N.Z. FARMERS' ONION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12550, 13 July 1905, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS' ONION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, July 11The fourth annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union opened to-day: ~ , Mr. J. G. Wilson, president, occupied the. chair. Mi*. Birch (Wellington) moved that the Government be urged to so amend the Land Act as to give Crown tenants the option of purchasing the freehold of their land at the original value and the payment of the difference between th.3 4 per cent, now charged on the perpetuity land the .5 per cent, charged to tenants with right to purchase. The mover said they simply asked to be allowed to pay the capital sum instead of continuing to pay interest. If they agreed to revaluation they would be consenting to the robbery of tenants arid would be giving land nationialisers the right to say they had no right to tho unearned increment of their own land. - - /■■■..■•■'- ,-•■■.. ";- - ■'■•,'.■•." ' .■■ Mi\ McQueen (Southland) said the freeholders were more likely to make good use of the land than leaseholders. Tho President said if it was goihg to I>3 left to the electors to decide the qrestion of tenure, the Union would have, to take a determined stand! The motion was carried. It was resolved that payment of compensation for improvements made by surface sowing of pastoral runs under Government lease be urged; also that all Government land put in the market in future be thrown open on the optional system. Other resolutions passed were that tho Land Act be amended so as to includo the old deferred payment system; that while affirming the principle of the freehold, the Conference is opposed to aggregation, and will support any reasonable legislation in this direction; that all tenants under the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act be allowed the option to secure the freehold; that tha Conference condemn tho enforoament of the residence clause in the case of Crown lessees till such time as means of communication by way of roads and bridges have, been provided. A discussion took place on the question of the Union's position in politics. Mr. Burgess (Taranaki) said they should not be afraid to make a stand. He moved that the Union should take a strong political attitude and strenuously oppose those candidates at the general election who are opposed to its platform, and support those candidates who will endorse it, irrespective of parties. Mr. Wily (Auckland) said that unless, they went into politics properly they would be just as helpless as the country party had alwaya been. Mr. Richards (Wellington) said there weixi too many test matches. The President said he could never agree that they should take sides in party politics.^ They would lose their position by doing so. Mr. Stubbs. (Palmerston North) said tho feeling in Manawatu was that the Union did not take a sufficient stand in politics. They did not want a country or a farmers' party, but they wanted to indicate which was the better of j two candidates. In the past they had been spineless, and they only talked. Mr. Hodgson (Taranaki) said if they did not take a decided stand a death blow would be struck at the Union in his province. During further discussion, the opinion was expressed that the provincial executives should be given discretion. An amendment was moved that, say, fivt) leading questions should be adopted by the colonial executive to bo asked of all candidates in writing; that not more than three further questions may bo added by the provincial executivo relating to mere local questions. Oi receiving answers, the provincial executive shall recommend the candidate who has given the most satisfactory answers, such answers to be communicated to each branch, which will bo recommended to use all the means in its power for the return of such candidate. . Tho debate was adjourned till the following day. WELLINGTON, July 12. The Farmers Union Conference concluded the debate on politics this morning by carrying .the following resolution unanimously: "That it be an instruction from the Conference to the executive that two questions dealing with tho freehold and the franchise be drawn up and sent to provincial execu-

tives, together with such other questions as they consider of colonial importanco to the Union, to bo submitted through branches to various candidates at the coming general election, with a recommendation that members of collective branches use the weight of their influence to support one candidate only in each electorate who replies satisfactorily to the above questions. The Farmers' Union Colonial Conference held the second day's sitting this morning. Mr. J. G. Wilson, of Rangitikei, was re-elected president, and Mr. G. W. Leadley, of Ashburton, was re-elected vice-president. Eulogistic references were made to the services of these gentlemen, both of whom were nominated ,by Mr. McQueen, of Southland. Nearly all the morning sitting was taken tip with discussing a proposal to change the locality of the colonial executive from Palmerston North to Wellington, to abolish th« office of colonial organiser, and to create a head office in Wellington, with a general secretary resident there. Ultimately it was decided that quarterly meetings of an executive, compbsed of ;i delegate from each provincial council, should meet in Wellington, that the office of colonial organiser be abolished, and that a genejal secretary ba appointed by the executive, which shall also decide where the secretary shall reside. Opinion was against the secretary residing in "Wellington. " WELLINGTON, July 12. At the Farmers' Union Conference, Mr. Birch moved, "That the Colonial Executive of the Union should in future meet quarterly in Wellington, instead of in Palmerston North, as hitherto. The executive to consist of one delegate from each Provincial Council. The travelling expenses in connection with the meetings to be born by the Executive." Other proposals were that the President should have an advisory committed of three; that the headquarters of the Union be set up in Wellington; that the office of colonial organiser be abolished, and that a general secretary bo located in Wellington, at sufficient remuneration. On the motion of Mr.- Clayton, of Poverty Bay, it was resolved to urge upon the Government the necessity of effecting the speedy settlement of native lands. The mover said that in his province there was 700,000 acres in the hands of the natives, and unsettled. Other resolutions passed were :—That tho Conference reaffirms its- previous resolution, that at least on© assessor should ba elected to the Assessment Court by the ratepayers and local bodies; that the Valuation Act be amended so as to provide for the. recognition of all improvements by the deduction of tho full value of all improvements to tho soil, as well as improvements in sight, from tho total value; that only men with local knowledge and agricultural experience be employed as valuer?. ; that the Union oppose the referendum and tho second ballot; that nativo lands be placed on the same footing as European Lands for purposes of i ating, taxation, and collection; that under the Land and Income Assessment Act allowance be mad© for improvements made by the expenditure of special loans.