FARMERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 67, 20 March 1900, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

At the Conference of members of the ' newly-formed New Zealand Farmers' ' i Union, held in the Agricultural .Asso- '■! clarion's Room, (he following prin- ' oiples were adopted as portion of the ' platform of the Union, after we went 1 io press yesterday: "That the Govern- ' ment be requested to give authority for grants for roads and bridges to ■ be expended as soon as the Estimates ' have passed the Rouse of Representa--1 'lives. That the value placed upon ' Crown lands be the actual value of a - competent valuer, and not as at pre- ' sent, the surveyor's value. Settlers on ' Crown lands to be allowed five years' 1 ; occupation free; the old Homestead ' Act to be revived, especially with regard to the North. Thai bush settlers ' he allowed to sell timber, instead of burning it; settlers with right of pur--1 chase to pay the same rate of rent as 1 lease in perpuity. All Crown leaseholders to have a claim inserted in : their leases, giving them the right to ' purchase at any time during lease; no ; land to be taken compulsorily while • there are Crown and native la-ruls in the hands of the Government. The Crown and native owners shall act as all other landholders, and pay their half of all division fences, and that the Government also fell a chain wide on their side of all division fences, between their lands and those of set- - tiers." '_ j TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. . I The Farmers' Association resumed, • its sitting's this morning, Mr W. Arm- ; strong, Whangarei (president), in the t chair. The following delegates were ■ present, whose names could not be t obtained yesterday: Cranwell, Hen^ ' derson, not appointed; McDonald, •: Pukekohe; Burns,' Pohui; Morrison, • Waipu; Malabond, P'arua Bay. Mr E. • Hall, secretary of the- Auckland Agri- ' cultural Society, was present on be- - half of that body. J PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHT. Ml* A. A. Bowler proposed and Mr . C. E. Macmillan seconded the foßowl ing motion, which was carried, "That : the pre-emptive right of the Govern- ;, ment be abolished and tthe natives be I allowed to manage and. dispose of i their kinds with the proper restric- . tions; and that after such right is . recognised they shall pay rates on al) - lands they will not lease or sell." f FREIGHTS. l It was proposed by Mr R. Parlauc j and seconded by Mr T. F. Downs and '' carried, "That every means be taken [j to reduce freights on produce to tho ; j lowest payable limit, so as to allow k' settlers to send produce,- etc., to mar- , ket at a profit instead of a loss, as air 1 present." i ECONOMICAL LAWS. ' i The following resolution re tihe • Economical Laws was considered, • "That -the Economical Laws of the " country be so altered as to raise the profits of the farmer to an equality -* with those of the other industrial 3 classes." Air Dye, of Kaukapakapa, considered 3 that farmers should combine to regur late the price of produce, and fix a_ ' minimum price. Mr Brown, Wairoa, J was of similar opinion, as were several other delegates. Mr Smith, of Mongonrui, advocated free trade, and ' gave an instructive comparison be- '_ tween American and local prices. j There was ih many oases an increase I of 100 per cent, and more. The resolution was carried, i CHEAP LOANS TO FARMERS. The following resolution was con* 1 sidered and carried, "That soma *! scheme be devised by which fatrmers 5 with good security can obtain tempo--1 rary loans at low rates of interest 5 and at a short notice to save the sacrifice of produce and stock, as at pre- . sent." A number of delegates also spoke | of the difficulty farmers experienced t in negotiating loans, even where the i. security is good.