FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 278, 29 May 1907, Page 4

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE.

Tho annual conference of delegates from branches in the Wellington provincial district of the New Zealand Fanners' Union was opened at Levin on Tuesday morning. Mr J. G. Wilson, president, presided over the conference, which was attended by the following officials and delegates": -Messrs A. G. Russell (provincial treasurer}, W. J. Birch (colonial executive), J. C. Howler (provincial organiser}, E. C. Jack (colonial secretary), W. Hunter (provincial secretary), A. Howie (Waverley), J. Higgit- and T. E. Fletcher (Wauganui), G. Marshall and C. Hougtvton (Marton), A. McGregor (Hunterville), W. Mills .(Cheltenham), E. H. Crabbe (kimbolton), W. G. Pnarce and A. C. Lange (*eliding), H. H. Hunt Otongotea), J. Morrison (itelcombe), D. Howie (Pohangina), F. S. Guy (Amti) J. Balsillie and Captain Hewitt (PalmersLon North), (5. .btophonson (Shannon). A A. Brown (Waikanae), Geo. Bardon (.Waimuomata), J. O. Bidwill CFeatherston), J. C. McKillop (Masterton), H. A. Nivens (Tenui), T. Moss (Eketahuna), C. *ovsberg (Mauriceville), E. H. Dagg (Ihuraua Valley), W. J. Moore (Makuri), J. H. Escott (Woodville), H. D. Buchanan (Kuineroa), J. Garlick (Makomako), H .Cowen (Wharoama), W. C. Falconer (Waituna), J. McLeavoy (Levin). W. Harris (Raetihi), H. Bennett (Kaiwhata), R. J. Ranton (Wliakataki), L. Nix (Parkvale), H. S. liadfield (Paraparaumau), W. Galloway (Pahautanui). L. W. Wflll (Porirua), H. Brewster (Rangiwahia). The president, in his annual address, covered a wide range of subjects. The members of the union had been pleased dining the year to take advantage of an opportunity to visit the State farm at Momohaki, and later on in the day the delegates would be asked, to inspect the farm at Levin. The Mutual Fire Insurance scheme has worked well during the Jreai. The sum assured had largey increased, and it was satisfactory to be able to say that no fires had taken place. At the present time, the executive was taking steps to have the advantage of farmers' inBuranc«s extended to the branches. Mr Wilson spoke of the need for conserving the best that was in the land, after the first flush of its virginity had disappeared, by careful manuring, and here he thought the union had reason to congratulate itself in tho result which liad attended its efforts to impress the importance of agricultural training on the young. The. Agricultural Department had done very good work in this direction, and he specially mentioned the Veterinary Department. Mr Wilson went on to allude to the difficulties New Zealand had to face in disposing of her dairy produce in that she was so far removed from the seat of her principal market. This was a factor which could never be eliminated, but a great deal could be done by carrying out a proper system of cooling at the milking sheds. Great development was possible,, and the measure of that development was dependent on the question of tenure. This remark brought the president to the Land Bill. Since delegates last met there had been a change of policy, and a remedy proposed for a disease that did not exist. There was, certainly ; a bona fide desire for land, a desire which was now met by a great raffle system. The public was not allowed to conduct a raffle without a permit from the Government, but the Government itself perpetuated the system. The desire for land was only partly appeased by this system of Government raffle, and the bona fido settler and the man competent to work the land was usually pushed out by the speculator. Whatever benefit the ballot system had been in the past, he contended it was now a failure. At no time in tho history of the union has there been a greater necessity for calm judgment and fair criticism in placing the true position of the land before the colony. The union, by circulating a pamphlet dealing with the question, had helped materially to show the public what the Land Bill really meant. The union's own paper, the Advocate, had also assisted towards that end. At present there were three big papers in New Zealand which were favourable to the Land Bill, and against the union's platform — two in Wellington and one in Christchurch. Each, of these papers owned land of a value of £20,---000 or £25,000. yet the union would not term them monopoKsts, although they we\o not, as a rule, very precise about the terms they applied to tihe union and those asociated with it. They were very free in speaking of tho "land monopolist" in tho country with his £10,000 Korth of property, but they had nothing to say- about themselves with £25,000 worth in the towns. In conclusion, Mr Wilson urged caution on the part of the authorities in making a proper examination of the existing condition of things. If a proper diagnosis were made it would bo found that no remedy was required save that always urged by the union — the option of the freehold or those who took up land, and the creation of a fund for the purchase of other estates, near tho markets and if easy access. In this way tho small Tanner would thrive. Mr Higiiie, Makuri, proposed . j "That no Land Bill will meet the j approval of this Union that does not ! contain the right to procure the j freehold " I The motion was carried unanirn- ; ously. j Captain Hewitt, Palmerston N , j proposed, "That the Conference ; urge the Executive to maintain j steady pressure against the proposed I I and Bill, especially as to Axing j hard and fast limits on farming in- ! dustry, whilst no such limits are lmj posed on other industries, and put- ! ting obstacles in the way of enter- , prising farmers obtaining capital to i assist their work." Ho did tut 1 think many of them would reach the j £50,000 limit, still there should te ; ho limit in the farming industry more than in any other. Would it • he possible, he asked, for the Great j Britain industries, such as that jf J iron for instance to have readied its present magnitude if a limit had been fixed to its developments I The motion was seconded by Mr Balsillie, Palmerston. Mr Crabbe, Kimbollon, had h»en assured that there were 40 less families in Kimbolton distrioi than previously. Seven fiirms in one cas«j had been put into ore. In the Waituna . district 12 or 13 families had been displaced in the aggregation of small areas, and had been the cause of closing a school. He affirmed that a measure having the aim of retaining small areas was required. H? ' moved as an amendment, "That this i Conference tfhilst considering the • Government land proposals crude and j unworkable, is not opposed to the ; principle or limitation of areas. i Mr Houghtjn, Marton, seconded the amendment. Mr Marshall, Marton, said thos«» people who had been bought out in the Waituna and Kimbolton disi tricto had in all probability obtain- | ed land in other districts and wevo | better placed. < Mr W. Mills, Cheltenham, was m ! fnvour oi limitation, and referred to t!io benefit that had followed from the subdivision of Oroua Downs. Mr Guy ,Apiti, endorsed what had been said by Mr Crabbe. Tho i wealth of a district was its people. i and if any legislation allowaa a rej duction of populction il was bad. I Mr Morrison, Halcombe, main- ; tamed that when a man sold out to ; his neighbour it was a loss to the . country. The aggregation of farms ,' was going on all along tho coast. He ttiought Mr McNab's limit wag too large. He had pleasure in Rupport- | ing the amendment. Captain Hewitt was not in sympathy with the land grabber and speculator, but it was plain that the economic law would gradually bring about the subdivision of . estates. j There was plenty of knd available at present and if a limit were fixed now there would be a lesser limitation later on. j Mr McGregor thought the discusI sion would do harm to the Union. He would not have gone back to form a home 40 years ago if he had anticipated a limitation of areas would be advocated. ' Mr Balsillie, Palmerston, was of ! opinion that those who were in far-

