A BATCH OF QUESTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7545, 30 October 1902, Page 3

A BATCH OF QUESTIONS.

The New Zealand Farmers' Union has drawn up a list of questions to be submitted 1 to candidates for Parliament. Tb«y are as folloTF-: — (1) Do you approve of the making of grants for roads and bridges being dependent., as at prese-nt, cm the -will of the Minister? Once these sums are voted should they net be spent and not allowed to lapse? What is your opinion a« to the grants being spent by local bodies instead of the Department ? (2) What is your opinion on the sale of Crown lands in relation to the provisions of tha Land Act being rigidly adhered: to, so .that purchasers can. 'have the choice of the three tenures provided for in the Act, viz., purchase for cathy lease with option of purchase, and lease in perpetuity? (3) Are you prepared to give the -.right to Crown tenaiits to convert their holdings into freehold provided that they fiave oonrpJied with the conditions, and aleo provided that no transfer be registered! unless jt hap attached' to it a declaration similar . to that of the Land Act and Land for Settlements Act? If y^ur answer to the above question ia in the affirmative, would yo*fi give the right to the purchaser to pay ca«h, or mate- payments over a term of years, and to allow reduction in rent to be made in proportion to such payments? (4) Where Native lands are benefited by thft expenditure of special or general rates, are you in favour of their bearing similar taxes to land held by Europeans? (5) Are you in favour of the Customs tariff being for tie purpose, of raising Tevenue or for protective purposes? (6) Are you for or against the Fair BentBill? (7) Are you for or against county and. road board* franchise being given to ratepayers only? (8) Would you support a Bill t6 enable farmers to form mutual insurance companies, as in Canada, where th« system has been found successful, and reduced the cost of insurance very materially? (9) The Parliamentary honorarium was- increased in 1901 to £300. without consulting the electors. Are you in favour of members increasing their pay without tha sanction of th« electors? Are you in favour of reducing the honorarium to £240 per annum ? (10) Will you advocate the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into th* system of co-operative labour, in order to settle the question of oast and the advisableness of continuing it ? 11. Are you in favour of retaining triple electorate* in the cities or returning to single electorates? 12. Would you be in favour or lessening the expenditure of borrowed money and economising on the public service by retrenchment ? 13. Would you be in favour of amending the Land and Income Assessment Act so that the local bodies may appoint one assessor to sit with the Judge of tbe Assessment Court ? 14. Will you urg? upon the Government the necessity of purchasing lands in congested districts, with a view of assisting farm workers to make homes for themselves ? 15. Do you subscribe- to the Farmers* Union platform,.' and; if so. will you: pledger yourself, if elected, to place the interests of the Union, as laid down brits platform, before Pa,rty ?