FARMERS’ UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1921, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION.

JTHIS MONTH’S DOMINION CONFERENCE. WIDE RANGE OF REMITS Over 200- remits are coming up for consideration at the twentieth annual Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which will open at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, Wellington, on Tuesday, July 26. Amongst the remits bearing upon land legislation is one from Auckland which urges that the occupiers of all leasehold land be granted the option of buying the same. Auckland jplso recommends that the granting of the freehold of national endowments lands be made retrospective, so that present occupiers shall have the right to obtain the same; that all third-class Crown lands be thrown open fcrr selection under the homestead system; and that, in order to facilitate the settlement of Native lands- the Government be urged to lift the proclamation off the/same after two years.

A remit from Taranaki urges that the Minister’s attention be drawn to the fact that there are large blocks of Native land in Taranaki, already individualised, at present not producing at anything like full capacity, and that the. Government be urged to acquire them, giving preference of application to returned soldiers.

■Several remits will be tabled urging that the Government be asked to abolish the supertax on land. It will be also proposed that the Government be •asked to repeal the law imposing income tax on farmers in so far as it applies to their farming transactions, and that the whole question of taxation should be considered by a commission of experts with a view to glaring on a more equitable basis the cost' bf government. Touching the moratorium, Hawke’s Bay will move:—

That owing to the miin primary products of the Dominion bring at present practically worthless, the Government be asked to extend the moratorium for such further period as it may consider necessary after December 31, 1921, more especially with respect to fixed mortgages.

A remit from Southland suggests that the conference should impress upon the Government the urgent necessity of taking such steps as are necessary to prevent any further rise in bank interest rates; while an Otago remit recommends that pressure be brought to bear to compel the Bank of New Zealand to pay reasonable interest on current accounts, “as is done in other countries.” As regards the Customs tariff, the most interesting remit comes from Nelson, as follows:

That as the United States Government. has passed a Tariff Bill which practically means an embargo on all primary products of this Dominion entering their country, this conference urges the Government to pass a retaliatory measure against all manufactured articles imported from the States.

Both the Wellington and Wairarapa unions recommend that strong objection be raised to the proposed. increase of duty on American timber, also increase of preference rates on railway. The institution of some form of cooperative agricultural banking suitable to conditions In New Zealand, is recommended in a Taranaki remit.

Several remits support the suggested establishment of a producers’ shipping line; while remits will be tabled, some for and others against, the establishment of a farmers’ political party. Wellington, Wairarapa, and Hawke’s Bay each urge that in the interests of small growers especially, the regulations prohibiting the same lot of wool from being offered more than twice at auction be rescinded.

The following are some of the remits to be moved in connection with dairy matters:—

That in view of the great importance of improving the dairy cattle, and raising the standard of batter-fat, the Government be urged to procure the best sires possible, by purchasing abroad if necessary, such sires to be mated with selected cows at the Government farms, and young bulls distributed to farmers. —(Auckland.) That in view of the considerable increase of contagious abortion, mammitis, and failure of conception in cattle, the Government be urged to extend its endeavors in the matter of research.— (Buller.)

That the Board of Agriculture be urged to prohibit cattle being shifted from the North to the South Island unless quarantined for sufficient time to prevent -them carrying the cattle tick, as the South Island is free at present, and the trouble is spreading in the North Island.—(Otago.) That cows culled from a dairy herd for lack of butter-fat production be branded with a permanent brand by the Government stock inspector, in order to prevent their purchase by other dairymen.—(Marlborough.) That the Government be urged to have all the herds in the South Island compulsorily tested by the stock inspector for tuberculosis, reasonable market value to be paid as compensation for cattle condemned.— (Marlborough.) Adverting to phosphates, the Southland Lnion recommends that farm ers should undertake a combined method of getting consignments from the Government of Nauru Island phosphate. The main arterial roads question is revived in a remit from Auckland. Included among other remits are the following:—

That the Government be urged to extend the present scheme of practical and theoretical training in agriculture for boys from 16 years to 18 years of age, and also provide better facilities for the holding of short courses for farmers and. school teachers.— (Auckland.)

That the Farmers’ Union. Sheepowners* Union, and other producers’ unions and associations be asked at this critical time to combine and form one producers’ association. — (Marlborough.) That this conference be urged to request the Dominion executive to inaugurate a publicity canjftaign, and that a Dominion levy be struck to bear cost of same.—(Southern Hawke’s Bay.) That Parliament be urged to act at the very earliest moment with a view to a reform in connection with the water front conditions .of . labor.— (Several unions.)

That legislation giving preference to unionists has proved most unsatisfactory, and in the interests of the community it is desirable that the Act should be repealed.— (Several unions.) Noxious weeds, trusts, freezing companies charges, rabbits, rural postal and telegraph facilities, and local government matters axe also the subject of