THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1916 THE FARMERS' UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 174, 16 May 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1916 THE FARMERS' UNION.

" We nothing extenuate, nor let down aualit in malice."

When, some seventeen years ago, Mr Arthur Glass, then a resident in one of the remotest districts of the "Roadless North," conceived the idea of gathering the farmers of New Zealand into a single compact association, the felicity of his conception and the energy with which he carried it into effect gave much satisfaction to the numerous agriculturists who deplored that the man on tho land had no organisation through which to ventilate his grievances and demand his requirements. And if the Fanners' Union has fallen somewhat short of the aspirations of its founder and those associated with him in its infancy, it cannot be gainsaid that it has had much influence in promoting both the political and material well-being of that great class upon whose labours almost the entire prosperity of the country depends. Founded originally as a counterpoise to the drastic class-legislation initiated by Mr Seddon, and which, like all such movements had begun to hurry its leador along much faster and further than he had ever intended, the Farmers' Union, though keeping steadily aloof from paity politics, was early accused of being Conservative. By some cuiious inversion of its meaning the word Conservative has in this country come to stand as a synomym for all that is re-actionary and unprogressive, and tne term was applied to the young organisation by certain carpet-bag politicians with a vim which showed how little good-will they bore it. If to have a strong leaning toward the freehold tenure of land, to resent the exploiting of the whole body of consumers by a high protective tariff, and to put sane and safe political principles higher than adhesion t j any place-hunting political party be Conservatism then the epithet was fairly earned If, on the other hand, to desire that facilities should be given for developing the vast natural resources of 1 this fertile country, to believe in material and social progress as rapid as is consistent with sound finance, and to insist that there shall bo no specially favoured and privileged class, but that every man shall be allowed to odjoy in safety the fruit of his own labour bo Liberalism, then the Union may justly claim that title.

Tho average farmer, though willing enough to join a branch and pay the small subscription annually demanded from him, is often a little sceptical as to tho benefits he receives from the Union, and inclined to be impatient at tho apparent slowness with which reform often follows his efforts. Ho forgots that the machinery of Lis Union, reticulating through the whole Dominion, enables him at a crisis to act with a dramatic suddenness which would bo impossible otherwise, owing to his comparative isolation from his fellows. How effective this machinery may bo when the occasion warrants the calling of its full forces into play is ovidtneed by tho defeat of tho Continuous Government's leasehold programme when tho weak Opposition was powerless to oven delay the passing of a measure which would have had a most pernicious effect upon the agricultural interests. A I'mlli")' instance oceiirreil a Lltjo over two years ago when law and order wore lestored in the cities, and

mob, were re opened to the exports and imports of the country. Had we the space a long list of useful though less showy performances might be enumerated. But though much has been done, mnch yet remains to do. The incidence of taxation requires a thorough revision. Last year the Union, inspired by its loyalty to the Empire, acquiesced in a Budget aimed almost entirely at the primary producers. This year it should see that the huge profits made by traders pay a fair share, and tuat unnecessary luxuries and amusements should be made to contribute to the cost of the war. It should also demand that the tariff or customs duties should be framed more for revenue producing than for the spoon-feeding of industries wo should really be better without while there is such a shortage of labour on the land. Instead of the cumbrous income-tax on farmers it should advocate a small export-tax whereby individuals would pay in some measure in proportion to their receipts.

Local rating and the Hospital and Charitable Aid tax are other matters which demand careful attention. We are so used to making and maintaining roads solely out of imposts upon the land that it has never occurred to the average peison to pause a moment and consider if it is fair. Roads are used as much, and very often more, by people paying little or no rates, as they are by the land-owners. The same undoubtedly applies to the hospitals. No policy can be more unfair and shortsighted than to over-tax the raw material of any manufacturer, and the land is the raw the farmer, out of which he grows everything he produces; and the farmer is undoubtedly the only manufacturer of much value to New Zealand. Far less of the cost of maintaining the roads and relieving the sick and the poor should be taken from the laud, and far more from the consolidated revenue.

New Zealand lives anel pays her debts out of the exports of the farmer, and his produce can only leave her shores through her ports. A harbour like that of Auckland is the heritage of tho Province, aud not of the City, and the farming community should have a far greater control over its management than is at present the case. There is work before the Union to secure this, but it is work in which it will have logic and right on its side, and a persistent effort should prevail. We would urge the Union topin its efforts to the essentials. Its agenda paper is usually crowded with inconsiderable trifles, snl the shedding of these will enable it to put its whole strength into the attainment of the things that really count. No two or three days' conference is capable of properly considering the mass of matter that usually comes before it, and the result is that important subjects have often far less time given to them than they deserve. In conclusion we desire to express a hope that the farmers of the Auckland Province, who are to come together in conference on the 24th of this month, the birthday of that good Queen in the early years of whose reign the loyal Colony of New Zealand came into existence, may prosper and progress, for, while they do so, little will go wrong with the rest of the community.