FARMERS CONFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 11

FARMERS CONFER

WAIKATO SUB-PROVINCIAL MANY REMITS PASSED From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Fr'day. | The annual conference of th * Wai- : { kato sub-provincial district of 1 *.e New ! Zealand Farmers’ Union was neld in Hamilton today, the president. Mr. T. H. Henderson, presiding. The following remits to the Auckland provincial conference were among those carried: “That an effort be made to levy taxation on Maori-owned dogs, the same as on Pakeha-owned dogs. This may seem a hopeless remit after the Treaty of Waitangi, but constant dripping will wear away any stone. “This conference demands the abolition of compulsory industrial arbitration as now applied under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. "That rural telephone charges be on a fiat rate basis, and not according to distance. as at present (i.e.. many public eral power boards, mails, etc. The present system is quite unfair). “That the Government be requested to institute a grading system of payment according to grade, for the whole of our pig products, whether for export or local trade. “This branch is of the opinion that fertiliser propaganda should be confined to the limits of the Fertiliser Act. Analysis and availability of ingredients of

manures should b* slated strict)? as therein required. “That in view of the heavy Impositions \ of rates on pastoral and agricultural land j consequent upon the ever-increasing | volume of motor traffic, the time has ar- j rived for the de-rating of all such land j within the Dominion. "That the benzine tax be increased to meet existing liabilities on all loans in | addition to the whole cost of construction j ami maintenance of all roads. “That all patent medicines and rente- i dies for stock be submitted to Govern- 1 ment analysis and report, such report to be available to inquirers. "This conference considers that the basis of charges for rural telephones should be materially lowered. “This conference is of opinion that the time is now opportune for the nationalisation of the main highways. "That public works, such as the construction of railways, roads and bridges should be let by contract to public tender where possible. “This conference is of the opinion, that before any further new railway construction is proceeded with, the economic .probabilities of such undertaking should be such as not to entail an undue burden on the users of the railways or the tax- • That primary producers be allowed to place evidence before the Arbitration Court during the hearing of any disputes having a close bearing upon the primary industries. “The time is overdue* fur an overhaul,” said Mr. 11. H. Feisst. in introducing a '.-emit “that in view of the huge and rapidly-growing state of local body debts this conference calls upon the Government to set up immediately an impartial commission of economic experts to investigate fully and recommend economies.” Mr. Feisst said local body debts

were an increasing burden on production. Since the same remit had beei carried last conference there had been a more constant need than ever for 1 Seconding. Mr. S. X. Ziman said th* activities of government should not be curtailed, but there should be closei investigation of how the money is spent. There were all sorts of ways ii which economies could be made. Tin printing and stationery bill of tin Government and local authorities was enormous, and this aspect alone could be subjected to searching inquiry. After a further discussion the remil was carried.