FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 305, 19 May 1911, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

TARAXAKI PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. The annual jirovihcinl conference 01 the Farmers' Union in Taranaki was held at Inglewood yesterday. The president, Mr. J. W. Jones, presided, and the following were present: Members of tin' executive, Messrs. J. \V. Jones, Lambie, E. Maxwell, S. Forsyth, W. Rogers, .1. Thomson, W. Cleaver, F. J, Virgin, A. Hunter, and K. Marfell; delegates, Messrs. W. Morison (Ngaero), J. Swindlehiirst (Eltham), W. Swadling (Kaponga), R. Dunn (Auroa), A. Voullaire (Riverlea), D. S. Maxwell (Toko), E. Grey (Lowgarth), J. Conaglcn (Opuiiakc),*U. P. Hodge (l'atea), K. T. Williams (Kaimata). and A. Hunter (Ilawera). PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.

The president, in iiis address, said:— "We are met together to-day to hold the tenth, annual conference, and I am sure you will join with me in hoping that we will have a pleasant and prolitable time. I have to speak to you for a short time on the general working of the union, and also as to the prospects of farming in general. Our union was formed some ten years ago as a means of combating those theorists who believed in land nationalisation and the curtailment of the rights of the individual. The rights of the farmer because of his isolation was in danger of being ignored, whilst the organised forces against him received undue consideration. We hold that, as the land is the first source of all wealth, the economical working of the same is of vital importance to every inhabitant of the Dominion. We have found to our cost that anything controlled and worked by the State is unprofitable and costly, and yet I am sorry to report that a very large majority of farmers will not support the only thing thai will save them from this fate. Although we have not made anything like th« progress that we should have done, still we can claim some good for the farmers of the Dominion. Looking backward, it would be very hard for anyone to say what the position of the farmers woulu be to-day were it not for the Union. In Taranaki, I am sorry to have to report that very little headway has been made this year towards the goal of our ambition, namely, a union of all who live by the soil. We have some staunch and true farmers who count nothing too much trouble towards forwarding this aim. Month after month they are found meeting together for closer union, but with little response from the majority. And yet since the first pioneers landed on these shores there never was a time when for our existence we need to sink our little differences, close up our ranks, and stand shoulder to shoulder, not to take advantage of anyone, but to protect ourselves against those who would rob us of the gain of years spent in poverty and hard work. Last year we asked the Government to publish in some form a monthly journal to report market returns and the effect of experiments at the different stations. This was granted, and a first-class journal was issued at 2s Od per year (posted). And' yet very, few farmers have taken the trouble to order a copy. In fact, the Government is considering the discontinuance of the' issue owing to the small support it has received from the fanners. Von will say that the disease is here all right, but where is the remedy. Well, if sufficient money could be collected to pay the expenses of putting a real live man in our province to speak to the farmers, to organise them, and to work amongst them, many would listen and would join us. They are hard to get at, being so scattered, and the task of getting them out to meetings of the sort every month or two would he of no use, hut if a man could he found to devote the whole of his time to the work, I believe a awakening amongst the farmers would be the result. We see by' the reports from tin- Labor I'nion conference that thev wish to put town and country employees on the same footing, and are demanding for all unskilled labor Is 3d an hour for a 44 horns' week. One of the leaders stated that were farmers willing to pay a living wage there would he no dearth of labor found to work on farms, and stated that a man for country workshould receive sufficient to keep himself, a wife, and three children in comfort in town. The. farmers were too mean to pay wages, ■ and hence the dearth of men willing to work in the country. When we hear a man state that the farmer is .not .paying a quarter of the taxes he should pay, when we hear that the State should regulate the price ol all foodstuffs sold i,n the Dominion, we wonder how we are to live in the future. Relieve me, these times are coming, and corning quickly, when we : review what'has come to pass in the last few years. Had anyone prophesied five years ago that some of the labor laws which are now worrying us would be 'in force in this country, we woula have laughed tlieni to scorn.

;'A fewi butchers in Auckland wished to get oh" early one afternoon, so they started an hour earlier in the morning. The consequences were that men. manager, and owner of the business (who knew notliintr of the matter) were heavily fined. We have escaped so far, and we owe a lot of it to our union, lint how long we will escape is in the hands of the farmers themselves. Continuing, .he said that grain growers had had a good season. Crops were fair in most parts and good in many, and the weather all that, could be desired for harvesting operations. The dairying industry, which concerned them most in Taranuki. had been rather disappointing, the dry weather having set in early this year, the milk supply falling off in consequence.

"But the dairyman is not discouraged, as is shown the higher price he is willing to pay for his land, and, given a fair season' next year, T feel sure that Taranaki will still hold her proud position in the Dominion as chief exporter of dairy produce. Wool has recovered the slackness that was experienced about the beginning of the year, and those who shipped will receive substantial bonuses on their shipments. The frozen meat industry Was on a good footing, and from appearances should go on to be more profitable in the future than it. has been in the past. Several countries which were a few years ago sending meat to Great T.ritain are now using all they grow, and are likel\ before long to be looking to the frozen meat to help out their supply. "The flax industry is brighter than it has been for some' time, and with the prospect of an improved method of dressing, should return more money tlnni formerly jo our province.

