Farmers In Conference.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12288, 22 June 1903, Page 7

Farmers In Conference.

»' ' ; TARANAKI PBOVINCtAL MJSETIN,G : , ,/ FOE 1903. ' SITTING. ,!' *■ (Continued from Friday). / CEO-\YN LANDS DISPOSAL^ , *" %f Maxwell (Oftunake) nioveid:, "That a protest be made agitjnst the present method of disjppsing of Crown lands by ballot and, roootmniends thak in fjuture 'all lands .oppn for selection, be piut up b^atiq^on/' His branch desixeJl tnat genuine settlers should liave a qhance j>f; jetting land. At present they were often unable to 'do this while others who simply wanted laind for speculative- purposes were successful. This "was against the best inter- j ests of ifee eomnkunity and the avowed , principles of the 1 State. The advan- ; tage of the audtioh system was that a I mam could, and would, gi re what he considered- a fair- value for land if he.j were anxious to secure it, • and he 'i woujd t p|, cpursg,have to r -abide M by his j bargain. XJhder the present s^-stem of j ballot the only gain seemed _,to be' to ' the speculator. ' ' Mr Maxwell then asked leave to add the wprd,s "qr^.tencler", tQ,h}s ; resolu-tion-t- ..n ,---,* * •• ; ,' . ;' PernMs>ion / -was u » granted, aad Mr Tisch (Stratford) seconded tho motion as; amendect. . , t " ~ Mr Friday spoke # in < ,supppft of the .motions r -• * T \ r Mr opposed the motion, as tending to prevent men o| small means from getting" on' the land. Mr Meredith was against the motion, for a similar reason. Mr Astbury said that while -the bal-lot-system' of disposing of lands had perhaps not realised all that its initiators had hoped for from it, yet it would be unwise -to say they shouldgo directly back, to the old system. They should rather ( try to find oxit the faults of the system and endeavour to- correct them. He felt assured .that •if ' the auction system were reißtrodueed it would simply mean that the man. with tho- longest --purse would ceore. , •;, . .' "^3>-. *V ■Mr ' Maekie also strongly interfeuing^ wjth jthe presents-methods. Mr Belcher .adjsqeated . an.4 improver ment of the ballot,- system,,,, in" the dir-.' fic^on of doing away with th^ r .,|acillities for transfer, under, 1 say, five years. . .', T" v '~ *" Mr Boddie said 'that "whale no doubt evils existed under the present system,, there was as yet rfothing to warrant rushing to the other extreme. The class of men it Was dpsirwusto pfut on the land would have no. chance at an aitetion against a man of, oneans. An amendment of the present law might be desdraJDle. -Mr Rickard u<rged the retention of the present system, until it was shown that somethingL better was, forthcoming. -. . ; Mr Morton said both systems had their draw-backs, &vj& it was a- qiuestion of choosing- the; lesser of t\v<o evils, The^ ropjfc of -the trofuble, seemed to ha^'e been, that- proper values- were not placed on, much 1 o£ the land opened for selection. Fjor^the present, however, he would favour retaining 1 the ballot. '- Mr BJair urged thqj 'claims jpf,. - the auction- system.' They iSott'ld.!^encourage our people to vf he self-reliant;*.^iey di,d not want tailors arid shopkeepers 'on 1 * the 'land unless 1 they were going to become bona fi^e farmers. Ji- tihe people were con.-?ide'red "cas>abTe, "pi go; ing to the market and buying .their stock, etc.; surelytKey coukC'b^ trusted to put .fair-* values on VkrM i wlien biuying. the colony. -V/anled was men who cotald put down- cash and ta,ke up the _laqd. The cry was for more po^iula'tion. He would advocate that the land be cut up into moder-ate-sized blocks, and no one shojild hold mpre than a certain ' antojunt. .Wihen no more' mfen cfould " be got to put down the money for these blocks, the remainder ahould be opened for i-ale by auction amongst adjoining settlers. Scandals had. certainly been heard of in the present system. 1 Mr Voullaire opposed the mfotion'. TV'hile recognising that there were' imperfections in the present system, it afforded a chance to men of small jmeans, who were anxious to.mW?e homes for themselves, -to do so. The -OTjoneyed-mart an advantage to ,a co-mtowarity, but the "small man" created his own capital as he improved Ms hokJfng. Mr RoyicJscm 6npportcd r the^> motion, with which he was thoroiugh^y in accord, especially with the provision for disposal by tender i in ' which there could be no opportunity fear in^ated values being offered consequent on excitement, as had been suggested was po.ssible at auction.' He referred to the deferred payment system as one which, grave all nt-en — rich or poor — 'a chance, if they really disliked to become settlers. The change from the old system to that of the ballot wwars r cerjfcainly .. one, for tne worse. They knevfr tliere were certain conditions imposed on selectors, but he knew of, instances