Farmers' Union.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 388, 12 April 1902, Page 3

Farmers' Union.

(Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, last night. At a meeting of the Executive of the Farmers’ Union tiii.s afternoon, the Chairman, Mr Kirkbridge, said that the first subject discussed at the recent Trades and Labor Conference was the incidence of taxation. One | speaker reminded the Conference that there might he such a thing as taxing a man of land, yet if one speaker favored an increase in the graduated tax and a heavier tax on absentees, [or another suggested an increase in the income tax, they were altogether unanimous that the burden of taxation should ‘be thrown on “ the other fellow.” After proposing to pile it on tiie people who make a living out of the land, it seemed somewhat ironical to suggest, as one speaker did, “ that they should try to work in harmony witii the Farmers’ Union.” During discussion of the re-valuation of Crown leases! it wan threatened that “ if tiie Farmers’ Union persisted in

their efforts to secure the freehold, they would at once come into conflict with the labor party." The members of the Farmers’ Union would not be deterred from carrying out its opinion on any question affecting land, and were banding together to protect

their interests, and would not he dictated to by men ignorant of the condition of the farming community. Without one dissenter, the Conference proposed tiiat all Crown leases should be re-valued periodically. They came as pioneers from tiie Did Country to secure freehold properties, but how many would have come out to lie offered leasehold, witii re-valuation every five years. The greater weight which

the Government attached to the opinions of tradesmen in preference to farmers- showed the necessity for completing an organisation of farmers to take up such a position in the body politic as their numbers warranted.