NEW ZEALAND FARMERS UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13983, 16 August 1907, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS UNION.

AUCKLAND BRANCH. The quarterly meeting of tho Aiiokland Provincial Executive of tih© Now Zealand Farmers' Union was held on tho 2nd met, Mr Allan 801 l (acting president} pooupiod the ohair. and there waa a good attendance. The following TOeoltrtiocs were carried "That tie_ oieoutrvo, whilst regarding with satisfaction {ho-proposal to grant tho holder of a renewable lease 4' perpetual right of repawal, and the granting of, the right w a portion of tho Grown tenants to obtain the freehold, strongly protests against the privilege being withheld from tenants under tho Land for Settlements Act, and further expresses ffie opinion that in tbo interests of both the' fanner and I tbo State tie rigid; of pisreitaje at the original vaiue equalised to tho O R.P. by I tho payment of 10 per ,oont interest,additional should be extended to ■ all Crown tenants." - » • » •

" That when tho tenants' leases expire, or when application made to ■ purcKaso a freehold, provision should bc.'rrindoin tho ' land Bill for applicant to appoint a vainer, to act with special Government valuer with a view of obviating tiie unnecessary expanse entailed by arbitration." "That, tho executive strongly protests : against the proposal of tbo Govornmont to sot aside 9,000,000 acres of the remaining Crown lands as notional endowments for education and old-age pensions, unless tho lands so set aside ore purely pastoral runs not requiring any .considerable erpenditwre ' of capital to male them productive. Tho executive further affirms tho-opinion , that "the present system whorobv the revemio s derived from the Bale of Crown lands is paid in to tho Consolidated Fund, and is .therefore available, is the most economical and satisfactory method of providing for these seiricos."

"That the executive protest against the excessive duties being levied on boots, billhooks, slashers, cartridges, and • iron pipes, the effect of whioh would be detrimental to the farming interest, and considers that no sufficient reason has been adduced for placing motor oars oil the free list." "That the executive'is opposed to graduated tax for tho following reasons:—(l) It is a final tax; (2) it will cause great hardship to the leaseholder now "brought uiidor its .provisions; (3) that it will' act unfairly when trustees have to run estates for beneficiaries; (4) that it amounts practically to confiscation; 2£ per cent on the largo estates (£2(10,000) praotlioally forcing ownors and financial institntkms to roaliso 'and '■ withdraw. The oxocutivo is further of opinion that there should foe no fcterferance with estates during tho lives of tho present ownors, and that'the end aimed at could best bo attainocl by an inereaso of tho death duties."

" That tho executive enter a strong objection to clause 66 of tho Land Bill, whereby provision is made for the Government to acquire privato laud at tho value plaoed thereon under tho 1896 act, plus from an additional 1\ to 10 per cent, on tlso fol-., lowing grounds :-r-(l) Tho Valqor-gemeral' (jdmits that, the valuation made by tie department is not the fair capital ot selling value, as this value will not be accepted for loan poirposes, and when pro- . pertios have been revniuedfor loan purposes this valuation hns, in almost, ovory ease, exceeded the former amount: (2) that improvements aTe undervalued in many oases tiy as much aa 50 per cent; (3) that a landholder should not bo dispossessed of . his property for publio purposes unless he is amply compensated; (4) that as tho Government has . tho power to compel tho , owner to sell, the owner should poesess tho power to compel tho Government to purohase." "That tho system of Government valuation is most unsatisfactory, ami a protest should bo entered against the proposition of the capital value as against the improved value. The system goes on to. provo that improvements afe depreciated, and tbe in)improved values are inflatod for the purpose of land taxation."