FARMERS' UNION.

Feilding Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 1426, 3 May 1902, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

A meeting of the Rangiwahia branch of the Farmers' Union was held on the 29th April to discuss the valuations recently made throughout the district. Mr McKean, sem\, read a paper on the question as mainly affecting lease in perpetuity holders. A number of gentlemen spoke on the same subject, and pointed out that the unimproved value had been raised on an average of about £1 10s to £2 since the last inspection, and in many cases was actually more than the amount sec down for improvements, and that the value was unevea, as much as £2 10s being the difference where only a road divided the sections which had equal improvements. The following resolutions were carried unanimously : That this meeting, while considering the unfair valuations, view with alarm and are bitterly opposed to the system which gives power to confiscate lease holders' improvements and place them to the credit' ot the Government as unimproved value. That this meeting condemns the recent valuations as unjust, as while improvements are undervalued, the unimproved value has been most unreasonably raised. That this meeting pledges itself to unanimously object to the increase made on unimproved value as being wrong in principle and entirely detrimental to the interest of the settlers. That a committee be set up to work up the case for defence in the Assessment Court and to report at a future meeting. That this committee be regarded as a Farmers' Union one, and they be empowered to incur any expense that may be necessary in carrying out this platform, and that a levy be made on all members of the branch for the purpose of covering such expense. That the secretary write to the Valuer-General requesting him to appoint Bangiwahia as the place for hearing objections from the three Northern ridings of the Kiwitea County. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Provisional Secretary, and that he be asked to obtain the co-op-eration of other branches, and that the President be asked to visit this district and confer with the settlers on various questions. That in view of one of the local Justices of the Peace leaving the district, the Minister of Justice be asked to in crease the number of justices.