EMPHATIC PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 4

EMPHATIC PROTEST

OTAGO FARMERS’ VIEWS LAND BILL CONDEMNED The following resolution was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday:— “Whilst the council is in favour of adequate assistance being given to returned servicemen from this war who are deemed fitted for settlement on the land, and whilst it is prepared to assist to the full any Government committees set up for this purpose, it emphatically protests against the provisions of the proposed Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill as being a clumsy attempt to bring about the nationalisation of land under the cloak of rehabilitation.

“This council believes that .steps should be taken to prevent speculation in land, and possible inflation, but it is convinced that the proposed Bill goes tar beyond any such intention. The Bill in its present form strikes at what we believe to be one of the greatest stabilising features in any country, viz., the right of ownership of a home and the knowledge that this can be passed on to the next generation. In our opinion the Bill is opposed to every principle of British justice, and as farmers we are prepared to fight to the last for what we believe to be our sacred rights.

“ We would point out that apparently no consideration is to be given to those men who have been ‘manpowered ’ out of the army or directed by appeal boards to remain on farms in the interests of production. We say most emphatically that it is manifestly absurd to seek to solve the problem of the rehabilitation of returned servicemen desirous of going on the land by displacing men whose whole training, tradition, and magnificent work in keeping up production during the war entitles them to at least equal consideration.

“ We all earnestly hope and pray that an era of peace and brotherhood among men will follow the cessation of present hostilities. In the opinion of this council —and it says this with all earnestness —the passing of this Bill in its present form will lead to nothing short of civil strife in the community, which would do much to offset in* this country any gains made by victory in lhe present war. “ This council is further of the opinion that consideration of the Bill should be deferred until the meeting of the new Parliament.”