THE FARMERS' UNION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10829, 23 November 1906, Page 2

THE FARMERS' UNION.

(Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. In connection witli certain statements made recently m reference to the Farmers' Union^ this week's Uniojj Advocate officially states: "Several misleading articles have appeared from time to time m various papers, attempting to show that the policy of the Advisory Board of the Union on the Lund Bill, as stated m our columns and elsewhere, was at variance with the platform of the Union. Since the new Land Bill, with its entirely new provisions, has been before the public, we have on many occasions 'had reason to criticise the measure, and will no doubt do so again when the time is opportune, but we desire to state now most emphatically that the Advisory Board have never departed from a plank of the platform which deals with limitation when Crown lands are sold. No discussion has ever taken place or resolution been passed by the Union m connection .with the limitation of private lands, as at first dealt with by the Bill, and the same applies to the Bill as amended by the Lands Committee, which substitutes ' value instead of area. Limitation of value is not alluded to 'in any way by the planks of the platform, nor hus there ever been any discussion on the point. Whatever may be said by special pleaders to try to create discord amongst members of the Union, no member need have any fear that any leaders of the Union, whether -members of theAdvisory Board, Colonial Executive, or Provincial Executive, will ever forget their loyalty to the platform und to the Union, which is inseparably bound up with the interests of farmers." The article, after remarking tliat no inquiry is ever made as to the politicul opinions of members of the Union, concludes: — "We may also say whilst thinking the Land Bill as proiMxsed against the interests of fanners and the colony, we are sure that Sir Joseph Ward and Mr McNab would not knowingly injure the farmers by any action of theirs, but might do so if carried away by extremists. We think the Ministry will yet have reason to thank us for placing the views of the farming community moderately before the country."