Farmers' Union

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 4, 23 May 1914, Page 6

Farmers' Union

TARAXAKI PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. SOME IMPORTANT REMITS; Tho. conference of the Taranaki provincial delegates to the Farmers' Union was held at the Town Hall, Patea, on Thursday, Mr. A. Hunter, president, being in tQie chair. The delegates present included Messrs. W. Pennington (Eltliam), D. J. Wiilis and F. Mills (Ifawera), G. Cupper (Kaimata), 1). Booker (Lowgarth), E. K. McGuimicss (Mangatokij, B. On- (Ngaerc), G. Loonev (Opuir.ike), H. Sutherland (Patea), A. Voullaire (Riverlea), W. Cleaver (Te ltoti), R. Dunn (Auroa), \V. F. Lye (Otakeho). The following members of the executive were present: Messrs. K. Maxwell, 11. Lambio, E. Marfell, 11. V,\ Buxton, (i. Capper, J. Thompson, D. J. Willis, J. S. Barrow, J. Davidson, A. E. Washer, and .1. Swindle-hurst.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr. Larcombc, welcomed the delegates, remarking that it was tho first occasion on which the Union had met there, and he wished them success in their deliberations. He also expressed the hope that the delegates would be present at Uui entertainment to be given in their honor in the evening. Tho President briefly but warmly thanked th<> Mayor for his welcome, and congratulated tho town on the possession of up-to-date and comfortable municipal offices. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The President's address noted that the member* had shown a keen interest in all affairs rotating to farming interests. and ■such watehftiJness could not hut ! ha ye a good effect. The year had witnessed the most stirring events from the l.'nion's point of view that had occurred since, its formation. Referring to the strike, the ['resident said there was one phase which specially called for mention, and that was the extraordinary unanimity shown by the country com- | mumty in standing to the Farmers' Union in their action. The organisation was an eye-opener to many, the whole campaign being a great tribute to the energy and ability of the Dominion executive, and especially to the President, Mr. Wilson. The Union had been greatly strengthened and consolidated by ! those events, and it was advisable, that : the advantage should be pushed to its ' fullest extent. Another result was the | demonstration of the impossibility of ! separating the interests of one section j of the community from another. One of the penalties of property was the ] raising of artificial barriers which more j or less divided one section of the camimunity from another. The ingrained Beniw of order had been exemplified by the way in which the tabor Unions in

New Zealand rejected the counsel of the agitators in favor of saner proposals. Ue thanked Mr. Maxwell for this assistance at the Dominion Conference. The success of the Taiunaki remits was a testimony to the care exercised in not sending forward trivial or vague remits. ■The keen way in which the decisions of the. conference was watched by the pn*s and members of Parliament showed that the Union was a force to be reckoned with. He mentioned the inauguration of the Board of Agriculture and the pleasure felt at Mr. Wilson's appointment to the chairmanship of the Board. From a commercial point of view, farmers had experienced a good' Season, and the Dominion had been well treated on the London money market, and the price of money was slowly working hack to the, normal. A buoyant money market was of vital importance to a young and developing New Zealand.

Reference was mado to a circular eon eerniiig a. scheme for settling a tract of land in Chili, the President expressing an opinion that there was little in it to tempt anyone to leave New Zealand.— (Applause). A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the President for bis very able address, the compliment being briefly acknowledged.

The conference went into committee to consider the balance-sheet. On resuming the balance-sheet was adopted. REMITS. Mr. V. G. Dunn, Vice-president, moved: That Parliament be asked to amend folic Auctioneers' Act so tliat provision be mado that it shall be compulsory that the mimes of vendors and buyers of stock at public auction shall be announced.

After some discussion, in which the advantages of the proposal were pointed out, the motion was carried almost unanimously. NAVAL DEFENCE. A remit from Hawera relative to naval defence was withdrawn. LAND TAXATION.

Mr. Uimbic (Opunake) moved: Tint the executive cannot sec any valid reason why money invested in land should be taxed differently to money invested in other industries.

