FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3192, 18 May 1909, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.i: The Wellington Provincial Conference for 1909 is to be held at Eketahuna ou Tuesday, May 25th. Among the motions on the order paper are the following:— Land Act. Makuri and Feilding.— That the Government be urged to amend the Land Act so as to give Crown tenants the option of purchasing the freehold of their lands at the original value, and the payment of the difference between the 4 per cent, now charged on the lease in perpetuity and the 5 per cent, charged to tenants with the right of purchase, and the sate of all future lands shall carry the right of purchase with limitation of area. Land Valuations. Waverle.y.—That the attention of the Provincial Conference be drawn to the enormous and unjustifiable increase in land valuations (especially in the face of the falling market) and the grossly unjust manner in which the valuators cut down the improvements. Pahiatua Central, Makuri, and Shannon.—That the present system of valuation of land for taxation purposes should be aboished, and that valuations should be based on the earning capacity of land extending over a term of years. Wanganui.—That seeing the Department takes no notice of the returns sent in by owners under the Land Tax Valuation, but always takes the valuator's value, the Government be requsted to discontinue requiring owners to furnish returns, as they appear to be quite valueless.

Land Tax. Pahiatua Central.—That this conference supports the united Chambers of Commerce in condemning the present graduated land tax. Land Boards. Feilding.— That all Land Boards consist of five members, two (2) to be elected by the Crown tenants, the Government to appoint two, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands in each district to be chairman. Crown Land Ballots. Palmerston North.—That the present system of balloting for Crown Lands be done aw'ay with, and that all sections whether for cash or lease should be submitted tofpublic auction subject to the limitation clause under the Lands for Settlement Act. Advances to Settlers Office. Pahiatua Central. —That the maximum rate of interest instead of the minimum rate.be fixed by the Advances to Settlers Office on advances to settlers. Mortgage Tax. f~* Waverley.—That as the mortgage has been the cause of a large amount of capital being the Dominion, and is also keeping capital for investment out of thy Dominion, making it almost impossible to obtain loans for the legitimate development \ of the country, the attention of the Government be called to the position, and it be suggested that the tax be abolished. Pahiatua Central—That this branch endorses the resolution passed by the Conference of the United Chambers of Commerce to the effect ihat the mortgage tax bo abolished i and that taxation on mortgages be in I the form of an income tax. I

Rites ofj merest. Makuri.--That the attention of the Government be called to the scarcity of money and the high rates of intere.t charged which hampers farming operations, and to repeal legislation which has caused the withdrawal of outside capital. Define. Provincial Executive.—That this conference endorses the action of the Government in offering to provide a first-class battleship to the Home Government. Workers' Compensation Act. Provincial Executive.—That steps should be taken as soon as the House meets to relieve the Dominion from responsibility of indemnifying the Insurance Department against possible losses arising out of the issue of policies to miners witnout medical examination. Parliamentary Committee. Rongotea.—That a committee representative of the farmers and employers in the House be formed similar to the Labour Bills Committee. Road Board Subsidies. Waverley.—That with reference to an amendment in the last "Appropriation Bill" passed at last session whereby the Subsidies of the Road Boards were reduced considerably, the Farmers' Union utter a stern protest against any curtailment of the Road Board subsidies. Local Bodies' Subsidies. Makuri.—That subsidies to local bodies should he on a graduated scale in proportion to the rate struck as suggested by the Royal Land Commission. Local Bodies' Elections. Palmerston North.—That the system of voting at the election of members for local bodies be altered so as to compel members to vote for the full number of members required. Levin.--That the electors of local bodies should be allowed the same opportunity vote when absent from home, or through illness, as provided for in the case of Parliamentary elections. Main Arterial Roads. Pahautanui.—That the Government be asked to maintain all the artarial roads in the Dominion. Drainage Act. Shannon.—That the Drainage Act be amended so as to compel adjoining owners to contribute to a boundary drain a3 if the same were a fence, and-..where the outlet of such drain is through adoining property shall contribute according to the benefit darived; the above to apply to native lands also. Noxious Weeds. Palmerston North.—That local authorities and others, including the Government, be responsible for the eradication of all noxious weeds growing on the roads, reserves, or other landd, and that the law be altered accordingly. Analysis of Seeds. Eketahuna.- That legislation be

asked for giving x>wer to publish analysis of seeds, -buff, and manures where samples to be analysed are properly taken. .Rail"- u'S. Feilding.—That he promise maJe by trig Prt.VnieV to tutty cement for dairying purpose 'r«e on the railways to be given et'ecfc to. Eketahuna and iWakuri.—That the Kailway Departu v.nt be asked to issue tickets ?.-. excursion rates where six or v.,ore farmers are travelling together to visit experimental farms. S.inmi;;,.., of Stock. Mako-n-.i,.-;- :-:■;: Palmereton North. Thtit < wvu'r* t;f stallions which have tn.t been passed by a duly qualified vererinaiy surgeon be prohibited from using same for stud purposes. Contagious Mammitis. "ketahuna. • That contagious mammitis be placed on the schedule of disease by the Government, and that an experienced surgeon be appointed as inspector. Slock Sales. | Feilding and Palmerston North.— \ That at all stock snles, when stock is submitted for sale, the auctioneer shail be required to state the name of the vendor and the name of the purchaser. Moumahaki State Farm. , ' Waverley. —That the conference protests against the statement of the Premier in making the Moumahaki State Farm s tirst-class prisoners' home, and suggests instead it be made an agricultural college when it will be self-supporting, and asks the executive to support the suggestion. Agricultural Statistics. Tenui and Shannon. —That the Government he again requested to collect the agricultural returns by post, and that a penalty be imposed it returns are not sent in to date. Accident Insurance. Horoeka.—That they consider the advisability of forming a farmers' accident assurance. Wool Charge?. Horoeka.—That the executive try to get the charges on wool reduced. The Cabinet. Shannan.— That this branch protests in the strongest possible manner •gainst a portfolio being allotted to a member of the House who is not responsible to a European constituency. The following will be taken in committee: — Rules,

Paraparaumu.—That Rule 7j£be amended by providing that the election of officers be held in the month of January in each year, and that such officers shall assume office at the close of the; inual meeting, which shall be held the month of April following. Shannon. —That the Colonial and Provincial levies made upon members shall be something like in proportion to the benefit such members are likely to receive. Provincial Executive.—That the advisabilty of forming district branches and that rule 7 providing for branches to be formed with 15 members be considered by the conference. :\ ..,., ... Platform. Rangiwahia.— That the Freetrade question be deleted from the Farmers' Union platform. Delegates are notified that where branches are bracketed on one motion, their original motion, if preferred, can be .brought up during discussion on the matter.