BUSINESS TRANSCTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 9

BUSINESS TRANSCTED

LAND LAWS. Mr Hunter on behalf of the Taranaki Union moved:—“That this conference still upholds the freehold tenure of land as being the best both for the State and the individual.” He said that there was no need tc explain the mo tion, as it had been before the conference so often. Mr J. McQueen said that he had always advocated that all Crown lands should bo subject to the same rule. Ho thought that if the freehold was given in connection with pastoral lands they would produce a great deal more than under the present system of lease. Land was at times damaged towards the end of the lease by over-stocking in order that the tenant could get it back at a lower rate, and this was not at all desirable. In some cases they required to shut up land in order to give it a chance to recover, but if it was nearing the end of the lease this would not be done. Mr Gardner, who stated he was one of the people to first advocate the acquisition of the freehold, pointed out that it took a long time to get a grazing run into proper order, and the lease had nearly expired by that time. However, he thought it was a shame that people should over-stock the land In order to get the lease on the same terms, for this was no doubt detrimental to the holding. Mr Campbell was of the opinion that those who hod routrh land should have an opportunity ot acquiring the freehold just as much as those who had good agricultural holdings. A suggestion that the remit should read :—“That this conference still upholds the right to the freehold with limitation of vallue of holding as being the best both for the State and the individual,” was withdrawn and tho remit carried. Mr Ford, on behalf of the Southland Union, moved: —“ That this conference desires to express its approval of the land legislation of the. present Government.” He said that the land legislation was one of the main planks ot the present Government, and that he thought the Land for Settlement Act should bo extended. Mr Nevins seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Lusk moved; —“That the L.I.P. tenants under the Lands for Settlement Act be granted the O-R.P. tenure with limitation of area.” This was agreed to. Mr Bell moved:—“That the Government be asked to extend the deferred payment system to holders of all renewable and O.R.P. leases when granting the freehold.” This was carried. • In connection with endowment lands Mr Boss moved:—“ That rural endowment lands which have failed to find occupiers be thrown open for selection under tho optional tenure, proceeds from same to be reinvested for endowment purposes.” Mr McQueen thought all endowment lands should be included in the motion, and ho moved to have the words “ which have failed to find occupiers'' struck out. Mr Bell seconded the amendment. Mr Ross opposed the amendment, as it opened up too large a question. After discussion the amendment was lost and the motion carried. VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. On behalf of the Wellington branch, Mr Moss moved:—“That provision shall bo made for the establishment and permanent maintenance of village settlements.” Blr Bloss said that ho thought the Government should provide these settlements. Blr Lusk seconded the mot’on, and said the Minister had promised to look into the matter, and where it was considered such settlement would be advisable and there was a suitable block

of land he would send his officers to inspect it and comply with the request. Mr Chambers asked permission to allow the following remit from Hawke’s Bay to be cons.dered in conjunction with tho Wellington remit; —“That this conference views with pleasure the proposal of the (j'overnment to make available to workers small sections of suitable size according to the productive power and value of the land, wherever land is acquired for closer settlement.” This was agreed to, and eventually it was substituted tor the original motion and carried, with the addition of tho following words: “ and those sections.” Mr Moss moved: —“That in future aJI pastoral lands for subdivision should bo surveyed in accordance with the natural features of the country before the lease falls in.” He said that the surveyors had a predilection for disregarding tho natural lines and existing fences when subdividing a property. Mr Philip seconded tho motion, which was carried. It was also decided to recommend to the Advances to Settlers Department to regard pastoral .licenses as gazetted on April 3rd, 1913, as good security to enable lessees to obtain State aid. it was aiso decided “that tho attention of tho Government bo directed to tlie disparity between taxation levied on iaud and that on incomes and other property, and request that same be rectified.” Mr Gardner: “That it be a recommendation to the Minister of Lands that the settler should bo relieved of graduated land tax upon land sold, as from date of sale, and not bo calculated as from March 31st, as is now done.” The mover stated that when the Government took over land they did not relievo the original owner of the lanci tax till a certain date, which was unfair.

Mr Chambers seconded the motion, an.i said tnat it appeared to him that if a man sold a portion of his land he was responsible for the tax afterwards. Mr Richards said that if a man said his land in Apni he was responsible for the tax up to the following Aiarch. Mr Vavasour suggested that the following words should be added: “And that from the amount of graduated tax payable a substantial exemption bo made for each child in the taxpayer’s family.” He pointed out that under the present system there was no incentive for a man to acquire land for his children and so settle people on the land who were bred to fanning. After discussion Air Vavasour agreed to withdraw his amendment and the vomit was earned.

