THE LAND BILL

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 295, 19 June 1907, Page 3

THE LAND BILL

[nut nw AMoounoM.] Stratford, June 19. Mr Cooper, a member of the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Executive Farmers' Union, addressed a meeting in the Town Hall last night on the Land Bill, dealing with some points in the address recently given by the Minister of Lands. At the conclusion, a resolution was carried expressing a hick of confidence in the present Government in regard to its proposals to set aside the unoccupied Crown lands of the colony for endowment purposes, and to grant the option of freehold only in regard to Crown and Native lands hereafter to be acquired. An amendment, to the effect that the Bill contained many redeeming features which must inevitably operate in the best interests of the majority of the people of the colony, was proposed, but it was declared lost on the voices. Gore, June 19. Last night Mr W. B. Matheson, of the Farmers' Union Executive, addressed about 60 people at Mataura, opening the Sontbhnd campaign. The Mayor presided, and he received an attentive hearing. A motion was carried that Mr Matheson be thanked for his able and instructive address, and any Land Bill which doea not contain the option of freehold * is not for the beet interests of the colony. Mr Matheson will speak again in the district, in reply to the Minister of Lands' Gore speech next meek.