THE FARMERS' UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13454, 3 June 1907, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION.

•.■'■■ lII— ■■■—■—■■ The resolutions upon the Land Bill of the provincial conferences of the Farmers' Union have a convincing unanimity. At Wellington, where the point was raised, it was decided by a great majority that the farmers had no sympathy whatever with great estates—as has been pointed out in these columns whenever the question has arisen. But at Wellington and everywhere elsein the Southland of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. McNab, as much as in the , Auckland of Mr. Massey — the farmers have declared themselves solidly for the : optional freehold. The battle has become one between the workmen on the land and the workmen who do not want to go on the land, but find it more profitable to work at the secondary industries. There is not a part of the colony where agriculture is the local industry, not an element in /the colony which is engaged in working the land, that does not demand the optional freehold and condemn the Land Bill. And there is not 'an electorate where the * agricultural interest predominates which could possibly be . carried by a candidate who declared himself a supporter of it. These being the facts—known to everybody— remains to be seen what will be done in the matter by Sir Joseph Ward when Parliament reopens. He cannot possibly carry the Bill unless he expurgates it be- ' yond recognition. He will not ap- < peal to the country— that would i be to court certain defeat. , He may say that the country is not yet sufficiently educated to an appreciation of State landlordism, and leave us ; at that. This, would, no doubt, be' the easiest way out of the difficulty. :