NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' LEAGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7838, 19 April 1886, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' LEAGUE.

I Some members of the Corn Exchange and others assembled on Saturday afternoon, to hear Mr Leesmith on the objects of the New Zealand Farmers' League. Mr Peryman, on being voted to the chair, said that many members of the Exchange having expressed a wish to hear Mr Leesmith, he had great pleasure in presiding without in the least committing himself to the views that might be enunciated. Mr Leesmith, after explaining the proposed plan of the campaign, and urging the necessity of united action on the part of the farmers, concluded by saying, that prompt action was absolutely necessary in the present crisis, otherwise nothing could possibly save the hundreds, if not thousands, of farmers in the Middle Island who had ruin staring them in the face. It was short-sighted in the extreme for those who were in easy circumstances to say, as a gentleman had said the preceding evening at Leeston, " Let the crash come; we shall weather it, and then things will begin to mend." All experience had shown that in troublous times the well-to-do suffered more than any. The farmer was unable to employ the labourers, and these latter flocked to the towns to join the ranks of the unemployed and discontented. In Dunedin alone there were, at the last census, 1300 empty houses, and the people were flying to Australia as if from a plague-stricken city. Deep-seated evils required radical treatment. If the great Companies and other capitalists really understood their own interests they would, instead of misrepresenting and opposing the League, give it their most cordial support, for it was to arrest, by peaceable and constitutional means, a most serious danger that the League had been organised. Just as Mr Gladstone, when taunted with his neglect of economic platitudes, had replied, "Away with them to the planets when a nation is in danger," so the League held that, with half the farmers in the Island on the verge of ruin, it was the boundpn duty of the State to step in and reform a system, under the abuses of which the country had been brought to the lowest ebb. Several questions were asked, and a discussion followed, cut short, however, by the necessity of leaving for the afternoon trains. Mr Clephane proposed, and Mr Gammack seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Leesmith, which was carried unanimously, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

MEETING AT LEESTON. A public meeting of farmers in the Leeston district was held in the Leeston Public Library on Friday evening, to hear Mr Leesmith, the representative of the New Zealand Farmers' League, explain the objects of the League. There was only a moderate attendance, owing, no doubt, to the short notice. Mr John Rennie occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Leesmith to the meeting. Mr Leesmith said he was the delegate of the New Zealand Farmers' League, which had been formed in Otago. He then referred to the large blocks of land occupied by runholders and large financial Companies being thrown up and going back to the Government. This League was formed to endeavour to induce the Government to

make the*se proprietors hold their properties,, and to endeavour to obtain money from the Government at a cheaper rate of interest. He said that as these large blocks of land fall back into the hands of the Government increased burdens, in the shape of higher taxes, were imposed upon the people. He referred to Sir George Grey's and Sir Julius Vogel's proposals to repurchase these lands, but said he did not agree with thein, as they made no provision for those who held smaller blocks. He suggested that Land Courts should be established, so that where a property was overmortgaged, it could be valued by competent valuators and purchased by the Government, payment to be made to the financial Companies in land bonds bearing interest at 4 per cent, and the occupier becoming a perpetual tenant, of the Crown at a rent equal to 4£ percent on the capital value. Should the Companies refuse to accept these proposals, and prefer holding the land in their own hands, an absentee tax should be made by which they would have to pay a substantial income to the Government. He would also support a State Bank of Issue, and a Land tax instead of the iniquitous property tax. To obtain these proposals the farmers must pull together, and form themselves in go a strong league and act unitedly. He then referred to the detail working of the League. In reply to questions, Mr Leesmith said the Government should not allow the large runholders to throw up these large runs so long as the property was able to pay the rent.; It was not' the private individuals he complained of so much as the large mortgage Companies, who were at their backs, and held the reins. The promoters of the League were strongly of opinion that a Land and Income tax should supercede the Property tax. Mr John M'Lachlan moved—" That it is desirable to form a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' League in the Ellesmere district, with a view to getting a fairer representation of our interests as farmers." The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. . Mr Leesmith expressed regret that the farmers present were unable to support the League. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Leesmith for his address, and the meeting terminated.