing farmers to charge against their income returns sums ;'for. the labour done upon farms by wife or childron, and that previous losses .; Bhonld be deducted from income." ■ The motion was carried. Harnessing the Water Power, i. Auckland moved:—"That, in view of : the shortage of coal, and also in view of ; the large demand for nitrogen for fer- ! tiliser purposes, tho Cloverninent bD urged to pass n comprehensive Act, so ihat tho work of harnessing the wnter I power of the Dominion may be proceeded ■with as a whole or in detail." ' The motion was carried. ; "Free of Income Tax" Loans. ; Mr. W. S. D. Trotter (Hampdeii) moved:—"That the Farmers' Union protest i most emphatically' against the issue of War loan scrip on .a 'freo of income tax' : busis, as we are, convinced that it will result in the wealthy bondholders evading their due share of the present and liuture- heavy taxation, tho burden-of 'such thereby falling with increased sever■ity upon those who are less able to bear it. Moreover, whereas tho nominal rate ,of interest is 4J per cent., the free of lincome tax' concession, with its further effect upon tho graduated income tax, results in the actual rate of interest :beinjr not less than £i 4s. per cent., .which is a distinct injustice to holders of the 5 per cent, taxable issue." ; Mr. J. Christio (Balclutha) seconded. • The motion was carried by i! 0 votes to 9. Co-operative Banks, I On the motion of Sir. E, Dunn (Auroa) ths conference resolved:—"That the time has arrived when, in the interests of the Dominion, agricultural co-operative tanks should be established in the Dominion." i The Moratorium. : On the subject of the moratorium it was decided:—"That the Government be nsked to extend the Mortgage Extension Act for five years after the war, or for such other time as may be considered expedient." Repayment of Loans. ; Wellington moved, and it was resolvsd:—"That the Government Lifo lnsnrince Department bo urged to abolish the clause in their mortgages imposing a premium of three months' interest on mortgages repaid prior to due date, and :hat they accept three months' notice to ;epay-4oans." : Book-keeping in Schools. : Without discussion conference j-esolv-Jd:—"That, in the opinion, of this con'erence, tho time has now arrived when ■:he Sixth Standard in our primary ohools should bo taught boot-keeping, jaitioularly as the law now provides ihat farmers ehall keep.books and subnit their income accounts to the Dejartment, and that tho syllabus be re•ised eo that the child shall be better itted for its future occupation than it is it present." Afforestation, /The much-debated subject of afforestaion found a place on tho order pnper, nd the following- motion was /passed:— 'That the Government be urged to push orward eifforestation, especially with rc■ardto quick-frroTvinpr trees, with a view o supplying the needs of the Dominion, in land unsuitable for other purposes, ■nd that tho Government take steps lo .onserve the forests where the land is lot suitablo. for settlement." : White Pine. 'Mr. A. liobinson (Wanganui) moved:that owing to the serious approaching hortage of white pine the Government <i urged to control white pino forests ■ith a view to protecting the butter and neese imlusfxies." "I'ha motion was carried. ;it was resolved also:—"That the Govrnment bo urged to engage a skilled iientific forester to lake charge of the topartment." '■ Arterial Roads, iMajor Lusk (Auckland) moved:—"Tliat ae Government be urged to take steps .) ascertain how far the Victorian sysiin of constructing and mninkiinini; win arterial roads has proved a success, nd in what way it is superior to the lefhods. adopted here." ■ Jlr.JI. 11. U'ynyatd, of the Good 'Roads ■ .ssociation, Auckland, addres-cd the consrence on the subject. The motion was carried. Educational Institute's Proposals. Mr. H. Dunn (Auroa) moved tho loliwing, which waA carried;—" That this inference is in full sympathy with the forts of (ho Educational Institute in ; ying to efl'ect iinjiroremcnts in our eiluitional system. The conierrncii fully .■cognises the value of the teaching pro!ssion,.as trainers of tho manhood and pjnanhood of the nation, considering it. r be by far the most important branch :' the Civil Service of the country, and of opinion that in order to produce ie desired improvements in our educapnal system special attention should be aid- to the following points in order itmed: (a) The development of the chariters of the children on right lines. Tho rat essential towards this is the seoiirig of the right class of teachers, which, ■ our opinion, must be brought about by nproving-tho status and general condibn?, including remuneration, under iiich teachers are at present expected ! work, (b) The training of the bodies jider thoroughly hygienic conditions and ie, training of the brain."

Teachers' Salaries. Recognising the importanco of agriculture to the nation, and particularly to this Dominion, and Hie necessity ofgiviug the best agricultural education to the future fanners, it was suggested that teachers gaining.the distinction of a university degree in the .science of agriculture, who na?ti in agricultural subjects for a 13..A. degree, should receive Appointment in district high schools, the possessio:i of this degree carrying remuneration over and above the α-egular teacher's salary. An Exemption Question. On the ground that men to grow wheat must be retained, Norjli Canterbury moved:—"That, whereas a large number of reservists are noc obtaining exemption whose retention in the country is essential in the public interest, we suggest that provision should be made whereby every case shall bo investigated by the local committee of advice ofthe district in which the reservist resides, such committee to report to the advisory committee stilling whether, in their opinion, the reservist could serve his country better by remaining or by being eent to camj)." The motion was carried. The conference continues 10-d«y.