FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8479, 5 July 1907, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association

WELLINGTON, July 4. At the Farmers' Union Conference, to-day, Captain Bell (Auckland) moved —"That, in the opinion of this conference, the time has arrived when the Legislative Council should be elested." The mover said it was quite wrong that the Government should have the power of appointing, men to the Upper House who might defeat the will of the people. < Mr J. C. Cooper complained that while the Trades Councils had been given representation, the Farmers' Union, which comprised many men who had always been strong supporters of the Government had been overlooked.

Resolutions were carried urging the Government to adopt a forward immigration policy by extending the system of assisted passages; endorsing the opinion expressed by the Premier with regard to the restriction on Chinese; urging the abolition of the sheep tag; asking for protection against damage done by mining tailings being deposited in rivers; affirming opposition to any attempt to introduce a referendum; expressing disapproval of the universal Saturday half-holiday: approving of the introduction of nature study and gardening into primary schools. The following remits were adopted: —From Otago—That County Councils be asked to prohibit the placing of barbed wire on any fences along the main roads at a lower level than 2ft 6in from the ground. From Auckland—That the Loans to Local Bodies Act be amended so that all unoccupied (native and Crown) land in any special rating areas shall become rateable from the date of occupation. From Auckland—That all public works should be constructed on the contract system as against the cooperative system now in vogue. From Auckland—That the paramount importance of roads opening up land as a foundation of the prosperity of the colony should be forcibly impressed upon the Government by the Farmers' Union. Frum Auckland — That this conference ask the Colonial Council to draw the notice of the Minister for Railways to the fact that there is a scarcity of trucks on railways, farmers having to wait as long as two weeks for trucks to convey their stock away. On the motion of Mr Jones (Canterbury) it was resolved, by nine votes to seven, that any increase in the graduated tax should be accompanied by a similar increase in the income tax.