LEVIN FARMERS' UNION DECISION.

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

LEVIN FARMERS' UNION DECISION.

STATEMENT BY ]VfR. McNAB. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. In an interview with a Post reporter today the .Minister for Lands (Mr. McNab) stated that the decision of the Levin conference in regard to limitation was naturally very gratifying to him, but the voting was not surprising to him, because he had discussed the question with quite a number of the members of the Farmers' Union-along the line -between Wellington and New Plymouth. These men had on different occasions expressed the opinion that the union had made a mistake in trying to. repudiate every provision of the Land Bill. " They 'themselves,' 5 the Minister continued, "were ! strongly in favour of the freehold, but they | were equally strong against allowing large freehold- estates .to accumulate. They [further stated that the leading members of the union appeared to be in sympathy with [the owners of large estates, and were asking' for their 'support because both supported the freehold." "I think that if you were able to get at the genuine feeling of ! the meeting at Levin you would find that the -attitude of the delegates on limitation is even stronger than one would belie* 8 to [be the case from reading the reports. The high respect in which the president is held is bound to temper the opinion of the average member. Knowing that Mr. Wilson holds a different view on the question, the existence of the same opinion can be seen amongst those who are our own supporters and who belong to the L so-called Country party. They are very strongly opposed to the aggregation of large estates." ' . h