THE FARMERS AND THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13481, 4 July 1907, Page 4

THE FARMERS AND THE LAND.

'- The declaration of the Fanners' - Union Conference that it "is not n opposed to the principle of the limis tation of area under some equitable i" system" is what was confidently - anticipated by those who know the s agrarian feeling. As we pointed out i yesterday the farmer is a Freeholder - because he is against Landlordism 3 in every shape and form, whether - by great private estate owners, by » a public bureaucracy, or by Maoris. t The Conference made a point of this last danger by vigorously as- • sorting, while approving the appointment of the Native Lands Commission, that it.was "strongly opposed to the disposal of any surplus native lands in a manner" which would tend to set up any Maori landlordism." What it hasL | made clear, beyond any question, c is' that the Farmers' Unions of the L colony want the optional system notjo

only retained but extended, to cover! every acre of Crown Land which is taken for agricultural occupation. Here we have a straight issue. The) Land Bill aims at restricting the optional system and forcing the leasehold more and more upon our agriculturists under various pleas and! | pretences; the Farmers' Unions demand the extension of the optional system to its natural limits, and the I granting to every agricultural j tenant of the Crown the opportunity! to become a Freeholder upon paying off the capitalised interest of the •ICrown. The lines of the coming j Parliamentary battle being thus dc■l fined, it remains to be , seen what 'the outcome will be. Will Sir Joseph Ward allow himself to be drawn into a conflict in which the country electorates will range themselves solidly against him, or will he endeavour to evade it by allowing j the Land question to remain as it is, and as it might have remained , for, years had the Leasehold Party let sleeping dogs lie?