LAND QUESTIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13601, 22 May 1908, Page 6

LAND QUESTIONS.

VIEWS OF FARMERS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 21. The annual conference of the Auckland ■executive'of thelFarmors' Union was ope'ied to-day, about fifty delegates being present. Mr Allen Bell, the acting provincial president, 6aid that he regretted the introduction during the year of further legislation detrimental to the farmer. The year had been the most eventful in the history of the Union on account of the drastic and unwarranted legislation brought down by the present Ministry. The Union, being unanimous that the le gislation was inimical to rural interests, had endeavoured to combat it by sending lecturers to all parts of the province, strongly denouncing the proposed alterations in the Land Revenue Bill. The result was that the Bill was dropped. The Bill substituted was passed in a modified form but its provisions were iniquitous, and the Union must light until ilu* obnoxious clauses were eliminated. The Union had considered the important question of land values. The unimproved value of land was being rushed up at the rate of over £10,000,01)0 annually. Ihe method adopted was to grossly un-ori-Tvalue the setters' improvOjnents, and to proportionately increase the unimproved or taxable value. The Valuation Department's action was notorious and had assisted in the creation of " boom " values, and enabled the speculator to profit at the expense of the farmer. This in the long run spelt disaster. Whilst recognising the necessity of taxation the executive objected to the unnecessary increase in the burdens already placed upon the land which now amounted to over £2.000,000 a. year. Auckland had bi«n unanimous that the Union should take a firm political stand, but had only found four supporters at the Colonial Conference. The position in this province had become intolerable, and the question should be reconsidered. So long as the, Union continued its spinclccs political attitude it would be unable to make itii power felt in the governing of the country. The miserable failure of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act to strikfs made it imperative that tlie farming industry should not be br;>uglu undir its operation. .Mr F. Dye moved:—"That this conference protests againot any attempt by the Government in the direction of land nationalisation and consideis the iVgtr-.ia-tion of last session by which nine million acres of Crown lands were removed fuim tlk; optional system when thrown open fir settlement is the first etip in tin's, direction.' Mr Dye said he considered endowment was only another word lor i.ationalisation. The Dominion w»i> losing her young men, who were thoroughly disgusted with the existing state ot affaiis. Tlieir president for one was leaving for Canada on account of his dv.-.at is faction with the present land laws. Mr li. R. Phillips said there could be no doubt of the optional tenure being the wish of the majority of the |>eople. How was it- that the efforts of the 1-uid nativnalisers had succeeded? Jt. was because the farmers had been fooled by th- glib promises of parliamentarian.-. !k reminded those on the land that it was no iu,e passing motions unless there way .-est.-iu-tion behind. He trusted that- fanm-i-.s would put a "" black mark"' against diction candidates who were not firm on the matter, ami act upon it. The motion was carried unaniniouslv.