FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 190, 1 August 1908, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE

By ielegraph—l'rass Association. Wellington Friday. An interesting discussion took place at the Farmers' Union Conference today on the following remit:--That in order to encourage the. plaiilino- of lorest trees, all laud over one a ere in extent planted with forest trees should lie exempted from tin- tand tax and lot'l, I'v l ""'v , St T' !, ' al s l>"".kw« urged thai. New Zealand was on (he ycrg,. 0 f a timber famine and some eneoiira"emenl should be given to the planlilig ot trees. The motion was passed, and it was decided lo bring under notice ol the Croreriijlucnt the question of granting a boini- for all lauds planted Willi trees. l

It whs rosolvcd-Uiat this Conference is not in favor of any allera#fc;|ii l>cnig made in the size of corn sacks. 'lliat the names of vendors and buyers of stock lie given when stock- 'is sold nt public auctions. (The advocates ol this motion contended Unit its ' elleet would be prevent tile "trolling" ol prices and the giving of misleading statements as to the place of origin). That tin's Conference recommends the soiling of beef by weight instead of at at per bead.

The president intimated that the. Conference had thrown out the recommendation from Southland: "That in view of the danger of a three-party system being introduced into .New Zealand politics, the Farmers' Union discuss tne advisability of urging the Premier and leader of the Opposition to consider the ouestion of coalescing." He added that an important resolution had been passed by. the Union in the following teems:—"That the time bas now arrived when Che Union as a whole must take a more aetivu part in politics and a linn stand against socialistic legislation; and that all farmers' candid-

ates should be asked to pledge themselves to oppose all measures detrimental to tile fanning community, whether they be (lovoriimenl measure or otherwise; and that in any electorate where more than one candidate pledges himself l u do so, a meeting of delegates frqin each branch in tllic .electorate shall be called by Ihe premier branch and such active steps be taken as arc deemed desirable in the electorate to 'secure" the return of a candidate wito can be relied upon to support the Union's platform in Parliament irrespective of Tarty; and that this Conference draw up a series of questions embodying the policy of the Farmers' Union for use in electorates."

Wellington, Last Night. Tile Fanners' Union Conference today passed the following resolutions:— That thi! annual rental of post office boxes and bags where letter-carriers do not uxist, be reduced the cost of the 'initial outlay on juch boxes, etc.; tßiat 'the conference strongly protests against tIW proposed Shearers' Accommodation Mill as being harassing impracticable, and unnecessary, and that representations be made to the Minister; that this Union recognises that some system of voluntary conciliation in the settlement of labor disputes is .necessary, anil that the executive take steps to procure information from such countries as have adopted this form; that the Union 'expresses satisfaction that the proposal lirst enunciated by the Fanners' Union that the Dominion should contribute a larger naval subsidy has been practically accepted by the Cowrnincnt in raising the subsidy to .£100,000; that the Coverninent lie requested to amend the Local .Bodies' Finance ami Powers Act in the direction of subsidising the general rates of local bodies nil a graduated scale; that this Conference is opposed to any change in the electoral law in regard to the absolute majority or second ballot. \

Officers were elected as follows: President, .Mr. J. G. Wilson; rice-pre-sident, Mr. L'eadlcv; treasurer, Mr. A. F. Russell; auditors, Messrs. Rutherford and McConnell: advisory board, Messrs. Kirch, Cooper, Richards, and McGregor.! Messrs. Jones, Evans, and Acton we/e warmly complimented on the good /ight they had put up on behalf of the farming community in regard to the Canterbury farm labor dispute, it was resolved that the Union cannot see its way to federate with the Employers' Federation.