FARMERS AND THE LAND BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 3

FARMERS AND THE LAND BILL

MR. M'NAB’S CAMPAIGN. A well-attendpd social, given by way of farewell to Mr Lionel R. Phillips, president of tho Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, on the occasion of his departure from the district, in which he has been a resident for over 30 years, was held at Helensville on Friday evening last.

In proposing the health of their guest, which followed that of “The King,” the chairman said tho Phillips family was well and favorably known all through the district, in which they had spent over 30 years. They wore especially proud of Mr L. Phillips, the president of their provincial executive and the chairman of the Helensvillo branch, who was a staunch upholder of the freehold and of the union platform. Speaking of Mr McNab’s Northern tour, Mr Dye expressed satisfaction at its results. . The Minister had set out to convert the Northern settlors to his leasehold views, but lie thought he must be rotarping South a disappointed map, as tiie North was solid for the freehold. (Applause.) He was proud to seo the ex-member for the Waitcmata, their old friend Mr Monk, had taken such a prominent part in that campaign and to read his utterances in that morning’s paper. He urged every member of the union to stand solidly together in defence of their platform, as if the Government managed to carry its leasehold proposals there was a danger that some of them would lose their freeholds. He expressed regret at Mr Phillips’ approaching departure from the district. As provincial president he had proved himself the right man in tho right place—a farmer from end to end,'and what was better a right down freeholder of the bulldog type, who would not let go his grip of the freehold to grasp at the shadow of the leasehold tenure which the Government was offering them in exchange.

Mr G. J. Garland, speaking in support of the toast, said‘lie had always found Air Phillips sound in his views and actions and a consistent supporter of the union platform. Mr Evans also supported the toast, which was very enthusiastically received,

Mr Phillips, in responding, said that anything he had done to merit their confidence had been forced upon him by a sense of duty. If he had been able to accomplish anything for them and for the Farmers’ Union the credit really belonged to the Phillips brothers, who had relieved him of his duties towards the firm so that he Could devote L i time and attention to the business of the union. He intended to take a trip to the

1 Old Country, and liopod on his return j to make his homo in Now Zealand, Tho Holensvillo branch was ono of the 1 strongest in tho union; it had always ' stuck to its guns, and ho hoped it would coiitinup t'o do so. Later in tho evening, in proposing “Suecoss to tho Now Zealand Farmers’ Union,” Mr Phillips mado a stirring address, pointing out that tho primary producing industries occupied a commanding position in tho oxport trndo of tho colony, and that it was upon thoso industries that tho prosperity of tlio people largely depended. Tho Farmers’ Union desired to have thoso industries watched and safeguarded, though not at tho oxponse of other industries. There was, ho felt, never a time in tho history of the colony when thoro was greater need for watchfulness on tho part of tho union, and for its members to ho united and determined. The freehold was tho most satisfactory form of tenure, silico it promptod all a man’s best energies in the development of tlio soil. If the leasehold proposals now before tho country wore 'carried it. would simply mean that tlio man on the land would become the tenant of the man in tho city, who did not care to work the land for himsolf. 110 thought, as a result of Mr McNali’s travelling through tlio colony, ho would receive such a severe lesson that ho would drop tho Bill altogether. Sir Phillips wont on to urge watchfulness in regard to the tariff, which must he maintained on revenue lines, and also on the question of extending the local government franchise.