Cooperation of Farmers

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 June 1910, Page 4

Cooperation of Farmers

MR EUSTACE LAXE'S VIEWS

At last meeting of the Gisborue Brandh of the Farmers' I'niou the folllowing letter was road lrom Mr Eustace Laue. and was llield ovei for considerafcion at next meeting: "J lint; 11, 11)10. To the Secretary Gisbonie Branch Fanners' Inion. Dear Sir,- I notice tlmt jnn have a meetiing advertised tor 2 p.m. today. UiiifortuiKitely, 1 a,m only passing through to Aiickkuwl, and sh'all not lie able to attend. Hut I .4i.itll be glad if you will bring up the following matters fur discussion this afternoon. Fii'st 'and foremost, 1 want to say that it is of pressing imporlkuiee that farmers .should take a hand in business. 1 urge upon you the necessity for coinniomi'.'il ctvisperation aiiid tdie iiiuinediiate promotion of a Farmers' Cooperative Company similar to the TLiwke's Isav Fanners' Co-opera-tive and the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative. If the larger farmers will eonve in and make cotmnon cause with the amall men. and assist them with their credit balances. the small men will contribut; valuable business; the venture will be sound financialy and fair to all. returning giod interest oil capita, invested, and large remissions and rebates to the smaller farmers contributing businir'ss. To the counIfir.v as a whole the co-operation fanners is a .«ound and beneficial economic proposition, because as tlit Concern grows it can absorb othei institutions without hardship to individuals or depression of values. ''What I would next urge unon you is the necessity for 'Political Combiination,' and as common ground for the hig and little farmers to medt I would suggest the question of 'unearned increment' a hobby which the Tress are .at- ''resent ridiiug to death. If one sec-t-ion of men toiling on the land an-, to pay toll in 'this direction, a.ny thinking man will quickly recognise that an increment tax .must apply to all land, freehold or leasehold, s111;111 or la rgo ho'ldijgns. The cry just- now is .that the Crown tenant should not be entitled ito so-eallea 'unearned increment' on Ibis land, and .should not be allowed to transfer his lease for jis much as lie can get. Mr Lloyd-George has applied kh.is theory to the unearned increment ot city and sui)iirl>an land in uis Budget, with some justice, foi that is where there is a most remarkable increment created by the. man oil the laud, hut here in Xe.w Zealand the tendency of quack politickinw and a. prostituted Press is to put the cart before the horse .Hid tax farm and pastoral lands. I'lieivifore J urge you to combine politically and govern the couintn yourselves. "And in this connection T thinl< you will be wise not to allow the Dominion Conference of .Farmers in Wellington on the 12th duly to i>ass witlhout sending a delegate from your wealthy bay. I know you have an important remit to forward on the questioin of the organisation of the 'liieat trade, which T content, o.an- only be done by getting it all into the farmers' hands by nxaus o! co-operative companies. I do n:t believe iu a Government Grader, because 1 think there are better men outside the Government than, iu it. and meat is r,>t butt: r. i:or will oil and water mix.

"Now. next in importance to tih.s questi;m of co.iniikTrial en-operation ;in:l I'll'! taxation. I put the <|iicst.ion ;,f land tenure, for tu :..y mind, as a pr;'ft.il farmer, it i< no fetish but lies at the root <:•!' .lie land problem, a-u.d I believe the cue simple. fair, and consistent s. 'ition is *.liv freehold, with limitation of area and system of y.uall freeholds. 1 pn.po-u 1 to move at ■tlhe Ponninioii Conference that ito all Crown leases, past. present. and future, shall attach a riglht of purchase up to a fu'i'tain area to 'be •acquire - ' at that price at which it would hare been offered bad .the optional t •jiure of land obtained whenever laud was offered. T surest that this right sliall never expire, but .always exist for the safeguard and security r:l the working farmers, who are the luMirt of our young nation. I am positive th'at this will tend to national and individual prosperity, nn.i inv belief is founded on the n',"nrtunifv 1 'liave had of watcliing the workings of the land laws as a member of the Land Hoard. Do not e frightened if the cry is raised, '•'Why, that would be a breach of faith with the landless public!" foi the .tenants' lease has already been breached by the State, and if to hi.s disadvantage wliv not insert a condition wlioih will eventually not only be t'o his bervefi-t, but will benefit- all by promoting sound and perniainent settlement and intense cultivation and improvement, and a cessation ol speculation.

"I am also suggesting a means by which 'the whole existing demand for land in New Zealand can he settled, and everybody, with c without means, given an opportinni'.v to go on the land if they want to, but if tlliev like to part with tin::' birth,right 'tr a niessof pottage they cannot expe<'.t the State to stw>oi)foed them again. This promsal of inijie takes the shape of .suggestion to convert the affairs of the Advances to Settlers Department into an Agricultural Hank, on the lines of the West Australian Agricultural Bank, and eliminate cwice and for all political influcncc by making the liianagenieiiit to Parliament and not to Cabinet."

"Xo'W, finally, T urge upon you Mie_ wisdom and urgency of o.stahliisliing -hra.iK'lies of the union oil mil settle mo, u'ts where a I ready associations exist, such ■ns Te A rai S<d tiers' Assofimtion. fo-r thev are already a union of farmers, find won/'I he just the organisation to work in the direction of the .suggestions I have made. Tf tlieir subscrrptiO'ii to the uniion could he made to cover the. cost of retaining n clever lawyer to advocate applicatioiis before the Land Board, and if iifcessarv itake them oil to the Supreme Court, the union would indeed become a power in the land, and immense 'economies and benefits be conferred. on have a man in Gishorne whom T could point out to you. as an p.xcellent Lodge Ln.w Dootor!

"I trust'! I wive touched ii'po.n niattt'ii'S which will bp of interest to von all, but I cannot close w.ifrlroult lio]>1112: tliiiit lie-fort* till" next r-oiii-os you will nil have »vi«elv tie rifled hi form a Central Rir-r Hoarf. mi t*lie lines of my suggesT-io-ii in Hir remit on tho -subject wlwcli the rfjurke's li;ir Land Bunrd dec.id.'.l yesterday did nrit ronrern "Voiirs ever faitlifuilly, " EUSTACE LANE, "Provitefcnmf President 11. B. Farmers' Union."