Second Edition N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 61, 17 July 1913, Page 6

Second Edition N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

IN CONFERENCE

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, July 17. Mr Ross (Auckland) nov'd at the Fanners' Union Conference to-day: "That this conference would uige the Dominion executive to watch closely any attempt hy hiteimed parties to further increase the customs duties on farmers' requirements, and to take every opporuiur.y .to press for reductions and 'he rcino-OiS of any .pilies v\hie,li wiutd place undue bn:«'.efii on the farming industry." The mover declared that farmers were being the most heavily taxed of all the community through the custrfms tariff. Major Lusk ; seconded the motion, which was adopted.

There were no fewer than six remits before the conference dealing with the question of preferential rates on railways. The purport of the remits was a protest against the preferential and penal rates on imported coal, timber, fruit, flour, etc. The reduction or removal of these rates was demanded- by many speakers, who urged that the burden of the extra freight constituted a most unjust penalty on inland settlers.

A resolution was passed as follows: "That the present system of charging extra rail freights on certain classes of imported goods is very unfair to inland settlers and should be abolished."