THE LAND BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13452, 31 May 1907, Page 6

THE LAND BILL.

AN EMPHATIC PROTEST. BY CANTERBURY FARMERS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION".] ■ Christchttrch, Thursday. j The annual conference of representatives of the North Canterbury branches of the j Fanners' Union was opened to-day. The ipresident, Mr. D. Jones, addressed' the delegates present, reviewing the.work .-t\. |the union for the past year. He adversely; criticised the Land Bill. Referring to the ( j taunt that had been levelled against the j Farmers' Union that it was interfering in politics, he said that in some respects it I. | was impossible not to do so, but the union had striven to avoid party politics. That , union would have opposed the Land Bill whether introduced by the Government or; by the Opposition. He advocated cooperation amongst the farmers in respect j to the sale of wool, following on the lines j that had proved so successful in the butter i ■ industry. • Mr. D. Jones was unanimously re-elected : president. A number of the delegates spoke in the highest terms of appreciation : of the work Mr. Jones had done for the i union. Mr. M. F. Ryan was re-elected vice-president and Mr. Wilfred Hall treasurer. Sir. G. W. Leadley moved— That this conference of farmers, represent- ; in? all parts of North Canterbury, desire to : place 011 record: their emphatic opinion that, in the interests of the'colony, no legislation : relating to the disposal of the unsold Crown lands will be satisfactory unless it clearly provides for the option of souring the free- i hold in all cases . where tha land is held , under' close settlement conations, and all ' farmers are urged' to do their . utmost to : secure the legalising of this principle. i After a lengthy discussion the motion ! was carried. '