FARRIERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 134, 28 May 1908, Page 2

FARRIERS' UNION.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL COXKEKJiJXCJ':. ' Per Press Ansoeiation. ['eilding, Last Night. The Fanners' Union conlVreiiec resumed to-day and discussed at length the question of socialism. The following motion was proposed:— f, That the time has now arrived when the Union must take a firm stand against the Soealistic party; that all farmers' candidates shall pledge themselves to oppose nil measures detrimental to the Fanners' Union, whether Government measures or other-

wise; and that whole more than one candidate pledges himself to do so a meeting of delegates from each branch in the electorate shall be called by the premier branch to decide which candidate, shall receive the support of the Union." • Mr. 8. J. Carman, who proposed the

motion, ssiid Socialism had arisen in its niijjht, and would do moiv to down the farmers' interests than any otht*r thing. The funning community should send their own representatives to Parliament. Sir. V. 11, Hockley said tin* outstanding feature of Socialism was the abolition of all private ownership »!' land. Kov some sessions now the lights and privileges of property-owners had boon steadily infringed.

The president (Mr. Wilson) quoted the Socialist platform as the nationalisation of the means of production, distri bution, and exchange.

.Mr. (I. Morrison said he was a (Jovcrnment supporter, but ayouM voce against the Government unless uev stemmed the tide of Socialism. But a: thought the "Farmers' Union should kee;) out of party politics. Tie favored ama - gamation with (lovernment supporters to return anti-Socialist members. Mr. Hadlield said s he felt convinced that members of the Ministry would led thankful for any help in stemming th> tide of Sociali-an. One member of the .Ministry had told him the Uovernn.ent were puzzled what to do, and werj trying to think out what stand they should take in Ihe matter. The motion was finnllv carried.

Mr Moore (Makuri) proposed thattTicvalue of rural lands for taxation and other purposes shall in future be determined by its producing value, not, as at present, bv the sale value.—Carried. Mr. K. B. McKenzie proposed that iu

onl»r to emomnge |ilantiug of lorusl trcc'3 all land over one acre siiould Iju o.wmpt from the land lax and local vales—Carried.

jAIr. Vuiin (Shannon) moved that the Drainage Aet be amended .so that rating

,bo on acreage, instead wf valuation as At present, wliere tlie locality considers such system more just and, equitable.— The motion was lost.

An amendment was proposed by Mr. Matheson that subsidies to local bodies bo 011 a graduated scale iu proportion to tho rate struck as recommended by the Crown land's ranger. Captain Hewitt (I'almerston North) 'moved tliat when permanent Government reserves adjoin private holdings (froeiiohl or leasehold) the Land Department should pay half tile c'Ost of fencing mid keeping fences iu repair and destroy-

ing noxious weeds.—Carried. The following resolutions were adopted:—That the Govornment should spe

oially subsidise all imiiu roads leading to buckblocks at a distance from the railway; That an amendment of the Ilos|)i----tal and ChariUMn Institutions Act was required in I lie direction of making tlw levies more equitable throughout tlie Dominion; Unit auctioneers' license fees bhould lie shared equally lictwceu focal ■bodies in whose districts sales arc held; that the names of vendors and buyers of stock be given when stock is sfcjd bv jiutilic* auction; tliat it be a. recommendation to the Farmers' Union to consider the advisability of selling beef by weight; that the practice of trimming skins and hides before altering them for sale 1)0 objected to; that tile Stock and .Slaughtering Acts be more rigidly en-

forced; that tho (iovernment tie asked to set aside a, suitable urea of land for an agricultural college for the North

Island; that the Union urge county councils to regulate the «peed of motor cars ion country roads; tliat the. Minister for Public Works bo again urged to permit continuous loading on sheep trucks with false bottoms in New Zealand; that hotter facilities he given small railway stations for loading and unloading stock a nd produce; that the executive lie urged to continue its agitations for the improvement of dangerous railway crossings throughout the province, and that the colonial executive bring the matter before the (iovernineuf; Hint tlie Ciovcrnment bo asked to carry fanners in parties of six to experimental farms at excursion rates; that accommodation be provided at reasonable rates as is done in Denmark; that the Postal Department not being a taxing machine, the annual rental for post office boxes where letter carriers do not exist, be reduced to the cost of the initial outlay of such boxes; that the executive use its best endeavors to induce the (jovernment to have, all contracts over £IOO let by public tender aild not by petty contract; that the advisability of the Union acting as land agents for farmers bo considered; that the executive recommend the setting up of a committee to consider the political sit tuition as affecting the Union, and to make suggestions to the colonial exeeutiui in revising the political platform of the Union; that owing (o the almost prohibitive price of building timber the (iovcrjiment he urged to remove the import duty therefrom; that the conference supports compulsory military trainnig; that tlie inspection of dairy and agricultural machinery be carried out during the slack season. The following officers were elected:— President, Air J. Wilson (re-elected); vice-preeident, }lr. (J. Cooper; executive, Messrs. Kaon, Campbell, C. ,\\ heeler, W. J. Birch, I). H. (Juthrie, t. J'. Jlockly, W. B. Matheson, If .A. Kevins, T. Moss, J. 11. E"cott, J. 0. Bidp. McGregor, f>. J. Carman, and Captain Hewitt; delegates to colonial conference, Messrs J. (j. Cooper and F. I*'. Ilookly.

llie delegates of the conference were entertained to-night at a banquet by tile members of the local branch, Jlr 11. J. Booth (chairman) presided.