FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 3 June 1915, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

MEETING OF OTAGO COUNCIL. WAR TAX ADVOCATED. Bj Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last JNight. The annual meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union was held to-day, Mr. J. Begg presiding. The committee's report mentioned that tbe Otago branch had to date contributed over £«OGD in cash and kind for war purposes. The president, in the course of his remarks, said tliat no matter what the scale of pensions for wounded soldiers might foe there would be needed a national fund to supplement the payments. As to the restrictions with regard to export, the farmers should protest against these acts being taken as preeodents. There must not be any inter- j ference with the export trade in nor- ; mal times. In spite of the war and the drought, the farmers had had a good year. Mr. liegg was re-elected president and Mr. R. McKenzie vice-president. The following remits, among others, were also carried—That steps be taken to inaugurate a moTement so that when the war is over steps may he taken to prevent shippers being entirely at the mercy of the shipping companies; that the conference is prepared to support the Government in its efforts to keep the prices of oats, wheat, and butter at a moderate level during the war, but wishes to emphasise its opinion that these must be regarded as purely emergency measures, justified only by the country being at war; that the executive of the union express a wish to the Government to give passages to Belgian refugees, women and girls, who might come to New Zealand, and who are suitable for domestic service; that the Government he asked to find some employment for alien subjects who are not interned as prisoners of war. but who may have been thrown out of employment, so that they may be enabled to maintain themselves and their families, as if unemployed and without means of support they may become a menace to the Dominion; that a war tax be imposed, and the union suggests that everyone dn the Dominion should bear their fair share, the farming community being quite prepared to pav Its just share of the tax, but it should be in no sense a class tax.