FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 312, 27 May 1911, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE. By Telegraph.—Pre«s Aiucxiatioa. Invercargill, Last Night. In moving the adoption of the repon and balance-sheet at the tenth annual provincial conference of the Farmers' Union, the president (Mr. H. J. Midleton) congratulated the farmers on having had on the whole a very satisfactory year. He referred to the rather remarkable increase of land values in Southland following on a succession of gooa seasons, and said he feared that tn<;re was an element of danger for those buying in. He uttered a note of warning. Among the resolutions carried were the qnes favoring taxation on the annual value of land, with the same exemptions as in other industries, the annual value to be 5 per cent, of capital value; that hospital and charitable aid boards be the recipients of all auctioneers' and public house license fees; that Parliamentary candidates be asked for a specific pledge in regard to the advocacy of the optional system of land tenure; and that sitting members be asked to take steps in that direction. Motions were also carried endorsing the Defence Act and the methods of carrying it out; that technical classes for primary schools be discontinued; that an agricultural college and experimental farm be established in Southland. NORTH CANTERBURY BRANCH. Christchurch, Last Night. The provincial conference of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued to-day. A letter from the Dominion secretary regarding a farmers' political protection federation, referred by the executive to the conference, was discussed in committee. On resuming, it was reported that the following resolution had been carried: "That this conference approves of the action of the executive committee of the Farmers' Political Protection Federation in regard to the formation and work of the federation."