THE FARMERS' UNION AND THE LAND BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2756, 9 January 1907, Page 11

THE FARMERS' UNION AND THE LAND BILL.

AN IMPORTANT CIRCULAR. There was ,a good deal of discussion recently respecting the attitude of the Farmers' Union in connection with the L-md Bi'l, and statements were maclo by Sir J. G. Ward and the Hon. Mr M'Nab that there was a eplit in the ranks of the union, but this has now been emphatically", denied, and the following circular has been issued from the colonial headquarters: — " Statements have been made that there is a divergence between the unions platform and the opinions expressed '->v the Advisory Board re limitation of area or of value as proposed by the Land Bill. This is absolutely untrue, and the following extract from the official organ, the Fai n.^i--' Union Advocate, under date of NovcuiUt 24, states the position clearly. " ' We desire to state now most emphatically that the Advisory Board has never departed from the plank o' the p'.atfoin which deals .with limitation when Crown lands arc sold. No discussion nab c\er taken place or resolution Wen pas'-od by the union in connection witn limitation of (private lands as at first dealt with by the bill, and the same applies to Ilie bill as amended by the Lands Committee, which substitutes value instead of :uea. The limitation of value is not alluded to in any way by tho planks of the j-latforLi nor has there ever been any discussion on this point.' •'All the Advisory Board has sought to do is to place before the unioa an.l the public what the result of the limitation as proposed by the Land Bill would be. In seeking to ascertain the consequences to our farmers and to the colony generally of this important measure we have necessarily taken the advice of practical, experienced men in the farming community, al^o of those who, in the banking, insurance, commercial, and legal world, are able to give- an opinion as to the financial re«ult of such legislation, whose views will 'be st i forth in a pamphlet which we hope shortly to publish and circulate throughout the colony. — By order of the Advisory Boaul. "-TAiits G. Wilson. President."