where "colour" had comet into play and^irifluence had -secured concessions when urgeutly reqtiire'di He clirl not intend his remarks to be. directed specially at the Government of the day— all ' Admini^toatioms had their wealinesscs, and he was not discusaing this matter from a narrow party political view. • But "colour." was always at \v J ork. ..JStow, he considered that, yihan a man con I'd plank down tho money ho had the "colour", —the colour whiqh i^hjOukL ,<peak. Mr Kinnington ojijios^d the motion. The' real trouble, he considered was that there wan not enough, land thrown open , for settlement. Mr Astbury movotf an amendment that all 'words of the motion after, "imlJot'^be.'aelet&cV acid the following s^bstitutccl: "an^l that mmc other method of disposal be deyisod, with a view to eliminating the duplication' of applications." He rfpoke briefly in; gi^rtpor't of this. Mr Mackio s«con<l(Kl. Mr H'ine .^upportod the resokition, 'though he beliwed it would n,ot be; possible to sell all the land for<sash.. Mr Bodldie said tihe meeting ap--;

peared > pretty well ' divffdeel on , thje 4 stfbject .\^«ir , idiS"(aafi^^^.v«p!d £»&\|Pf ,'• to accept me arntenfclimeatY All were prepared" to admit ' the need for re^fotrm; but '. it would be unwise to go to extremes. The /President^ eflioted from figures, relating to lanfds 'disposed of last > year. These were: ' For cash, 27,290 acres ; on tleferreid p&ynient, 52; per- . petiual lease" (small areas-) 10; oc&u--. pation with right of purchase, 128, 898 and lease in per-petffiity, 116,4.9;}. Mr Seiddon in a recent speech had admitted that the present ballot system needed reform to give the tfesertv-, ing man a ahance, anjd prevent d!u,plication of ' abdications. 'He (Mr Leech) • recognised {here were evils, biut if these \yajKO, remedied them > they ©tight to; -maintain ' the ballot, which was fair to «eh avid poor alike. : Mr ■ Davidson th aught, that in view of the, circutaistances it might be desirable to pass the amendment. It still left the hanids of the Colonial Council free. If " Mr SeddQii coijld be^ dape'rid-ed ■ on' to keep his promise in €Re matter of having the ballot sys Item amended that was ? what was required. Mr, Maxwell in. replyamgv ®a«d a nUjinber of speakers seemed to be under a m'isapjprehension in that they seemesi .to -.thi'n.k a 1 cfiange ' 65/ 1 entire -was sug-, ge§t6<3 in the motion; x That w"as not so. The' question of tenure was not affected*. What; was objected to was thai) clerks r' ancl others . Were enabled to obtain ■ land to the ' detriment of bona fide settlers. Hie referred to the ac^vauiages of the deferred payment system, by which many men in. , the district 1 — -he v , coulil see some arounH him at this meetißg^— hail been enabled from a small beginning . lo put themselves on a good footing, he wished to see reverted' to was the opening- of lands to tae man who could give cash for it,. t and any increase in values should go to the State ,and' not the individual. * After a debate lasting .an hour anH a lialf the amendment was carried. AUCTIONEERS' , LICENSE PEES. JiV jNgaire-^ remit : "That auctioneers' feas,'be pai^l to .County, instead of Borough, "Councils'' was thrown out in favour of one > from Inglewood as follows: "That afuctioneers' fees be d^ded between Borough Councils and Co'otnty Cowncils."" This was mm-eid by the President, secwidod by Mr Friday, and supported by Messrs Davidson, Rickard, Madkie, Waite, Voull--aire^ and Blair, arid carried. HAHBOUR REPEESENTA>TIO^ T . Mr Belcher (Cardiff) moved a resolution as follows: "That the delegates at -this Conference pledge themselves to oppose any further expenditure on the New . PJymoutii, harbour, other than surplus revenue, ' until the members of the' Board are elected on a basis o£ valuation ■of the whole of the harbour rating" area." This was an important questiofi, Mr Belcher urgeid. As they were aware, the H,arbouf Board was formulating a 'scheme for the extensiott-of the harbour. Wheth-. or it was < a .practical' scheme or not he was »ot • prepared to say. Eeven tie members " of the Board seemed to be divided on that point. JRecentlv a Harbour League was formed in Isew Plymjoutii. and it had sent out a nutafber of leaflets' to various bodies*. Tihese he Relieved >yrere strongly condemned by some of the settlers, but what the general result was he bad' not learned. He would like to see the three Government nominees done away ..with, and the whole rating area divided into nine wards, each returning one member.. It was not to be understood that' Bis branch' was averse to extension, or that it was altogether apathetic regarding the futture of the harbour. In fact he believed a large number of settlers were anodotus to see the works carried on and made useful, provided * the burden was no* mlaide too heavy on the ratepayers. Mr Friday seconded. Originally the Government was to supply 25 per cent of the money out of the land fuad, and was represented on the Board by three nominees. Now the land fund had decreased, and the settlers were not represented in proportion to the ratable Valuation placed upon : ln©ir property. Tin is was pointed out to the Premier Rye years ago, an.fi he 'promised to loofe into the mattet*. Brat thoy were sltill in the same position to-day. -.'