THE UNO CAMPAIGN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1907, Page 7

THE UNO CAMPAIGN.

♦ ATTITUDE OF THE FARMERS' UNION. MEETING AT PAHIATUA. (BT TXLXQmAFH. — PRXJIS ASSOCIATION. J PAHIATUA, This Day. Messrs. Cooper and Matheson, representing the Farmers Union, addressed a meeting here last night on the Land Bill from the freehold standpoint, the Mayor presiding. Mr. Cooper said the Minister of Lands bad unqwarrantably attacked the Farmers' Union on all platforms on which he had spoken, it was for this reason that he (Mr. Cooper) and his colleague been appointed U> speak, and if possible remove any false impression that may have bedn created. The Minister could only be regarded as a freeholder, and in attacking .the freehold, wh.ich undoubtedly tho proposed Bill .did, it was like old friends falling out, aftd becoming bitter enemies. It was quite justifiable to change one's opinions and for a man to do so required considerable moral courage, but it was> as well for others to judge the reason, if there was one, for this change. Mr. Cooper contended that the land legislation of Mr. Rolleston was the best ever introduced, because it \ gave land on easy terms and enabled settlers to acquire the freehold. The lease-in-perpetqity was a bad tenure for the poor man, but Mr. McNab's 66 years lease was infinitely worse. Various other proposals of the Land Bill were dealt with by Mr. Cooper, v\nd strongly opposed. Mr, Matheson detailed his experiences as a membor of the Land Comission, contending that the consensus of feeling in the country was in favour of the freehold. He twitted the- Minister of Lands with changing his opinions on the land question. A motion was unanimously passed in favour of giving Crown tenants the option of the freehold, and also thanking Mr. Cooper and Mr. Matheaon for their addresses.