He suggested that some other system of taxation should be adopted than that of singling out land specially. Tie pointed out that a tax or income derived from land would be more equitable. The proposal was last year before the Dominion Conference, and sent back for further consideration. All that the farmers wanted and expected was a fair deal. Ho claimed that i> per cent, on a farmer's interne could not lie complained of. •Mr. Maxwell, in seconding the motion. «\id he considered the question was ll)e most important on the order paper, arid it was one of the Union's previous demands, lie said the present system was iinequit&ble. Unfortunately but few people, possessed any knowledge »f political, economy, and in this particular question there was a great danger. He had for many years been endeavouring to bring about a better svstem of land valuing. The, unimproved values we"" building up very extensively. The d''.u,ger was that this unimproved value wa> regarded as belonging to the community, and thi>; created a false -impression. Improvements such as fencing, Jniihlingsi, etc., were not ordinary improvements, but merely .supplied temporary needs. Any farm 'might be overloaded with improvements without the land being improved. The only improvement that the State should get was the increased carrying power of the land. In a highly improved farm the less was the proportion between the improved ami unimproved value. He wanted to do away with tSic present rotten system. His object wa.s> to bring about a system that would not discriminate between capital invested in land and that invested in industries. Every inducement should be given to farmers to improve their land. He was certain that if the matter were thoroughly discussed farmers would see which wav their interests hi,.

Mr.'Dunn seconded the motion, and complimented tlie Opuna.ke branch on bringing forward the question.

Mr. Willis did not see how the income of some filmier* would to be esti-. mated, as men who bought and .sold stock very often -had no income. He favored taxing capital value. Mr Thomson concluded that it was th system of valuing that was wrong and not the principle. Not sufficient was allowed for the value of improvements. Mr Willis pointed out that it w.-

'necessary for the Government to have a ■revenue it could depend upon. If the tax was on income from the land, then

in bad years* the Government would get nothing. He .thought that taxation oi capital, value was the only course. Mr 'Maxwell, in explanation, said the

motion was framed to raise a discus, •won on land taxation generally, in the hope that some better system than the pr-sent could be evolved. Mr Cleaver failed to see why capital invested in land should bear a heavier burden than other capital. Hpi considered the present defect shcJl be remedied.and mile.™ something wns done land would be taxed out of the market He hoped the motion would be carried'. Mr Marfell considered that the system of haviivr two values on the land w.i very objectionable, but he did not thini. farmers would be wi.jp to advocate the abolition of the laml tax. and he con

siaVred that the motion tended in thai direction. He advocated equality of tax a!ion all round.

Mr Dunn suggested that the motion should be withdrawn in favor of th" follow : r,g: "That a.i the present system of valuing land for taxation purposes has proved a complete failure, owing to thimpossibility of accurately separating theimproved from the unimproved' value, ths conference considers a much fairer and much simpler way would be to tax on the annual valu-- with the same exemption.-, as capital invested in other industries, the annual value to be 5 per cent of the capital value." Mr lambie didl not see any good would be gained by the substituted motio.i whinh lip, considered would he the better of the two to send to the Dominion conference. The prudent :-tid that there aims an idea that the value of the land would' keep on iiiereasiii".', but it would'only do solon:r as development kept on. There were otlur f'vtors that affected land, such a- high waces, higher conditions <if living, end the rise ia the prices rf i'dti-lis'.-rs and other faun iieee-'sarics. The only real basis of taxation was the returns t'ropi flu- land. If a profession.!. man became disabled his income <tii.\t>. i

Initfh- h>nd was ulwnvs there and p,-, ; - diu'inw iso'in-ihiiig. HMrmers had to nay for their farming education, sometime-" vei'v hcavilv. Mr M'""fe]l <:'.,* (i... ~„>!■■. . should be alt-red l, v Mihstitulinu th,words "Tore heavily" fur the word "differently."

Mr 'Maxwell „,i,.| |,;, v c ,i,!^i,i m i f 0 (i, O present system wis being taxed on unimihwd- value. To tirooccd on the pre sent basis iwa* to ofl'e v a bait, to single land taxew. Land could not reach above a certain development and as the cost of production increased, so was the

