FARMERS AND POLITICS.
SPEECH BY MB. MASSEV. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massey) and Messrs. V.-\ C. Buchanan, Guthric, Scott, and Hardy, M.P.'s, paid a visit to the Farmers' Conference yesterday morning. In welcoming the visitors, the president (llr. J. G. Wilson) remarked that although the conference had no legislative power, it could assist in forming public opinion. Delegates wero always glad to see members of the House ai tho conference. It did not matter whether the member was ' the Leader of the' Opposition or a member of the Government.
Jlr. Massey. in replying, said, ho was glad tho union was prosperous, vigorous, ami very much alive. It was a good thins: that tho farming community—and he sLioko as a farmer—should devote attention to matters that canto or were likoly to como before the House. Thero wero some matters on which thero should bo no difference of opinion amongst 'farmers — tho necessity lor having security of tenure for instance, and taxation in" regard to their land. They wero all of opinion that the farmer should pay;, his lull share, but they objected "to being penalised. (Hear, hear.) He had ofteu -thought it would be a good thing if they had a political committee to look aftPv the proiposals that came before Parliament, and report to tho conference generally. There was a Land Bill brought down last session, and there was an extraordinary proposal in Clause 18 of that Bill. Ho was speaking from memory, but his mind was pretty clear on the matter. The proposal was to the effect that any person who owned a certain area of." land and afterwards acquired possession of another area became, to al! fntents and purposes, a. crimin'al, and was liable to a fine of .£SOO, or 5 years in gaol. He recommended delegates to look this proposal up. A proposal such as this would not nass into law, of course, but the fact that such a proposal was' made by the Parliament of the country was a grave danger in itself. (Applause.)
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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 8
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342FARMERS AND POLITICS. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 8
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