"Cow-testing and pasteurising.—We spoke of Ihese at last conference, and I am glad to see that it has been taken up by many farmers and dairy companies. Much more will have to be done in this line if we are t.o pay the present prices for land and stock and still have a little left for our year's work. "Cniwi'sal Training.—We have advocated universal military training. That ; '" "lid 1 hope the farmers will loyally support the powers in carrying out their scheme, as T forseo a gre.it deal of opposition is likely to he found in the ranks of labor. ' \

'■E(hi;;r.i:m. We should thank oui idiicalion boards for the way they are endeavoring to help the workers on the land, both by teaching in the primary and technics, 1 classes, the science of agriculture. I ''Experimental Farms.—The Govern-1 muni, is, I believe, trying their best to I meet the wishes of the farmers with re- j gard to these farms. If the fanners | would make more use of them by visit- ' ing, etc., it would no doubt be for their benefit. "Immigration.—We have again found I a difficulty in obtaining sufficient labor j on the farms in the summer time, botli outside, and for the house, and I. think | we are justified in asking that a regular, supply of servants be encouraged to come out from Ureal Rritain to settle and work with us in bringing in more land from the waste, and thereby helping to swell the revenue derived from our efforts. "Native Lands.—This question is stilt unsolved, although the. Government has given it some thought since we last met. There are thousands of acres of land still idle, still unproductive, unless noxious weeds and rabbits in some parts can be called produce, and almost every local body in New Zealand is more or less troubled with the difficulty of providing roads and bridges through districts that are partly or wholly composed of land that pays little or nothing towards the upkeep of the same. With the present Native Minister we are likely to have a leisurely means of dealing with the same.

"Noxious Weeds.—This trouble seems to bo on the increase with us, and unless something more be done to check their spread this highly productive land of ours will be wasted with weeds. With imported seeds and chaff, and even hay coming in from other parts, what chance have, we to keep our holdings clean?

"Tuberculosis.—This dread disease seems to be on the increase, not only amongst stock, but amongst human beings, and very little was being done to cheek it. True, the Department is still paying compensation for stock killed, but no effort is made to stamp out the disease. "Afforestation.—On account of the very limited supply of milling timber available in the Dominion. I think the Government should do more than at present in the way of planting suitable timber trees."

In conclusion, the president thanked the conference for the patient hearing accorded him, and hoped that they would spend a profitable time, and "that a fire will be kindled amongst us that will be spread to every farmer in the Dominion, for fire is much needed." The balance-sheet showed that the credit balance of €l3 His lid at the beginning of the year had dwindled to £l, and there was a debit balance of 16s 8d at the bank. The position, it was said, was due to the falling-off in subscriptions.

POTATO DISEASE. Mr. W. Swadling (Kaponga) asked permission to withdraw the remit of his branch—"That the Conference draw the attention of the Government to the importation into the district of grub-infest-ed potatoes, and request them to take steps to prevent same." He explained that the disease was here, and the remit would do no good. It was strange, though, that these diseased tubers should have been brought in without the inspectors' knowledge, due. perhaps to carelessness.

Mr. Dunn (Auroa) objected to the withdrawal, and several subsequent speakers referred to the seriousness of the situation, and .Mr. Swadling agreed to the remit standing, and he dulv moved it.

The president said he had seen in a departmental pamphlet that the grub had always been in the North Island. The remit was carried, with the addition that the Government be asked to take steps with "regard to the prevention of this and any other disease. TAXATION. Mr. Conaglcn (Opunnke) moved—"That the present system of taxing farmers on the so-called unimproved value of their farms be abolished; that farmers should pay tax on their income from land in tne same proportion as money invested in other industries is taxed;' the farmer's income to be calculated at 5 per cent, on the capital value of their holdings after deducting all encumbrances in the shape of mortgages." Mr. Conaglen said this remit was not a new one, but there was need for a great deal of consideration yet. He would leave the explanation of the remit to

.Mr. \V. Lambie, of tlio Opunake branch, who seconded, and said that a committee of (lie Opunake branch had decided on analysis that taxation on the unimproved value was not in the interests of fanners. The investigation had given him a surprise, showing that the farmers were taxed too largely on their capital in comparison with oti'icr branches of industry. The real unimproved value was almost impossible to arrive at. and it was Die present unfair system of arriving at this that created the anomaly. It had been devised when single-taxcrs and men of like calibre, were in authority. To arrive at the capital value was easier, and the taxation should be levied on that basis—") per cent, on the capital value, lie quoted a property of an area of 421) acres, capital value ",C1 1.142, va- '■•■■ '•! improvement* C 2742. unimproved value CS 11)11, land tax payable £,'lo 7s fid. I'nder the proposed system f> per cent, of the capital invested would be £ii,">7, and income-tax payable would be ,C(I Ss fid. Other actual instances were quoted, showing that the income-tax would he much lighter than (lie land-tax Mr. Lanibie said it did not matter where the tax was levied—on the land, buildings, horses, cows, or even the butterfat, but every man who owns land should have it free, if possible. Land was only a part of the stock-in-trade, and when the position was "down to bedrock" it meant that this tax was on the man's industry. Where did the unimproved value commence, and where did it end? He concluded by stating that most of the increase in the land tax came troiM improvements outside the land itself. Mr. Maxwell said it had been shown that farmers were taxed four times as heavily—(Mr. Lambie: "Seven times")— as the capital invested in other avenues (Continued on page 3.)