The N.Z. Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1906. FARMERS AND REASON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5914, 1 June 1906, Page 4

The N.Z. Times

(PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1906. FARMERS AND REASON.

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While it would not be fair to accuse the Fanners’ Union, at this stage of its existence, of departing from the policy laid down at its inception and reaffirmed at almost every provincial and national conference since, it is impossible to ignore the new and independent tono of sonic of tho debates at rho Pabiatua conclave. There is a pleasing augury for tho future in the fieedom and generosity of some of tho utterances, because it seems clear that although the farmers still adhere to tho principles of the freehold and free trade as cardinal tenets of tho organisation, they are prepared to discuss things from a practical standpoint, end to temper their bedrock demands with expediency. Wo do not insinuate —because we do not believe—that there has been any modification of the union’s position with regard to land tenure. The conference reiterated its desire for limitation of area, and for contmuanoe of the leasehold tenure as a means of settling poor people on the land, but at the same time its demand foi tho right of acquiring the freehold has gathered force rather than relaxed. The finding of the Land Commission has strengthened the hands of the union, and it is, moreover, strong in the belief that tho newly elected House of Representatives will ratify its demands. Consequently it will push the crusade more vigorously than ever in the hope that the present favourable omens may lead up to an early realisation of its wishes.

But the new spirit of reasonable independence which we noted was chiefly evident in the debates on the Customs tariff and immigration. Hitherto the union has been, if we may use the term, uncompromisingly exacting in the matter of free trade. It has listened to no suggestions of half measures. It has been swayed by no reasonings of expediency. Its attitude, up till a few days ago, has given the impression that if all the world set up protective tariffs against New Zealand, the Farmer's’ Union would still demand free trade, or, at least, insist that the Customs tariff should be for revenue purposes only. The tone of Tuesday’s debate showed a distinct withdrawal from this extreme attitude. There are no special reasons in the present prosperous condition of the farming industry for any modification of the union’s objection to a protective tariff, and yet the debate was more than friendly towards reciprocity, and not quite hostile to protection. It was a frank admission of the necessity Tor fighting other nations .with their own weapons, and as such it must he of considerable value at the present juncture, because it gives the Government an assurance of support from a doubtful quarter in framing a tariff that will grve decent protection to our own incipient industries, and protect the farmers themselves against the inroads of better-situated rivals.

Tho attitude of the conference on the immigration question is also instructive. So much has been said about the scarcity of farm labourers that the outburst of feeling against free immigration came rather as a surprise. There has never, to our knowledge, been any system of absolutely free immigration to New Zealand. It has always boon worked on the principle of more or less assistance. But oven the assisted system, unless very carefully safeguarded by the appointment of competent agents to “sort out” applicants before embarking, invariably offers a premium to imposition by worthless persons, who are only too glad to get a change of scene. As Mr Tansey remarked, it is just as necessary to keep undesirables and inoffioients out of the colony as to encourage a good class of settlers to oome in, and unless this is done thoroughly, it is safer and better for the country to leave immigration alone altogether, and trust ,bo luck to got a fau- proportion of the independent men and women who aro looking for new homes. It must be remembered, of course, that the conference at Pahiatua only represented tlie fanners of Wellington province who may or may not bo more broadminded than those, of other parts of the colony. The national conference, to bo hold here early in July, will show whether the trend of opinion amongst the farmers of Now Zealand is really in the direction indicated by the Baluatua conclave.