THE OPPOSITION, THE FARMERS' UNION, AND THE LAND BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 3

THE OPPOSITION, THE FARMERS' UNION, AND THE LAND BILL.

Sir,l feel it incumbent on oco, in my j official capacity, to make reference to jour j report in to-day's issue of Mr. H. V> ily 3 I remarks 011 inc. abb*© subject at our con- ; forence, wherein he is reported to have said that the Opposition paitv was-; power- » less to stop the Land Bill from becoming law, and chat "it. was the att.tud© taken un by | the Farmers' Union that saved tn-. s.wia- •. tion last session." 1 must confess that, al- j though present, that portion ot Mr. Wily's remarks entirely e?ospvd my notice, otherwise I should not havo allowed the statement to pass unchallenged. It cc.tain- j It cannot be ta&en as trie opinion 01 the conference, or of the wemoors of tiie ar- j mers' Union in general Although tho \ union did splendid work during . and sr.ibse- i ouent to the session in bringing home to ! the minds of our colonists the evil effects « that the proposed land legislation would j have on the colony, still it is an undeniabiO , fact that the credit of blowing the Land | Bill in the House is entirely due to the f strenuous efforts of the Leader of the , Opposition ana his freehold fol.owers era j both sides of the Bouse, who, by their ! prompt action, averted what would un- ; doubtedly have been a national calamity, s Trussing that you will give publicity to i.his ] mstcer, as the union uoos not wish- to claim j credit where it is not due. j Allen BELL, i Acting-President N. Z. Fanners' Union. Auckland, May 17. j Sir, —I notice in your report of tho Far- ! mer;' Union Conference in yesterday's issue I that Mr. Wily said "The Land Bill-had boon brought forward by a certain party, but the Opposition party was powerless to ; stop it. It was the attitude taken up by tho Farmers' Union that saved the situation last session."- Mr. Wily shows a decided want of knowledge of the actual facts. Anyone versant ; with the position", or who read Hansard of last swsion, must be aware of the fact that tho Bill was stopped by the determined stand taken by the Opposition members in the" House, and that Mr. Massey and his followers were .piepared to stonewall every clause in it, . and prevent the session closing in tiruo for the Exhibition, rather than allow such a socialistic measure to ,bo placed on the Statute Book. Unfortunately for themselves, the farmers have not been united in the past even in matters affecting their own interests, and until they realise that tho only effectual, way of successfully; fighting the political - organisation opposed _to their interests is by taking an untied political stand themselves,' tht-T will never become a force to be seriously reckoned ,with. I am glad to notice that such a step is contemplated, and - have no doubt- that if carried into effect it will i>-sult in the Farmers' Union being what it undoubtedly ought to be, viz., the strongest political organisation in New Zealand. Faemebs' Advocate.