N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 97, 26 July 1916, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

DISCUSSIONS AT CONFERENCE. Per Press Association, Wellington, July 25. Tu his address, the president (Sir James Wilson) referred to coidcivnces as not only beneficial to fanners, but as a means of educating public opinion. Concerning the war, he painted out that wo are spending our capital at the rate of about a million a month, and yet have withdrawn 50,- | 000 men from the adult papulation. •Those left in occupation are therefore receiving more for their labor in whatever occupation they may he engaged. (Treat Britain is .spending live millions a day, which is circulating amongst the people, yet everything we purchase costs more. Wool, which was just suliicient for the wants of the world, is required everywhere for those who arc lighting. The meat we produce goes now to fecit the men at the front, and only the surplus goes into the ordinary channels. The consumption of cheese in the army has increased the demand enormously, and Is per pound has boon readied as a selling price since the freezing process enabled ns to sell our produce in Britain. With such prices for our food and clothing products, all have to pay more to food and clothe their families. As our bills have reached such an enormous total we must expect further taxation to he a certainty. Our exports have exceeded those of last year on paper by* six millions. Of the £33,155.992 of exports, the produce from the land in the year ending March 31, 101 G, amounts to £30,035,719—a truly stupendous amount for a million people to take from the land. Practically the, whole of this has boon taken from the land by sheep, cattle and pigs— T with the assistance of horses in the agricultural portions. We may safely say, I think, that not more than four millions at the outside is the result of war. We have been decreas-

.■■ing our imports in comparison to our I spending power, so that wo have a i margin of twelve millions of excess of exports in comparison to imports. There are politicians who say the Government should take from the fanner the extra six millions’ of increased value of exports which he has not got, and the nineteen million of free deposits to pay war expenses. With reference to the taxation proposals of the present war time, it is certain that the burden of them is still further to be borne by the lamh The Government of the country and the safety of the individual should be assured by each paying a percentage of his earnings, as they pass through his hands.. The farmer is also first taxed upon his capital in. the land and then upon his income derived from it. Last year the farmers paid it cheerfully, I but now that an additional 5 per cent, is added to this .and a 45 per cent, tax on all profits over a certain percentage of return from capital, it certainly is conscripting wealth to a greater extent than anticipated. It would certainly bo more reassuring it the additional millions were ear-marked for the payment of the war debt wo owe to the British Government so long as they were not required for the expenses of our soldiers at the front. The taxation would thus go towards paying the expenses of the war. 11 the cost of living has gone up the farmer pays it just the same as anyone else. One special feature is the remission of the 25 per cent, additional graduated taxes on business premises. This seems unjust, though it may be expedient. If wo are to pay all this enormously increased taxation (and Sir Joseph Ward warns us we may have to pay more next year), what means has the "country got to meet’ it? It is quite clear that if the produce of the land is 30-33rds of the exports of the Dominion, to restore the dissipated wealth of the world which has gone in this disastrous war, we in New Zealand must look to the production of the land to again create it, and it certainly would be delayed and much harm done if the cry of “tax the land,” which from a class of the community is so often heard, were listened to by our politicians, and undue taxation is levied in consequence. The Farmers’ Union Conference adopted remits urging the Government to instruct the responsible officers to a more ca reful study of the formation of the country when calling up land for settlement, and see the boundary lines and roads are placed in the best possible places. That on the purchase of land for closer settlement the County Council or local authorities in that area be represented in the location of roads and in the formation of drainage of same.

That tho Government ho urged to construct wheel traffic roads into new blocks of surveyed land'before opening same for selection, and push on the work of present roads in backbloeks.

Mr R. Dunn (Taranaki) moved; “That the land laws be so amended that no enemy alien subject or unnatural! sed person or anyone of full pnemy alien blood and birth be eligible to acquire freehold of land in the Dominion.” The mover said that the men at the front when they returned might find land they should have the right to occupied by uunaturalised persons. Land should bo the birthrigid; of boys of New Zealand. There were many Swiss in bis province who wore of doubtful loyalty, and they should bo debarred from holding land unless naturalised. Mr Maxwell seconded. Some of the Swiss in Taranaki were of German blood} and their sympathies were with the enemy. In view of the fact that land would bo required for returned soldiers, it was wise that the holding of land should be restricted. Mr A. & Campbell

said lie could not support the motion in its present form. He knew of Ger--1 mans lighting for the Empire. Ger--1 man Jews of the Dominion were thoroughly loyal and wopld be glad to go I to the front if they would he accepted. He was in favor of forbidding any German or Austrian being director of any commercial company. ! Mr Ross moved an amendment, , “That the Government ho requested to see that men of alien blood or birth I who are in-eligible for enlistment in military forces should not obtain any advantage over our own men in the matter of the disposal and settlement of Crown lands.” I After further discussion, the motion was withdrawn and the amendment relegated to the Supplementary Order Paper. j Several remits were adopted urging far greater provision ol land for returned soldiers and easing the conditions in cases of tenants under any Lands Act who are serving at the front. I The Conference also resolved that all 'present and future occupiers of rural [national endowment lands ho granted | I the option of purchasing the free- | [hold.