The Farmers' Union.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7870, 12 July 1905, Page 2

The Farmers' Union.

FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (l'cr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July U. The fourth annual conference of tlrt? New Zealand Farmers' Union o|iened to-duy, Mr J. G. Wilson (President) in the chair. Mr ISirch (Wellington) moved that tile Government be urged to »j, amend "tjie Ijand Act as tf> give Crown tenants the optiaf.it of purchasing the free aid of their J and ait. the original val'ie, and the payment of the. difference' between the 4 per «>nt. now" charged nn lease-in-per-petuily and the f> per cent, charged to tenants with right to purchase. The mover said they simply asked Ito be allowed to ]Kiy the Capital instead Of continuing to pay interest. If they agreed to re-va)uati;on, they woul'd lie consenting to tho l robbery ot tenants, and would bo giving land ! nationaliKers tho Might to s«y they had no riglit to tho unearned meremerit n!' their own land.

Mr McQueen (Southland) said freeholders were mpre likely to make good use of theft' lan'd than were leaseholders.

The President «aid if it was going to be left to tho electors to decid* i..e question of tenure, the Union would have to tako a determined stand. Tho motion was carried.

It was resolved that, payment of : compensation for improvfauents made by surfaco sowing of pastoral runs under Government lease Ik! urged ; als<> that all Government land put in tho market in future be throw* open on the optional system. Other resolutions passed were tfnsit the Land Act bo amonded so as to include tho old deferred payment system ; that while ufiirming the principle of freehold, the conference is opposed to aggregation, and will support, any reasonable legislation in this direction that all 1 tenants under the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act be allowed tjtle option to secure tho freehold ; ; and that tho conference j condemns the enforcement of the residence clause in tho case of Crown lessees till such time as means of comnmni;<at.ion by way of roads 'and I bridges have Ibeen provided. A discussion took place ion- the question of the Union's position in i politics, Mr liurgess (T a ranakj) Baid they should not be afraid to make a stand. He moved ' that this Uniou should take up a HtrdWg political attitude a nd: strenuously oppose those candidates at the general election who are oj>posed to its platform, and support those candidates who will endorse it. irrespective of parties." Mr Wily (Auckland 1 ) said tW.it unless they went into politics properly they would lit; just as helpless' as it he Country Party had always been. The President sjiid he could never agree that tiiey should taßo sides in party utilities; they would lOKel O Ke thelv | position by doing so.

Mr KtpMis' North) said t hiit the fueling (ho Manawatu waif that tile Uiyon did. not take a .sufficient stand in politics. They did not want a (country or farmers' imrty, Imt they wanted tl> indicate which was the better of two candidates. In the past'they foail lieeji, s))ine]e.ss ; thpy only talked. Mr Hodgson (Tafanakl) said that, jf they did not tfiko a decided stand a death blow would be struck at the I'nion in his province, During further discussion, the opinion was expressed that, the provjihrial executives should be given discretion. An (intendment was movoci

''that, say, five lending qtießtion* Should -be adopted by the Colonlial Exucutive to be asked of all eandl* dates "In writing t h a t not more than three further questions l ;c added by a Provincial Executive relating to mere local questions, and on receiving answers the Provincial 'Executive shall recommend tlw candidate who has given the most satisfactory replies, such replies t.c> lie communicated to each branch, which will lie recommended to use all means in i'Ls power for the return of such a candidate."

The debate, was then adjourned t;l\ tb<? mpTOf da} 1 ,