THE FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 269, 24 April 1917, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

The ortier paper for the Seventeenth Annual Conference of delegates from the branches of the Farmers' Union is of unusual length, there being no less than fifty-seven remits, of which the Executive are responsible for only four, the rest being sent in by the branches. It is no doubt for that reason that a greater length of time than is customary has been alloted to it for discussion, the conference being announced to meet on May 21st, in the evening, for the reading of the President's report and formal business, the afternoon of the following day, and the whole of the three succeeding ones being devoted to the remits and the election of officers for the ensuing year. The agenda paper shows a considerable improvement over most of its predecessors in the manner in which the motions have been arranged and grouped, and it will be easier for the conference to bracket and take as one resolution two or more remits in which the same, or nearly the tame objective is aimed at, and thus save time in discussion. As usual many of the remits are of a purely local or academic interests. I he Executive asks the conference to record its emphatic protests against the butter-fat tax, in which it is backed up by the Tamahere Branch ; desires that the stock returns should give fuller details, and that the result of the stock census should be published as early as possible ; and asks that occupiers of National Endowment Lands be granted the right to purchase the freehold. In regard to war taxes the abolition of the excess prolits tax is urged by several brauches, including Waiuku, and an export tax asked for in its stead. Helensville wishes picture-shows and other amusements to be taxed. Matters in connection with the war naturally loom large. The restriction of the importation of motor-cars and other luxuries is asked for ; Clevedon considers that farmers should be compelleJ to plant crops in accordance with the value and suitability of their holdings ; and several districts ask that the Second Division should be classified and called up so that farmers may know when they will be required for service, ilelousville considers race meetings and shows should be prohibited during war tiino, and other branches think enemy aliens ought to bo conscripted as labourers and that they should not be permitted to acquire land.

The Mauku branch asks for a more equitable system of electing the Provincial Executive and that a copy of the Dominion balance sheet be furnished to branches. Orini wishes the Union to obtain direct representation in Parliament ; Ngaruawahia wishes steps to be taken to combat the alleged action of the American Meat Trust in New Zealand ; and Tauiwha wants the Government to take over the whole meat and freezing industry. Several branches desire to have noxious weeds dealt with more resolutely.

Buckland asks for the nationalisation of laud and the conscription of labour ; the Upper Harbour branch wants the Govermout to confiscate all uneared inurnment in land ; and Puterangi wishes the farmers to establsh a daily paper in Auckland " because of the biassed attitude of the city press "