vain?' of the land' reduced. 'He strongly favored taxation on income. He wa.» satisfied that not by asking anything un reasonable, they had a better dance of, winning. | Mr Lambie. replied, and the. motion with W\e following words added, "but if, it is not taxed in the. same manner, the. tax as indicated, previously sent to the colonial conference, be adopted," wit ! carried. ELECTION 01 OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. Hunter (re-elected); vicepresident, Mr. Dunn; treasurer, Mr. j Swindlehurat; auditor, Mr. Voullaire, j junr.; executive, Messrs 1!. Lambie, J. ! L. Thomson, E. 'Maxwell, A. E. Washer, I V. Mills, G. Capper, If. 11. Buxton, J. S. i Barrow, G. Davidson, G. 11. Buckeridgc, I 1 W. Pennington and P. Booker. | Mr. E. Maxwell was elected delegate ' to the Dominion Conference, Mr. Dunn being appointed to act as emergency de-' legate. ' | A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. > Voullaire for his past services as auditor, I and regret expressed that he could no ! longer take office 'Mr. Lanvbie withdrew the remit — | '"That all moneys paid to the State fori land be classified as improvements," j NOXIOUS WEEDS. • Mr. Pennington /-(Eltham) moved—' "That the Noxious Weeds Act be en-, forced." ,' ' The motion was seconded by -Mr. F. Lye (Otakeho), who pointed out the, danger of noxious weed seeds being carried into box thorn hedges by birds. , Mr. Maxwell said the question was a I I persistent perennial, and had been dealt! with by the Dominion Conference time I after time. A great difference of- opin-' ion existed. The Department hud tried ]hard to solve the problem, but without' result. It was practically impossible - to clear rough land. On rough land the only remedy was to smother the weeds by planting pinuu iw.ignis. It. [was abnost impossible for the Department to enforce the Act, but if the motion were to read that the Act be enforced where possible it might be acted upon. Mr. Dunn agreed with Mr. Maxwell. Mr. Lye asked if it would be possible to band over the administration of the Act to county councils. Mr. Maxwell: For goodness" sake, don't do that! The president stated that the inspectors were instructed not to enforce the Act and 'harass the settlers in certain, districts. He suggested that the local I branches should take the matter in ' hand. j An amendment was moved confining ] the enforcement of the Act to cleared ] lands, and this was carried. COW-TESTING. Mr. Dunn moved—"That the Minister of Agriculture, be requested to introduce the semi-otlieial testing of grade cows,' and to fix a standard so high that only cows of exceptional merit should be tested." Mr. Looney considered that if the motion vvero acted on it would have a tendency to deteriorate slock instead ' of improving it. In the discussion which ensued it was pointed out that it was desirable to breed from pure stock' and not from mongrels. Several delegates opposed the motion. i Mr. Maxwell could not see why the I 'Department should not be asked to grade cows. If the Department object-

Ed to the cost there was en end of it, ' unless flip owners paid the grsidi iff fees. Great risks were run by .in-breeding... Long pedigree stock did not. always ', prove the most remunerative in the re- j suits obtained. If the owners were prepared to pay for a grade certificate ■ ;be did not see why they should not j ( have it. j I Mr. Dunn, in reply, said his object was to encourage good" utility cows, and j [■these were worth an official certificate. I On a division the motion was curried ' by 10 to 8. j MOTOR TRAFFIC. i Mr. Marfell moved—"That owina to I the great change in the means of transit j brought about by the general asc of motor traction, it be strongly urged on the Government the necessity of inI creasing the subsidy to local 'bodies for the. formation and maintenance of main roads, such subsidy to ho granted only , in proportion to expenditure incurred." ;He said the motor traffic had come to i stay, but the burden on the rates was heavy. .He was opposed to toll-gates, \ and thought the Government might weil I he asked for an increased subsidy. 1 'Mr. Dunn sec-qnded the motion,'which jjhe thought might be a that | the Government could incorporate in ; | its promised Local Government Bill. I The president pointed out that Ihe.ro was a danger in asking for a subsidy in proportion to the expense incurred, as some local bodies were prone to be extravagant with expenditure. He sng--1 gestcd that the. Government should be asked to tend to the Union for consideration the. proposals whieli they in- [ tended to incorporate in the Bill. I Mr. Maxwell advised holding over the I question, and considered it would be wise for the Conference not to 'ixpresy lan opinion on it. He favored asking for an increased subsidy for main roads on general reasons, but not for the spceific reason mentioned an the motion.' , Mr. Thomson also advised the withdrawal of tin motion. Mr. Marfell, in repp,-, pointed out that there, had been a great change in the traffic. He was quite, willing to withdraw it in favor of the local bodies taking it up. The motion was withdrawn. IMPEP.IAL COUNCIL, The Hawera remit in favor of an Imperial Council was withdrawn. PKOVINCi AL ORGANISE!!. Mr. Washer moved—"That this l':«nI fc.i'cnee recommend-, to the incoming executive that the levy on branches for tliis year Iw incre.wed to os Od per memi ber, with the. object of providing means for payment, of a provincial organiser, as the executive is satisfied that some thorough system of organisation must be adopted." He said that the Union Wtts going hack and needed an organisci to put more life into 'it. 1 Tn supporting the motion, Mr. Dunn I said the Union was not going hack. 1 but there was plenty of room for isn- ' provement. Mr. Looney considered that the time was ripe for appointing n, really good organiser to make a house-to-house canvass. The motion was carried. BRAND FOR CULLS. iMr. Maxwell moved—"That legislation be asked wod providing that the Agricultural 'Department lhave n registered brand for the use of anyone who desires to use, it for the purpose of branding cull dairy cattle, aud for imi

