FARMERS' UNION.

Feilding Star, 17 May 1907, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING. fPEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, May 16. During the discussion at the Farmers' "Union Conference, in connection with the formation of the Farmel s» Political Party, Mr S. S. Criby said the farmers as yet had not a political organisation, but the "other man" had a complete machine, and while sitting in his office played it like a typewriter. The farmers should form a party of their own. It was time they started to demand, irstead of pray. Mr H. Wily (vice-president) said they must be careful not to tack themselves on to any existing party. They must plough their own furrow. They should aim at clean administration, security of tenure, and the abolition of the system of j atronage which the Government persisted m keeping up. Another speaker said that if the Farmers' Union was to be something more than a mere talking society tbey must show they had teeth as well as tongues. The Au-kU'id delegate (Captain Bell) was, instructed to I ring the matter before the Colonial Conference. At to-day *s sittings, Mr G. Gafland moved, "That this branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union protest against the present system of land valuation, inasmuch as it applies to tho recurrent unimproved values, and that the resolution be sent to the Colonial Conference ; and that Captain Bell be also requested to bring the matter before the County Council Conference." Capt. in Bell made a very serious ;cherge against the Government. He said he had referred to the subject at a recent meeting, and at the conclusion a man who acted as Government Valuer told him that all he had said was correct. This Vainer stated that his figures had been altered in several instances after they had been sent to Wellington. The valuations of improvements had been cut down to the extoat of an average of 50 per cent., and the sums f.dded on to the unimproved values. I'h is man, who wss a practical farmer, stated that he intended to res:gn his position as a protest. The motion wis carried.