FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 666, 18 May 1929, Page 5

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

BIG CONFERENCE ARRANGED TO OPEN TUESDAY ! The 29th annual conference of the j New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Auckland Province), which is to open at Auckland at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday next, is expected to be one of the most momentous in the history of the organisation Rural problems having loomed larger and larger in the political, commercial and social progress of the Dominion branches all over the province, Taumarunui to Kaitaia and from Opotiki to Kawhia have sent in remits numbering over 130, and general questions as they affect the farmer. The Mayor of Auckland, Air. G. Baildon, will open the conference, which will last for four days. It is now three years since the Auckland Farmers’ Union held its annual conference in Auckland City. A resolution was then adopted that the conference should be held alternately in Whangarei, Hamilton and Auckland. Since the last Auckland conference the membership of the union in the province has increased, and is now almost treble what it was three years ago. In addition, members are displaying an unprecedented keenness in their own problems, which is accepted by the union to bespeak a useful conference. SOUTHLAND BRANCH REMITS Press Association INVERCARGILL, Today. The annual provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union was held today, All. Ronald Sim was elected president. The conference adopted the follow* ing remits: (1) Opposing any proposal for amalgamation of the Dairy Control Board and the Ateat Producers’ Board. (2) Asking the Government to remove protective duties from all industries that have been established for, say, 10 years. (3) Urging that £2 per annum fiat rate tax on cars be repealed as being unfair to the man who uses his own car comparatively seldom. (4) Opposing proposals for the levying of income tax on income from farming operations in lieu of land tax, or in addition to land' tax. (5) Protesting against any alteration of standard time. (6) Opposing any alteration in the education system which would in any way lower the efficiency of the primary schools. (6) Objecting to unnecessary changing of school books both in primary and secondary schools. (7) Suggesting that Wednesday be made the universal half-holiday, and that the Government be asked to legislate accordingly. (8) Protesting against the rate of wages paid on relief works, especially for single men. (9) Recording its disapproval of the Government discontinuing the c.o.d. system.