TRUST IN LEADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 8

TRUST IN LEADERS.

FARMERS MUST LEARN.

HAMILTON MAYOR'S ADVICfc PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OPENS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. About 70 delegates from all parts of Auckland province attended the opening of the provincial conference of the Farmers' Union to-day. In welcoming the delegates, the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. A. Fow, said that the placing of confidence in their leaders was one thing the farmers had to learn. If they were to improve their position they must be loyal to themselves. In replying, Mr. A. A. Ross, of Tc Kauwhata, provincial president of the union, said they were meeting in what undoubtedly was the most important part of the province. Valuation of Swamp Lands. The conference proceeded to consider the remits, which number 07. The Kaitaia branch urged that owners of land in swamp drainage areas should be granted the right of appeal against the valuation and classification. Mr. Hodgson (Kaitaia) quoted instances of hardship in his district under the present system of rating. Mr. \V. Lee Martin, M.P., thought the right of appeal against classification should not be withheld from the people of Kaitaia. "The Act is absolutely wicked as it stands. Some of the poorer parts of th«? >wamp land are paying the hifthes* rates," declared Mr. A. E. Harding (Mauncrawhare). Mr. Hodgson said that in Kaitaia was 40.000 acres of land privately owned, yielding capital rates of £4000. The Government had 14,000 acres which yielded only £301.

A committee was sot up to discuss the matter and report on it. to the conference.