. Mr Bodtlie (who "was- in the chair temporarily) said, he ' recognised this as one of the most important questions on hhe oridqr \>aper, and he woflild therefore give full "opportunity for discussion. Mr Maokie said' he was in&tmic'tecl to support the motion, if the Board was to be wholly elective. But if the Government was i to help to pay the piper then it should certainly have some say in the ordering ol the. tune. Mr Parlane, -in -supporting the nrotioft, e^pres^y his plea'fi!ur«s at iho way in wtoch the farmers had acte'd — they snowed no "animosity"' towards the Hiarbotar Boa»d. He instanced tihe case of a dairy company in. which he Wan interested. It had decided to go in witjh the pro'ducerH, and was now actually £100 worse of? than if it hafd .selit its output through Patea. The speaker quoted figures showing thft'vfeliuatib'ns on which the various divisions of the harbour rating district" returned , their representatives, as follows :—: — - , £. Stratfortl ... '/.: ;.•; ... 1,«W,6«<) Hawera 2,0^2,005 Taranaki, North ... 1,300,034 Tarunaki South 494, (Vii Clifton 484.K59 New Plymouth (tLftyrox.) ... 008,000 Each oi, these di'vifeions re^u^<?3 one. member-, ,b,t\& there .were three Government nominees, alt.clio^cn from . .this end of the 'district. Thus the southern districts, with a valuation of 1 tfiree and a" half millions were represented by two members, whilst the districts with a valuation of three aJtt'd a quarter millions hart seven members. He considerod it fair to allow the Government one nominee, and the \yhole rating area uhould be clivirldd into eight wards, according to valuation, ea^!h returning one member.

Messrs Voullaire and Dalvidson bneflv sufppontcd the motion. ■ . *Mr lime would support tho niolitm, j and hoped the mover wow Id adopt Mr , Pai'lane's suggestion to allow one re- i presentative of the Governmi nt on tho Boaifd. . ' Mr Bolder agreofcl, arid the iollowrtig aHclition was made : '"and that it be a recommendation to the Colonial Council to bring pressure to bear on the Government with a view of restricting the CiQvernniont representation to 6*no nominee." , Mr Maxwell said that, being a member of the Boaucl, he would not say much; Wut it appeared to him yimply a matter of justice that those contributing to the harbour bihould have more equal representation. So long as tthe representation remained so lopsided it cgtvFcLiLot he expected that se^W^'P nld n * ot those desiring ex- , tea^tt^bf'-tiie Mr Aidlam askqd "who adjusted the warßs. m •'' Mr Maxwell said that a committee j of % the Board did so some years ago, but since then conditions hail greatly altered. While a ..further possible alteration might ha,ve been eoliteiriplated it hafl not yet taken place. Mr, Boddie agreed witih the rejmariks fr<Sra Mr Parlane. He was prowl to : note the &vcn spirit in whicli tihe Con-, feronce had cHsc.us^ed the sluhjcct, anid the" delegates "had "proWd tliey were, certainly not obstructionists. "When , fairlrQ'p'resenta'tioin had been obtained tihe farmers w,oulfcl no claubt be pre- ; pared, as eommonsense business men. to guippor't any 'reasonable scheme for extension winch, might be bro'iiffh't forwartf. (iVpplause)l The motion, was then carried. FIRE INSURANCE. j | A Waitara remit, ."That the Farmers' Union is strongly in favour of Mr Kir&bride's Insnxrance Bill becom- j «i£ la w ," was mo veil by Mr Hine, and carrio'd without discussion. LOCAL BODIES ELECTIONS. A Waitara remit, "That only bona, ikle ratepayers be allowed to vote at the election of local boldies," was reaffirnici'd. . /.NOXIOUS TOEDS. l Mr Waite (Uruti) raoye'd : "That theGovernment be requested to clear noxious weeds from Crown lands." Ttwas only fair, he urged . that the. makers of a law should be mafde to carry out its provisions. Mr Fryday seconded the motion ■ .which was carriexl unanimously, A Manaia remit, ''That the question of the administration of the N'oxioHis Weeds Act be considered with a view to making it bear more fairly on the commiunity/* was thrown out. PIPQETATION OF DEER, ETC. . j Mr Meredith (Oakura) moved :"That- : the Conference protest against any Ac- - ' climati&ation Society . iiulportino- deer [.or o tiller animals or- binds? to be lot loose which might be injurious to., fanners." lie bclmVc'd the Acclimati-. sation Society, intended to liberate deer on