FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2129, 11 July 1907, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

SOME OF THE- CONFERENCE ° WORK.

INTERVIEW WITH POVERTY RAY RELEGATE.

“Yes, wo had a big agenda paper to deal with and got f.rongh °nr iairlv well,” replied Mr. W. Im-MUit Clayton to a “Times” representative s queries yesterday concern k Farmers’ Union Conference at WU

Mr. Clayton, who was the Poverty Bay delegate to tho Conference wont onto say that tho proceedings lasted throe long days, committee wo k occupying tho evenings. On tho fourtli day a committee mooting was hold, after which tho Contoronco waitod as a deputation upon Sir Joseph Waul to submit tho decisions arrived at. In Mr. Clayton’s opinion tho Conteience was ahead of its predecessors in many respects and, as tlio mouthpiece of the farming and agricultural intoi sts ot tho colony generally, its decisions carry much weight with tno nnimimtVWlllf. Af t.llfl fl fLV .

Government of the day* THE LAND QUESTION. “Tlio principal questions. b of course, there wore many questions ol : interest, Probably the land quos-

tion—especially tho limitation ol areas and tho graduated tas..— aud tho •subject of tlio Union s poUti-al stand, wero the most prominent, said Mr. Clayton. There wero numerous remits dealing with the option ol tho freehold, and tho Conference was unanimous on tho point. A resolution was also submitted declaring that tlio l.i.p. tenants should htyve tho right to the freehold. In the course of discussion I pointed out that the leasehold tenuro was unronnuierntivo to tho Government, tor whilst the Government jiays 4 per cent, tor tlieii

money tlio net revenue, after paying rebates and tlio cost of administration,' is not more than 3or per cent. Therefore it would bo a business proposition to the State, the unanimity with which the resolution was carried demonstrated the Conference’s firm attitude on tlio subject. .. , . .. '

“Generally speaking the Conference was not opposed to the limitation or areas. As regards the tiiture there was no opposition to rcstiictivc measures, nor was limitation at the present day objected to it it coidd be equitably arranged. It was authoritatively demonstrated by lea' n _i. .in onnnpotifill Wltll

Book figures that, in connection witn largo estates., disintegration and not aggregation is going on. Tins may ho contrary to the opinion of many in the community, but is a iact that cannot bo gainsaid. lurthor, the Conference looked with equanimity upon the present graduated land tax. The opinion appeared to bo that it was not really necossary to increase the tax above the £50,000, still no objection was raised to the proposal, n’l.n nmiforeiiee considered, however,

Jho (jomerence consiuereu, uuwcvu, that no special class should be singled out for taxation, and that if the graduated tax is increased in this way there should be a corresponding advance in the income tax, on a graduated scale. We say this should be done so as to reach tho wealthy men who are aggregating immense properties in the towns and cities; the town should get no preference over the country. .........

“Dealing with native lands, the expression of delegates generally was that the position is far from satisfactory. There was a strong element ol doiiht- whether the Native Land Commission would have much practical benefit, at. the same time it was not condemned, as anvtliing that will tend to settle the native land will meet with the approval of t-lie Union.

VALUATIONS AND RATING. “On the question of small grazing runs,” Mr. Clayton continued, “a resolution was passed to the effect that in all future and expiring leases the rating should he adjusted to the same level as that on adjoining properties. The motion was slightly altered on my representation opposing any tampering with existing contracts. When the matter was represented to Sir Joseph Ward at the deputation, the Premier fully, recognised the position, promised to inquire into it, and said that very probably the Government would take steps this session to remove these rating anomalies. “Sir Joseph also agreed that our arguments were very reasonable, in favour of loans to local bodies being deducted from valuations, in the same way as ordinary mortgages are exempted. t iv ATrnv

TAXATION. . “Tilt' Premier, .in reply To our resolution on the subject, foreshadowed alterations in the tariff in the direction we advocated; viz., that; it bo on a revenue basis with a reduction on the necessaries of lifo : He, indicated that-during the coming session a Bill would he introduced for the purpose.” Was there no. opposition among the delegates? “Yes. Some of the Southern men advocated putting a duty on wheat to protect their produce from importations, contending that so long as duties on other necessaries of life existed they wore logically entitled to equal consideration. But, at the same time, these delegates were agreeable not to press for a duty if the taxes on the other necessaries of life were reduced. PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

“Under this heading, the Poverty Bay remit was carried, favoring preferential treatment being continued to the Mother Country, and extended as far as possible. Sir Joseph Ward expressed his entire sympathy with the resolution, as previously indicated in his speeches. SHEEP RETURNS.

“Owing mainly to the opposition of Mr. J. J). Ritchie, secretary for Agriculture, the Poverty Bay remit to the effect that the date for sheep returns for the Government assessments be altered from April 30 to June 30 in each year, was lo.st by a bare majority. WORKERS COM PENS AT JON.

“The remit from .this district' concerning the need for making the Workers’ Compensation Act more explicit, in order to define clearly between a contractor and workman.

was carried. Sir Joseph Ward agreed that the question merited careful consideration, and promised that it would receive his immediate consideration. EAR-MARKING.

Questioned concerning Mr. Mark

sonVscheme of ear-marking, the delegate said that lie had introduced 3Ur. Maddison to the President, and obtained a hearing for him. The inventor explained his system in detail. Tho Conference was interested, but considered tho system was not yet sufficiently perfected to warrant recommending it to tho department of Agriculture. 1 RIFLE CLUBS.

Mr. Clayton explained that Major Hughes' attended the Conference, and gave hints concerning the formation and maintenance of rifle

clubs, propose;! to be run as an adjunct to the Farmers’ Union: The Conference was favorable, as it was generally recognised that such clubs would attract the young men, and indirectly arouse more interest in the country branches. Details will be gone into at once.

