FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1505, 13 July 1905, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Pews Aspocia'Sioa.Jj Wellington, yesterday. Tho Farmers’ Union Colonial Conference commenced its second day’s sitting this morning., Mr J- G. Wilson, of R'angitikei, was reelected president. Mr G. W. Ledley, of Ashbnrton, was re-elected vice-president. Eulogistic references was made to the servioea of these gentlemen, both of whom wove nominated by Mr McQueen, of Southland. Nearly all the morning sitting was taken up with discussion of the proposal to change the locality of the Colonial Executive from Palmerston North to Wellington, to abolish the 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 composed of a delegate from each Provincial Council should meet in Wellington ; that the office of colonial organiser be abolished ; and that a secretary be appointed by the Exeontivo, which shall also decide where the secretary Bball reside. Opinion was against the secretary residing in Wellington. The conference concluded its debate ou 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 the freehold and franchise be drawn up and sent to the Provincial Executives, together with such other questions they consider- of eolonial importance to the Union, to he submitted through the branches to the various candidates at the comiDg general election, with a recommendation that members of the collective branches use the weight of their influence to support one candidate only in each electorate who replies satisfactorily to the above questions.”

SETTLING NATIVE LAND 3. iff’cc sprefcs ; Asr*oci atiOß - > Wellington, last night. 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, travelling expenses in connection with tho meetings to. be borne by .the Executive. Other proposals were shat the president should have an advisory committee of three; that the headquarters of the Union be set up in Wellington; that the office of colonial organiser be abolished ; and that a genoral secretary be located in Wellington at sufficient remuneration. On the motion of Mr Olayton (Poverty Bay), it’was resolved to urge upon Government the necessity of effecting a speedy settlement of native lands. The mover said that in his province there were 700,000 aores in the hands of natives and unsettled.

Other resolutions passed were : That the conference reaffirms its previous resolution that at least one assessor should be elected to the. Assessment Court by tbe ratepayers or local bodies ; that the Valuation Aot be amended so ns to provide for recognition of all improvements by the deduotion of the full value of all improvements to tho soil, as well as improvements in Bight, from tho total value ; that only men with local knowledge and agricultural experience be employed as valuers; that the Union oppose the referendum and second ballot; that native lands be placed on the samefooting as European land for the purposes of rating, taxation, and collection; that under the Land and looome Assessment Act allowance be made for improvements made by the expenditure of special loans.