the Mountain and ranges. This would be a great curse to tihe "district, as the deer, like the birds, were very destructive to crops. Mr Fry'day seconded, and Messrs As I j'b'ury an;d Parlane brieily supported the ! motion. , I Mr' A;dlani thought the Acclimatisation - Society might confer with the Vrolvincial Executive of the Union when contemplating, the- -importation of birlcta an|d animals. .The Small [.Binds Nuisance Act o'ugiht also to be enforced in the ' North Island as well a& the South. Eegardrng deer he related instances o£ their destructiveness to crops, and said a few of these ani- , mals cotulid in a single night l'uin a ynall farmer's bit of crop. i The, riiotion was tihon carried. ' A remit Woni J'x>wgarth, "That set- ! tiers should have the' rigihfc to destroy any iiniporteid biz'ds, caught destroying I'tjieir craps, at any time of the year/ 7 i [ was tihrown out. • • , ( | BAILWAY TO MOUNT EG MONT. Mr Boddie (Elfcham) moved : '"That this Conference desires to support the present agitation in favour of the Government Conslmiciing a railway to M6unt JEcfraont for the purpose of scouring a aujpply of stone for the different local bodies throughout ''the Province." They all 'fclnow the | difficulties iocal bodies laboured under in the matter of obtaining metal, aand he felt sjure all were agreed it was absolutely necessary that something snduid be done. , Mr Friday seconded. Mr Maekie questioned whether the cost of the metal would be reduced if the % rail way w,ere made. Mr BocFdie quoted figures which had been prepared, showing a considerable reduction to the present cost. r Jlhe motion was carried. SMALL IMRDS NUISANCE AQT. Mr Parlane (Eltiham) moved : "That the Small Birds Niuisan.ee Act bo made operative in the North Island." Mr McCurdy pointed out that the Act was already operative in the North Island, at the will of the local bodies, lie nuggeste.d that what was .desired was that the Act should bo majcle mandatory m the North as well as the South. Mr Voiullairc seconded, and the motion was carried. ' MAO.NTENAINCE OF 110 ADS. Mr Burgess (Warea^ moved : ''That tho Government kelp in the maintenance of main roads in tho.se districts where no railways exist to relieve traffic." He, referred to the cost of car- ! riage on tihe main road in his dis1 tritt a.y being almost prohibitive to many farmers doing more than ab.yolutely necessury business with tihe [ outside world. All parts of tjhe ool- ' O7)y contributed to tho, si?pport of tJie railways, and therefore all pho'iild con!- ! tribute to the main roads' in parts I which did not 'participate in the direct i benefits of ttho railway. ! Mr A'dlam secojKied the motion, » which he -strongly siujJportud, as also did Mr Hin«. I. Mr Blair considero'd the local^bodics yhoulicl possess more power. He dM not bclictve in gohfg to the Govern'- ! meaif for olverythin*. But the whole oominVuiuity should certainly pay a,proportion of the cost of tVp keep of main roads. Tlic (Jovernment paid a siub,sidy On a portion of the Jocal bodies'' income Hut it 9/ugh.t to aubfiidjao all rates. If' that were done there would not be constant applications for grants in aid of roa,d«. Mr Tisdh tlU[)por : tcrJ the motion. Mr Rtcjkarfcln movdd as an amendment.. "That the GoVern.incnt jako o'vor tho maintonanco of roaids in th.o«e distriots where no railway* exist/ lie said thetie, roads were in tt .very different 'position •to , those in districts where ,the railways toolc the hcalvy traffic. Inhere orfcßnary rcjvehue woxild generally maintain thnm. " Mr'Artt'Kury riaid tihe railways were tho arteries and the roads the veins of ft cofi'ijntry. If the railways were Under State control thon the whole of the loans of all' the roads in the colony ahoiulid be consolidated, but he would have the administration remain

as at present. It wowM bo unfair 'to take aver main roads and not tiho oDher-s. M r BofcWie said the question was hodged about with many difficulties, but he obiectetd to increasing* final control. Tho bo^t remedy would be for the Government to grant further Subsidies, and the power ot local bodies sfcoaiid be extended. That wojukl relieve the position better than Government control. Mr Parlane and others spoke, and Mr Hine drew' attention to the fact that the Conference wan attempting to deal with a question reall> .very nnuih larger than was divulgod in tho resolution. Mr BurgeFS replied, and the amendment was put and lost. The motion was then carried.. (To be concjwlod).

He was very melancholy But now he's fat and jolly, For he hearkened to the message Wise and sure-^-"From Count von Ryksaloff Take Sykes 1 Cura Cough," And you will always find a most , effective 1 cure.*' ' " You want •■ valud for. your money. „ You swan5 want ' your- moneys worth. The "Kash" Clothing. Comi^any gives you both.* , ,»