/IMPERIAL NAVY. ' The Conference endorsed the resolution of the Poverty Bay Union, affirming adherence to Sir Joseph AA'nrd’s proposal to continue, and if necessary supplement, New Zealand’s contribution to the British naw. in preference io any scheme for a local naval contingent. UNION’S POLITICAL ATTITUDE. “Perhaps the resolution which created more stir than any other on the agenda paper was the Poverty Bay remit regarding the political attitude of the Unipn,” Mr. Clayton informed the interviewer. This resolution read: “That tjie Farmers’ Union adopt a stronger united political attitude, though not necessarily a party attitude, as this is the only wav in which its influence can be made manifest.” Our delegate pointed out to the Conference that the united stand on the Land Bill was an object lesson on the value of unanimity. The Union’s strong attitude was undoubtedly largely responsible for the alteration of the Government’s policy. But tho trouble was that the Farmers’ Union was not consistently united, and there was no doubt a disposition in the larger towns to treat the Union with a certain amount of contempt as a political factor, a irood many politicians holding a similar view. He contrasted this with other unions, which, when it became necessary for the propagation of their views, showed an absolutely’ united front, even though the members were not quite unanimous amongst themselves. Perfect unanimity could not be expected. but the Union would have to follow on similar lines to make itself felt as a political power. The position was recognised by the Conference, and even those who voted against the motion to a large extent endorsed Mr. Clayton’s views. The majority considered, however, that on "the whole it would be bad police from tho Union’s standpoint to take up a political attitude. There were somo oualms as to its effect on membership. One member mentioned that the Union vote in Taranaki had had an anpreciabie effect in returning Mr. Okey at the byelection. . , After a tr o od discussion, in which Mr. Clayton was ablv seconded by Captain' 8011, of Auckland, the motiou was defeated bv J.O to 5, not 11

to 4 as reported in tho Wellington papers. Tlioso voting in favor woro tho vice-president (Mr. Loadloy, Ashburton), Captain A. 801 l (Auckland). A. Mackav (Blonhoim), K. Maxwell (Taranaki), and Clayton (Poverty Ba-V

It soonis that this question was one of those put down on the order paper for discussion in committee. Mr. Clayton and Captain Bell (for Auckland) had a remit as follows: lhat the time has now arrived for the Now Zoaland Uarmers’ Union to form a separate political party, and run its own candidates for such seats as it is considered desirable”) —battled

strenuously for tho matter to bo decided in open mooting (winch was opposed to tlio President’s views), contending that the fullest publicity was nocessary in order to on lighten tho branches on the subject. lhe Confer once on the Wednesday agreed to take tho dobato oponly tho following afternoon, with tho result stated. Tho President, oven on the deciding day, wanted the decision to discuss the question openly annulled) on tho ground that it came before the Advisory Board in considering alterations to rules for submittal to Provincial Conferences. Probably his opposition had an effect on the

vote. , Mr. Clayton savs it was tlio unanimous verdict of tlio Conference that the discussion, eventually allowed, had had beneficial results. Ho had acted wisely, it was conceded, in refusing to withdraw it despite opposition, and the proposal was more widely debated thereby. Both the K.'/j. Times and the Wellington Post, ho remarks, have .always been consistently opposed to the Farmers Union, and ho was not at all surprised when the former journal came out with a leador attacking the proposal and the mover. He welcomed fair criticism but could not pass over some misrepresentations made, and wroto a letter to the “Times” in reply. In this letter ho pointed out that the paper was absolutely incorrect in their statement that lie supported the aggregation of large estates and that he was onnosed to the limitation of areas.

liis remarks in the course of the Conference debates ijuito disproved the “Times’ ” assertions. Further, tiie journal seemed to assume that lit was representing what it termed “big men.” As a matter of fact, he pointed out in reply, there are at least 10 small men.-to one big man m the Poverty Bay district. The fact that the Poverty Bay Provincial Con ferenco had unanimously passed the resolution re a political attitude lor the Union should be a reply to critics. The letter further remarked that at the Colonial Conference those who

might ho classed as among tho “big men” were those who voted against the resolution ; it was the smaller men who supported it. Hence the “Times” caso was very wea'k. FINANCES OF UNION.

The matter of the graduated sub-script-ions, on a sliding scale, will be (r o no into by tho Advisory Board, Mr. Clayton states, in their contemplated revision of the rules. The propose will be submitted to all the Provincial Conferences before the Colonial Con ferencc takes action, as under the rules opportunity must be given all the former bodies to discuss it. Though ho chafed at the year’s delay, the procedure must be followed out.

REPORTING CONFERENCES. There was some dissatisfaction at the reports of the Conference proceedings, and Messrs McQueen, of Southland, and Clayton, suggested the advisableness of the Conference appointing its own reporters, to furnish an official report for the “Farmers’ Ad vocate.” Both speakers pointed out that the Conference had to depend upon papers which, to say the least, had not in the past- shown a friendly spirit towards the Union. The matter was left to the Executive.

FARMERS’ ADVOCATE. _ In committeo the question of improving the “Farmers’ Advocate, the official organ of the Union, was discussed. It was reported that the journal was now in a satisfactory position, financially and otherwise. ! On Mr. Clayton’s suggestion it was decided that the paper bjj enlarged and some alterations made in the literary matter, with a view to increasing the circulation throughout the colony. “I think I have skimmed over the main points of the business,” remarked the delegate in conclusion. “The papers have published telegraphic reports—very meagre, though—of the other matters of interest.”