SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14055, 29 May 1911, Page 8

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE.

WARNING ABOUT LAND VALUES

(special to "the press.")

INVERCARGILL, May 26. Speaking at the annual conference of delegates to the Southland Provincial Farmers' Union to-day, the retiring president. Mr H. J. Middleton, said that he could congratulate the farmers on having had, upon the whole, a very successful year. Better prices than usual had been obtained for all classes of produce, with the exception latterly of lamb, but those who had been dealing in lamb must take the bitter with the sweet. They had had a very good season during the previous year, and money ivas cheap and plentiful at tho present time —an important factor in the prosperity of the farming industry. This, in addition to several good seasons, lately, had been responsible for a rather remarkable increase in land values in Southland. It was rather difficult to keep pace with the increases. One knew what tho values were to-day, but he did not Know what they were going to be to-morrow. Mr Middleton said that he was afraid that there was an element of danger in these inflated land values for those buying. It was hardly a fair thing to base calculations on a belief in things remaining at tho present values. He did not wish to take a gloomy view of he position, but it would bo a serious matter if anything occurred to prevent the free export of our produce, or. to prevent the splendid returns that had been obtained for the past few seasons. He referred to what had occurred about twenty-five or thirty years ago, when land values were nearly as liigh as they were at the present time, but without the same justification. They had not the same outlets or the same markets as they bad now. Mr Middleton reminded the delegates that there had been a good many lean years since that time, and the present state of affairs called for careful consideration.

There wore forty-four remits on the order paper, and twenty-four of them had been moro or less thoroughly discussed when tho conference adjourned at six o'clock. The delegates affirmed the principle of taxing on the capital value of land, the present system being declared to have been a complete failure in practice, though theoretically good. They also decided that only thoso Parliamentary candidates should be supported who pledged themselves to take active steps to have the optional system made applicable to' all Crown lands and iand for settlement lands.

The conference rejected tho idea of the Farmers' Political Federation as being an unnecessary duplication of organisations, and also threw out a proposal favouring the formation of a farmers' political party in Parliament. They'adopted a motion:—"That, as the Noxious Weeds Act has been a total failure in so far as tho eradication of noxious weeds is concerned, and more particularly in connection with California n thistles, the Act be repealed." (press association telegram.) INVERCARGILL, May 27. Thc conference unanimously approved of the introduction of suitable youths as farm labourers under careful selection from Great Britain. Other resolutions carried wero, inter alia, favouring. further amendment of . the Crown Suits Act, making the State liable, as priyato employers, in regard to compensation claims; favouring importation of femaler servants; advocating a universal system of cow to. tin" i > the interests of dairying; affirming that pasteurisation of milk and win-v at dairy factories should be compulsory; urging the Government To continue afforestation in suitable localities, and remove the duty on imported timber, and abolish differential railway rates.