our of limitation should define it in acres. : Tho Chairman believed that would j be inadvisable; the Conference should rather deal with the proposal as in the Land Bill. The union was ' in favour of limitation of land as laid down in the Land for Settte- ! ment Act as concerned Crown lands, : lut tho union had not declared in regard to limitation of private laud. Most of those who had the £f)0,000 limit were men up in years and ; good colonists. He called attention i to tho fact that it was not proposed j to limit the area or value of town j land that might be helcr by one per- : son. He thought tho £15,000 would ; be bad indeed, and if the evil exist- ! ed as stated by the mover of the i amendment ,tho proposed cure would be worse than the disease. Captain Hewitt suggested that the ! amendment be added to by the words J "under some equitable system," and he would support it. The Chairman said a Home company, which had £200,000 invested in the colony, hearing the Land Bill was about to be passed sent out their secretary to withdraw tho capital, and that official was now in the colony making no secret of his business. The amendment waR carried by 2(1 to 6, with tho proposed addition. Mr Fletcher, Wanganui, moved : "That a strong recommendation be made to the Minister of Railways to provide more produco and stock trucks on the Wellington-New Plymouth section.'' At the suggestion of Mr Crabbe tho words 'and that they be retjnested to make better use of those already provided" was added, and the motion was adopted. Mr Higgie proposed: "That a' strong recommendation be made to the Minister of Railways to attach a passenger-car to the 4.45 a.m. goods train from Palmerston North, to enable settlers to reach Wanganui 75 minutes earlier in the day than at present." Tho motion was adopted. Mr Marshall, Marton, moved : "fhat the suggested alterations in sheep and cattle trucks, fqrwarded by Mr Buchanan, be endorsed, and that the Minister for Railways be requested to have the recommendations carried into effect. Mr Falconer seconded, and the motion was adopted. Mr Mpore, Makuri, proposed, and Mt Whitcomb© seconded: "That the regulations respecting free places in the secondary schools are unsatisfactory, as no special consideration is given to country children." The motion was passed. Mr MoLeavey, Levin, proposed, and Mr Borden, Wainui-o-mata, seconded; "That the Conference urge on the Government the desirability of having a universal set of books in use through the various primary schools of the colony, and thus save the unnecessary cost to those parents who may be frequently shifting from one education district to another." The motion was adopted. Captain Hewitt, Palmerston N., moved : "That Conference again reqiwsts the Colonial Conference to urge on the Government that it is only fair when permanent Government reserves adjoin private holdings (freehold or leasehold) that the Land Department should pay half the cost of fencing and keeping fences in repair, and thus remove the reproach that Government is the worst neighbour a man can have. The settlers who have cleared land and made roads by borrowed money, vhich make Government reserves accessible, are worthy of some consideration instead of extra taxation put on them by their powerful neighbour who pays no rates and makes use of their recurring expenditure without contributing to it." Mr Falconer seconded. Mr Whitcombe. Kaitawa, moved as an amendment that the Government be asked to pass a Bill to make perif<anen-> reserves subject to local rates and fencing conditions same as private land. Mr Barton seconded the amendment. The amendment was lost and the motion was passed. Mr McGregor, Hunterville, moved : "That in renewing the expiring leases of small runs, the Govcrnrnent's attention be called to the injustice of the present system of rating for local purposes on these runs." Mr F. S. Guy, Apiti, seconded. Mr W. G. Pearce, Feilding, movr=d: "That Government be asked to give Crown ♦enants a right to elect one member of the Land Board in each land district." Mr Falconer, Kaituna, seconded. The motion was adopted. Mr McLeavey, Levin, movvd : "That owing to the scarcity of agricultural labour, the Government be asked to further assist in granting reduced passages, and aleo to provide by the apointment of suitable agents, that the most suitable class be selected." Mr Stephens™, Shannon, seconded. The motion was fdrpierl. The Conference then adjourned.