FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, 21 May 1912, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

PRO VINC lAL CO N FERE NC E. Following is the agenda paper to he considered at the Taranaki provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union, to bo held at Hawera on May 23rd:—

Executive: Local Government; That this conference, qf the Farmers’ Union understands with regret that it is not the intention of thq Government to arrange that all local bodies be represented, at the eonfcrcpco proposed to be hold in.connection .with, the ’Loctfl Government Bill., /Jjlifl executive considers that as the provisions of the Bill will vitally alter the present system of local government, all local bodies and other governing bodies whose fnne.tions would bp affgeted ,by the Bill should ho represented.

chise: That in view of recent agitii'tions 1 ' to secure an extension of the fjruuyhise, iTjelmljpg ttxo right to vote on loans to local bodies, this conference, re-affirms Plank 7 of the platform of the union. (Plank 7—“ That only ratepayers be empowered to vote on local government matters in counties, road boards, and rural districts.”) Kaimata; Platform : That the platform of the union bo revised in the direction of making the planks more directly in the interests of the farmers in such manner that the interests of dairy farmers, graziers, and agriculturalists shall lie on a more mutual footing. Executive: Immigration: That in view of the scarcity of farm labour this conference would earnestly urge the Government to encourage and support the efforts of those who are making an organised endeavour to bring suitable labour to New Zealand. Executive: Land Valuation: That the Valuation of Lands Act be so altered as to permit of all improvements of whatever nature made to laijd, and also capital value, on a five per cent basis, of any -special rates paid on such land for reading, etc., being reckoned as improvements. Mangatoki: Defence: That it be a recommendation to the Government to send drill instructors into country districts wherever a company of forty or more Territorials and Cadets combined can be mustered as a central place.

Te Roti: Native Lands: That all native lands shall be placed on the same footing for taxation purposes, both local and general, and at the expiration of the West Coast leases all lands not required for the natives’

own use he purchased by the Government and leased to Europeans with right of purchase.

Executive: Tariff: That the Dominion executive be asked to carefully watch; any movement in the direction of obtaining an increase of Customs duties on articles required by the farming community, and to protest against any such increase. Paten: Railways: That this conference urge upon the Government the necessity of providing more rolling stock on the railways so as to hotter provide for the requirements of the farmers and public generally, more especially as regards the delivery of metal for roads which is at present almost impossible to obtain.

Eltham : Noxious Weeds: That in view of the spread of noxious woods, this conference urges the Agricultural Department to take more vigorous action in enforcing the Noxious Weeds Act.

Te Roti: That the Noxious Weeds Act be more vigorously enforced within

Boroughs as well as country districts

Patca: Organisation: That this conference directs attention to the urgent need of an organiser throughout the district to arouse more interest

amongst farmers in union matters