FARMERS’ UNION.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 21 May 1919, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

REMITS. Following are . remits to be shortly considered by the N.Z. Farmers’ Union Wellington Provincial Conference, to bo held nt Wellington on May 27 and 28, 1019: Shipping. Waverley. That the Conference bring before the Government the serious position of the .farming community, owing to the shortage of insulated shipping and the consequent congestion of meat in the cold stores of the Dominion.

Taihape.—That tho Government be urged to capitalise the sum now paid to the various shipping companies for carrying the Dominion’s mails, and build sullicicnt steamers to carry all our own oversea mails, passengers and produce. Meat Trust. .Feathcrston. —That tho Government bo requested to take further steps to prevent the Meat Trust operating in this Dominion. Carterton. —That the Government be requested to publish tho names of the representatives of the Meat Trust, also the .names under which tho Meat Trust is operating in this Dominion. Feathcrston. —That, with a view to preventing the agents of the MeatTrust operating in dairy produce in this Dominion, the Conference advises all dairy farmers to consign their produce to the Home .markets and to ari range for their own means of distribution there. Open Markets. Whakaronga.—That in view of the heavy taxation of the land, Parliament be asked to allow all farm produce to be placed on the open market. Land Banks. Hukanai. —In view of tho necessity for increased production the Government bo urged to establish land banks wherever close settlement exists in order to assist "small farmers to bring their holdings into a higher state of cultivation. Railways. Greytown.—That the . Railway Department be requested to arrange faster carriage of cheese and butter from the factories to cool stores in Wellington.

f Tinui. That the necessity for a deviation to the Rimutaka incline be brought before the Minister of Railways ns a work which should be immediately taken in hand. While tho deviation is of vital interest to the Wairarapa and Bush Districts, it is also of provincial importance, as it will enable a larger portion of the Hawke’s Bay traffic being sent via Wairarapa and thus relieve the congestion on the Manawatu line.

Greytown.—That the attention of the Railway Department bo drawn to the -fact that the Government grader has reported to certain factories that their cheese has arrived in cool stores in Wellington with large pieces cut out ef the cheese. State Forestry. Eketahuna. —That tho Government bo persistently pressed until it takes more active steps to put a Department of Forestry in working order. Wavei'ley'.—' That the State Forestry Department be asked to endeavour to establish plantations on some of the sand wastes on the Crown lands of the Patea and Waitotara Counties. Town Planning. Wellington Central.—That- the Conference accords its hearty support to the passing of a Town Planning Act providing for town planning in its widest sense, with provision fo the laying out on modern lines of village settlements, in rural districts.

- " Taxation.

‘ Wellington Central. —That the Conference strongly apposes any further issue of war loahs free of income tax.

Hukanui. —That an injustice is done to the farmers’ • wives engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such services, and the Conference urges the Minister of Finance to allow a reasonable deduction to be made in assessment of income tax. Cattle Tick. Feathcrston, Makuri, Martinborough. and Tinui.—That tho Government be requested to take drastic steps to eradicate, the cattle tick, and place a strict quarantine on the infected area; and thatyti tax be levied on all cattle in New Zealand to provide funds for a speedv extermination of the cattle tick. Foot Rot. Tinui.—That the Agricultural Department he requested to Take steps to make it an .offence for farmers to offer for sale in a public saleyard sneep suffering from foot-rot or scald. t Earmarks. Martinborough.—That the Agricultural Department be requested to compile and print a list of earmarks registered by farmers in each county, such list to lie supplied on application. Cattle Dehorning. Makuri. —That the Farmers’ Union protest against, any legislation prohibiting dehorning oi' cattle. Hydro-Electric Power. Wellington Central, Eketahuna. and Tinui..- —That recognising the vital importance or’ an early supply of hydroelectric power, the executive' be@irged to press the need for an c-arly start on the preliminary works.

Waverley.—That the Government' be urged to proceed vigorously with the development of 'electrical power from Arapuni Falls, as on {iceboat of it.Peentral position and high power it would be of immense benefit to a. large area of the North Island. . Hoxious Weeds. Tinui. —That the Agricultural Department be requested to take steps to more effectively deal with noxious

weeds on-Crown .lands, .waste lands, roadsides and private property. Masterton,—That the Agricultural Department bo requested to declare “lantana” a noxious scrub, and prohibit any lantana seed being imported into this country.

Waverley.—That the Department of Agriculture be asked to institute research for the purpose of finding means to cope with the creeping or water fern, which is a great pest to settlers on the high lands of the North Wellington and Taranaki provinces.

Waverley—That the Government be urged to pass legislation making it an offence to allow gorse to seed .within 33 feet of a boundary. Pure Seeds. Waverley.—That all firms selling agricultural seeds be registered and sell only under a license granted yearly by the Agricultural Department, and that the Government be asked to make "it. a penal offence to sell any agricultural seeds under a'9o per cent germination within ten days and a 96 per cent purity, and that a certificate be furnished describing in full the nature and contents of all foroign matter.

Cheap Money; Tc Horo.—That the attention of the Minister of Finance, bo called to the present unsatisfactory, matters in connection with State and private moneylending institutions. That where security is good the State should provide money at reasonable rates for farmers’ needs, and should restore the tabic system of mortgage covenant for payment of "sums, before due date without forfeiture of intersst. White Pine.

Palmerston North.—That tho Government be requested to prohibit tho exportation of white pine timber.

Motor Tax. Palmerston North.—That a tyro tax be placed on all motor vehicles, the revenue from same to be distributed to the county councils for maintenance of roads. Conference of Labour. Tc Horo.—That the N.Z. Fanners’ Union as represented by this,Provincial' Conference cordially approves of the Labour Party’s suggestion of a round table conference to consider labour conditions, and is prepared to send delegates to such a conference. “Fanners’ Union Advocate.’’ Eketahuna, Tinui, Wellington Central/ —That-this Conference discuss the ways and means with a view to improving the “Farmers’ Union Advocate” and increasing its circulation amongst farmers. Objects and Platform. j Tc Horo—That the Dominion Con- 1 fereneo of the Farmers’ Union redraft the present objects and platform of the Union. Surplus Wool Profits. Iluntcrville. —That the Executive of ! the Union ascertain, if possible, who has received the benefit of surplus accruing between tho prices realised by the Imperial Government . for surplus wool oyer and above that used by itself.

At the meeting of tho Farmers’ Union on Saturday at Levin the following remits from To Horo wero carried without dissent and without alteration; — ■■ -v;:

(1) To promote the welfare anil protect the interests of the farmers of New Zealand. . (2) To encourage enlightenment and peaceful solution in difficulty ox dispute' arising from class, race, creed, party, or commerce., (3) To defend the. community and the Empire against unjust aggression from within or without, and ensure sound progress. (4) 'To foster, maintain and apply those generally accepted principles of justice and altruism in all relations between men. Platform:

(1) That our chief need being an enlightened, contented and thriving yeomanry or working farmer class, land settlement under conditions ensuring prosperity to honest and energetic working farmers is the urgent need of our time and our first care. <‘2) That hidden immoral and selfish methods of insatiable capitalism shall be brought to light and restrained by every moral means. (3) That immoral, selfish and insatiable aims and demands of extreme anti-social forces, under the guise of labour organisations or other aegis shell be defeated, and reasonable grievances removed. (4) That farm, trade and commercial or other workers be encouraged to organise, exchange views, clear away prejudice and mismuiual benefit and public weal.