SOLDIERS AND THE LAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17066, 26 July 1917, Page 4

SOLDIERS AND THE LAND

— ♦■ ■ FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE. SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS CARRIED^ (Pmi Dwted Pkess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 25. At the conference of the Farmers' Union to-day a remit that no more - agricultural and pastoral labour should be conscripted for military purposes was rejected by 20 votes to 8. The conference passed a motion recommending that the Government should e,t onoe secure for returned soldiers land of first-class quality suitable for men unfit for back-block hardships, and such land should be acquired) oompulsorily at fair market values and paid for in 4£ per cent. Government debentures free of taxation, leaving the. owner, if he so wishes, land of a market value of at least £J35,000. The following remits were passed:— "That this meeting considers it the duty of the Government to take over balloted soldiers' farms, if the owners so desire, at • pre-war prices, and if the Government cannot see' its way clear to take over the farms of soldiers called up on active service at present at pre-war prices, that at least current rates of interest be allowed to these owners." "That, owing to certain properties being purchased by enemy aliens from men leaving for the front, this conference considers that it would be wise to legislate so as to prevent enemy aliens from obtaining freehold or leasehold titles." "That all enemy aliens be conscripted forthwith for labour purposes." "That the conference, in realising that , the prosperity of the country depends upon the, maintenances of production, is strongly of 'opinion that the policy of the iiHitary Appeal Boards should be to exempt, if possible, genuine ploughmen and shepherds until the grain, sowing and lambing season is over, it being impossible for one man, even on a small farm, to work a team and attend to the ewe flock."