FARMERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 127, 29 May 1919, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

CONFERENCE MATTERS. LAND DEVELOPMENT. The discussion on the question of reorganisation was continued at the Auckland Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers* Union in council yesterday afternoon. Arising out of the discussion, the following scale of annual subscriptions was adopted on the unimproved value of the agricultural land owned by each member: Up to .€.IOO, 10/: from £.>OO to £2000, 20/; from £2000 to, £4000, 40/; from £4000 to £8000, 00/; over £8000, £5. A remit from the Franklin sub-provin-cial branch, that all branches affiliate with the nearest sub-provincial district, no unafflliated branch to be recognised, was lost, the conference being of the opinion that no branch could, be compelled, to afliliate. PROGRESSIVE POLICY URGED. A remit from the executive regarding land settlement was carried as follows: That the pressing need of a progressive development policy be urged on the (Government, embracing amongst other things: (a) The making available of the unused lands of the Crown, and of native and European owners, and by the acquisition by the Crown of properties already in production which can be, acquired at prices which will allow of. successful closer settlement, (l>) Provi-I sion and improvement of access by roads and railways, and communication by mail, telegraph, and telephone, (c) Keview and revision of our Public Service system and administration, (d) Development of our educational facilities and encouragement of agricultural education, (c) The improvement and cheapening ot the means of transport both in our internal and external trade, (f) Comprehensive development of hydroelectric power, (g) Development of harbourage where needful. (h) The protection against exploitation of our products by trusts and combines, and the discouragement of the holding oi land for purely speculative purposes. SPECIAL LAND HOARDS. A further remit regarding unused Crown lands in the Dominion was also brought forward, and carried to the effect: (a) That a comprehensive report be prepared as quickly as possible on all the unused lands of the Dominion (including all Crown, native, or European tenures), setting out the natural producte thereon: form of settlement each block is best suited for. and as to the proper provision needful for road and railway access to make them available for settlement, and provide for future developments, with recommendations/ as to the best means and sequence of bring ing these lands into production. And that for this purpose one or more special Boards be appointed in each Land District, comprised of three competent men, to collect evidence and prepare such reports in conjunction with the Commissioner of Crown Lands in each district, (b) That on these reports being furnished, a central advisory board of representatives from the various district boards be set up to collate the information contained in the various reports, and formulate a Dominion report of proposed development for presentation to the Ministry, and to act in an advisory capacity in the formation of a comprehensive scheme of development for the Dominion, (p) That authority be obtained for the raising of the loans required to carry out the scheme -of development, such loans to he absolutely earmarked for the special portions of the scheme for which they are raised. QUESTION OF PRODUCTION*. Having for its object the question of bringing land into production, the following remit was carried: That where it is found that a block of land, which is best suited for grazing or farming purposes, has been held for over eight years, till end of 1010, and live years thereafter, without proper and. reasonable provision having been made for bringing such land into production, either by making use of the natural products of such land, or by bringing it into production by improvements, the Crown may resume such land for settlement at the price paid at the time of Hβ acquirement by the owner, plus 2J per cent, compound interest on that sum, from date of acquirement, or such lesser gum as may be shown to he the present market value of the block for settlement purposes. CUM LANDS. A remit, that they urge the Government to open up the Northern gumfields for settlement under a system of free selection, the only condition being that the selector immediately commences the work of improvement, the selector to be granted the freehold as soon as he lias brought his section into a stated condition 'of productiveness, was carried. It was urged also that the land 6hould not be loaded up with survey and other costs, and that this scheme be given an immediate trial on the Otaika gumtield, near Whangarei, from which the reserve was recently lifted. SPECIAL DEPARTMENT WANTED. The need for the creation by the Government of a special department for the purpose of enforcing satisfactory development and production of all lands was urged by the Otorohanga delegate, and agreed to b3> the conference. UREWERA. The Taneatua delegate moved, and it was carried, that the Government be again urged to acquire and open up native land in the Urewera Country at the earliest possible moment. PROTECTION OP FORESTS. The conference etrongly protested against the action of the Government in withdrawing productive farm land from settlement for forest, or any other purposes calculated to lessen production, a remit in this direction coming from Kaitui-Aranga. It was stated that the reason given by the Government for this action was that the bush which had been felled, if burned, would endanger the Waipoua State Forest. Delegates pointed out that in a few years the land withdrawn would be nothing but a waste, and that the occiipiers of this land would probably suffer considerable losses. The matter was referred to the incoming executive.