Small Farm Settlements

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 100, 1 March 1887, Page 3

Small Farm Settlements

A meeting of delegates from various Small Farm Associations was held Friday afternoon at the Club Hotel to consider matters of iuterest to a&embers of the Associations. The following delegates were present : — Pemberton Association : Messrs Eyre *nd Tripe ; Palmerston : Messrs Lowes and Edwards; Feilding: Messrs Goodbehere, Thompson and Fowles; Dauevirke : Mr F. W. Butler ; Foxton: Messrs, Brebner, Spelnaan and <EEngaey. Mr D. Eyr© was voted to the chair, and Mr Gpodbehere was appointed hon. secretary to the conference. Mr Goodbehere, who convened the conference, was called upon by the Chairman to explain the object of their meeting. He stated that at the request of the Feilding Association, of which he was the secretary, he had convened the conference for the purpose of enabling delegates from the various Associations to discuss matters of common interest, but more especially the clause ef the regulatloas in reference to compulsory residence on sections after two years from the time of taking them up. This question, he stated, was of great, impottance to members of these Associations, as on it depended much of their success. It was thought by many, and it had been proved, that the term allowed before compulsory residence was required (two years) was quite inadequate for several reasons. No roads could be formed then, men could not get their land cleared sufficiently t© enable them to work -it ±o pay in the time, and he .suggested as the beet means of getting over the difficulty that the Government should be asked to amend the regulations to permit of compulsory residence for six months in each year only, after the first two years, which would give people an opportunity of clearing their land accordingly. Another matter of importance which required their consideration was the provision in regard to married women who were not permitted to take up sections. Single women could, but not married women, and he thought this was a gross injustice, and it was a question upon which they might bring some influence to bear. The stipulation wap a great hardship, as in some instances great improvements had been made, and he mentioned one case in which a married woman in the Feilding Association had made improvements specially for her famiiy, and these would be lost as n© title would be granted to her. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Goodbehere said he thought it would not be wise to go very fast at first and expressed the opinion that if six months' residence was asked for in the year to begin with that would be enough. ' Mr Lowes said that a majority of the Palmerston Association were not in favor of any alteration of the residential clause at present. Mr Butler on behalf of the Danevirke Association said he should support an alteration of the clause enabling people to keep off their land for the first two years for three years. Mr Goodbehere supported Mr Butler's proposal to ask for three years instead of four as more likely to be granted. Mr Butler moved that a petition be prepared and signed by those present to -be presented to Mr Ballance asking that the term allowed to purchasers, of . two years before compulsory residence *is required, be altered to three years. Mr Fowles seconded the resolution. Mr Thompson stated that it had been suggested in Feilding that the clause bearing on this matter should be removed altogether. This regulation was not in the Act, and was simply drawn up by the Government of the day. Even if not erased altogether, it might be altered te remove all the objectionable features. Mr Butler pointed out that the removal of the clause would have the effect of destroying the principle of special settlements altogether and it would be opening up the way for speculators to acquire the land. Mr Thompson thought there was no danger of this, he moved. That the interests of members of the House of. representatives be secured with the object of having the portion of clause 13 relating to compulsory residence on the land, taken put of thejregulations. He did not wish that Mr Butler's resolution should take precedence of the other. Mr Butler said he would support Mr Thompson's proposal, if his own resolution took precedence. Mr Thompson said that he had no wish to press his resolution if it was ©pposed to the wish of the meeting, but «n it being remarked that the feeling was in favor of the alteration he^roposed, though they did not exexpect it would be granted, the amendment was put and lost. • The resolution was then put and / then referred to tho fluesfibn brought up by Mr Goodbehere of married- women not being allowed to take up sections. He said ha knew of several cases where married women had; sections, and there was no objection to them. Mr Goodbehere stated that when he W etft into the matter he was referred iLthe Commissioner of Lands to the find Act, which stated that no married womam could take up deferred Jvayment sections, though there was nothing in the regulations to show that they were working under the

that if it was correct, ototed by Mr Goodbehero,. that "ijSd women could not get their Stm"%B^ould be taken to mored. That repre'^ffinfl he made to the Minister for this matter, showing ozist, and a ß kmg

him to take those ceses into consideration. Mr Tripe seconded the resolution. I After the matter had been pretty ( well discussed, the motion was altered ' to the effect that the Government be requested to inform the Conference what position married women hold ( whe have already taken up sections, and have made improvements. The resolution was then put and carried. The question of forming separate Road Boards over the areas cf the various Associations was then discussed. Mr Goodbehere mentioned that the best system, he believed, was that Associations either join or continue to remain within some existing road district, and have their own rates for expenditure less a certain proportion for office and other expenses. By that liaeans considerable extra expense for office and engineering expenses would be saved. The areas of most of the blocks were too small for Road districts.. > Some discussion then took place on the question of the formation of a j road district over the areas of the Pemberton and Birmingham Associations, but no action was taken in the matter, and the question eventually dropped without anything being done. The conference then went into Committee when a draft memorial for presentation to the Minister of Lands was adopted. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks the Chair.— Manawatu Times.