GRADUATED LAND TAX. Mr Philip moved;—“That owing to the increased value of land, the penal clauses of the graduated land tax are now being apyueii to small farmers, who cannot be accused of blocking c!os« settlement, and that this conference is of opinion that the graduated land tax should not apply to areas of less value than £lo,oU().’’ ■ Mr Ross seconded the motion, and said that as the land had increased in value tho small farmer was being penalised and the tax was having an effect that was never contemplated.

Mr Vavasour moved the amendment h© had previously withdrawn. Mr McQueen thought this matter was trifling, and should not be considered. Air Begg disagreed with the previous speaker, while Mr Vavasour said that their object was to emphasise the fact that the tax had gone far enough in that it was breaking up the big estates and stopping re-aggregation. Mr Campbell said that when they put the tax down the land was not nearly as dear as it was at present. They should suggest to the Government that the tax should be revised. The motion was carried with the addition moved hv Air Vavasour. Air Ford moved;—“That farmers bo urged to use their best endeavours to frustrate the single tax proposals being urged by certain interested associations and individuals.” He said that they should do their utmost to fight the single tax. The time had arrived when the farmers should combine and take action in regard to this matter. If they listened to street orators they would see that the farmer was to be saddled with the taxes and the agitators would escape. Air Bell seconded the motion, and said that it was proposed by the agitators to nationalise all the land and take the duties off the necessaries of life and put them on the laud. That was simply taxing the production of the necessaries of life. Air Gardner said that unless people were put in the country the farmers would go down by brute force, though not by intelligence. They would have to combat “ tho single-tax-land-na-tionalising sort of orators.” Air AlcQueeu said that ho thought there should be a systematic plan adopted to meet the views expressed by single-taxers in the press. The union should reply to their representations and address the public through the press. The motion was carried.

Air Birch moved that the Death Duties Act be amended so as to exempt, gifts made for charitable purposes or public benefit. He thought that it was unfair that such bequests should be taxed, and tho objects for which they wore given were deprived of a substantial sum.

Air Lusk seconded the motion, and said it was a ridiculous thing that public bequests should be subject to death duties.

Mr McQueen pointed out that the Government had to get a certain amount of revenue, and if they,,took the duty off public bequests they would put it on in some other direction. After further discussion tho motion was earned, DROWN LANDS. Mr Gardner moved on behalf of North Canterbury:—“That where tho Grown deals with Grown muds in any county council .area, suen au-.j council be represented in the locating of the roads; arranging the sub-divi-sion of the lands, and the fixing of the rentals of same.” After some discussion Blr Gardner substituted tho word “consulted” foi ‘represented.” and the motion was carried. Blr Bell moved that the ment be asked to make all Land Boards elective. The object was to allow these boards to be elected in the same way as road boards or county councils. Tho Government, should not have the right to tell the farmers how they should conduct their business. Mr Lusk agreed with the motion, and said he thought the majority oi members of the hoards should be elected by those interested.

Blr McQueen moved as an amendment that tho matter should be brought up at the next annual conference. for it was undemocrat'c. The remit should have been placed before the various unions before it came to the conference.

Mr Moss moved as a further amendment that the Crown tenants have the right to elect two representatives instead of one as at present.

Mr Anderson seconded the latter amendment., which was carried. Mr Maxwell moved:—“That the Valuation of Land Act be so altered as .to permit of the value on a 6 per cent, basis of any special rates paid on such lands for reading, etc., being reckoned as improvements.” Kote.— The law at present only provides for the allowance of such proportion of principal as is repaid at the time of valuation.

This was agreed to. Mr Ford moved: —“That in cases where the farmer considers his valuation too high and lodges an objection, a valuer with local knowledge be appointed to act with the Government valuer.” H© explained that in the event of a disagreement an umpire would bo appointed. Mr Moss pointed out that this was likely to do away with the Assessment Court. Mr Campbell said that the court was as fair as it could be. In his experience the owners did not bring evidence to the court, and it was for the owner to prove his valuation was too high and not for the valuer to prove it Was right. If the laud was valued at the selling value the owner wou.d have some reason to growl. Has advice was to let sleeping dogs lie.

The motion was lost. The conference adjourned till ".ovi a.m. to-day. It was also decided that this union views with grave concern a tendency on the part of various Government departments to place the interests of the department before the interests of the public, and would urge the Government to establish some system whereby the different departments, in their relations with each other and with the local governing bodies, would be controller!, and any disturbance in depart mental finance equitably adjusted whore necessary, so that there would be no obstacle to their co-operation in the interests of the general public.