FARMER’S UNION CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 938, 10 July 1903, Page 3

FARMER’S UNION CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night.

At the Farmers’ Union Conference, a ; long-discussion took place in regard to preferential trade. At the CQnclusion,-'a resolution was passed “That this Conference, representing about twenty thousand New Zealand farmers assures Mr Chamberlain of its sympathy with his endeavor. to establish preferential trade within the Empire, and that this Conference urges upon the New Zealand Government the advisability of amending the customs tariff in the direction of granting preference to British goods. Resolutions were also carried, urging that the complaint from the Waikato farmers’ club regarding the refusal of the Customs Department to remit tlie duty on road-grading machines be considered by the Council that the Government be requested to prevent the destruction of all native forest suitable for milling purposes, and that they should subsidise local bodies for planting reserves ; that tlfe attention of the Premier be called to the meagre representation of farming interests in the Legislative Council, and that he shall make such appointments as will place them at least on an equality with other interests ; that a protest be made against the levying of the income tax on co-operative dairy companies ; that the Conference endeavor to prevent the consummation of proposals made by the Trade Union Conference to increase the land tax and reduce the duties on the necessaries of life ;■ that the Conference heartily supports Mr Kirkbridge, M.H.R., in his endeavor to obtain legislation under which farmers can unite for 1 the purpose of mutual fire insurance ;, that

the agitation for a State Bank is not in the best interests of the colony ; that disapproval be expressed of the presdht departmental conditions obtaining at country telephone

bureaux. . To-night the Conference is sitting in Committee on matters of policy and rules. '