other purpose, and tli.it there be a provision prohibiting the offering for public or private sale cuttle 30 branded as dairy Block, or without proclaiming that the cattle are so branded.' In support of liia motion, Mr. .Maxwell mentioned cases of useless cows bought by dealers and sold by them as iliilry stock, and It was to prevent the farmer* being victimised that he brought forward the motion.

The motion was seeondeu and carried, STAt.LIO.VS KIIX.

The president moved—"That the Go-vei'niiH-iit lie asked to rc-introduce the Stallions Bill on the same lines as that dwvn up last session and shaived by the Upper House." lie said he knew of one man who spent 100 in telegrams to defeat the Bill.

Mr, Dunn seconded the motion, which he considered a very necessary one.

Tho motion was carried. BPKYI.VO i:OWS AND HEIFERS. Mr. Orr (Xgaere) moved—"That all stock inspectors should be qualified in the operation of spey'mg cull cows nn'd heifers."

■Mr. Maxwell suggested that the bet ,te.r course would be to ask the Clovcrnmerit to supply an instructor. Mr. Orr agreed to the suggestion. Mr. .Yiiirfell (apposed the notion, on the ground that it might entail cruelty to the animals if the operation were performed by amateurs.

The president considered it would hardly pay to spcy cows.

After some discussion, the motion was altered to be a request for a qualified instructor, and carried. BARRACKS FOR TERRITORIALS.

The president moved—"flint this is of opinion that in the interests of tjhc health and morality of our rising manhood, it would be advisable to Mibstitute tho barracks system for that of camps in training Territorials. Mr. Maxwell seconded tho motion, which was carried. DAYLIGHT DRILL'!.

Mr. Cleaver (Te Roli) moved—That km far as possible the drills of the Territorials should be held in the daytime, awl that wherever possible country boys be drilled in the country and not in the towns. He raid he did not. see why the parades should not be held 011 ■halfholidays. When the drills were over tho men gmvitutcd to the hotels, and from thence to the billiard-rooms. Mr. 1-ambie considered the drills ought to be in tho country, and not in the towns. * The motion was carried. LOAN IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. Dunn moved—''That the Uovenininnt amend the Valuation Act in th« direction of having the whole of special loans classed as improvements, the deduction of the repaid portion only being allowed." Ue stated that the. effect of K]wtein.l loans was to raise the value of property, and tie considered that tlie ratepayers should get an exemption for thr simoimt of the loans.

Mr. Maxwell suggested adding to tt'ie motion the words: "That each property .owner's share be ascertained 'by capitalising the special rate pa.id." The motion as amended was carried. PIS.VS FOR BULLS. .Mr. Willis (Hawera) moved" '•That the (jnvernment be requested to legislate to the effect that auctioneers be mprriwl to »et aside pen* for »ii IWrflV

brought to auction markets for sale, unless such bulls belong to the owners of the cattle with which they are penned." , ".

Letters were read from Mr. Newton King, the Loan and Mercantile Agency 00., Messrs Matthews, Gamlin and Co.. and the Fanners' Co-operative Association, all of whom intimated thst they would do their 'best to carry out -th* wishes of the executive. "W - THANKS. '-. n

This concluded the business, and tli« elmirman tliankpd tho delegates for their attendance.

A vote of thanks was accorded to tl:« chairman, to the Pro*), and to the secretary.

DELEGATES ENTERTAI.VBD. In the evening the delegates were entertained by hlie citizen* of Patca at a smoke concert in the Town Hall, his Worship tho Mayor presiding. A number of toasts suitable to the occasion were proposed <and responded to, musical items stnd recitations being interspersed. The guests greatly sp- ■'■ predated tho hospitiilit; and courtesy V extended' to them, and havo good cause to remember with gratification their pleasant visit to Fatea.

• The proceedings concluded shortly before midnight, with "AtiW Lungr Syne."