FARMERS UNION.

Motueka Star, Volume III, Issue 117, 26 September 1902, Page 4

FARMERS UNION.

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. Following is the list of questions as finally formulated hy the colonial executive of the N.e .v Zealand Farmers’ "Union iojr presentation to candidates at the general elections : l. Grants for Roads and Bridges.— (1) At. present these depeud on the will of the Minister. Do you approve of this ? (2) Once these sums are voted should they not be spent and not allowed to lapse ? (3) What is your opinion as to the grants being spent by local bodies instead of the department.

2. Sale of Crown Lands.—What is your opinion on this question in relation to the provisions of the Land Act being rigidly adhered to, so that purchasers can have the choice of the three tenures provided for in the Act viz., purchase for cash, lease with option of purchase, or lease in perpetuity? 3. Freehold Tenure of Land—[l] are you prepared to give the right to Crown tenants to convert their holdings into freehold, provided they have complied with the conditions, and also provided that no transfer be registered unless it has attached to it a declaration similar to that of the Land Act and Land for Settlements Act ? [2] If your answer to the above question is in the affirmative, would you give the right to the purchaser to pay cash, or make payments over a term of years and allow reduction in rent to be made in proportion to such payments ? 4. Taxation of Native Lands — Where native lands are benefited by the expenditure of special or general lates, are you in favour of their bearing similar taxes to land held by Furopea i.s ? 5. Customs Tariff*—[l] Are you in favour of the Customs tariff being for the purpose of raising revenue ? [2] Or for protective purposes ? 6. Fair Rent Bill.—Are you for or against the Fair Rent Bill ? 7. County Franchise. Are you for or against county and Road Board franchise being given to ratepayeis only ?

8. Insurance Would you support a Bill to enable farmers to form mutual insurance companies, as in Canada, where the system has been found successful and reduced the cost of insurance very materially ? 9. Parliamentary Honorarium—The honorarium was increased in 1901 to <£3oo without consulting the electors. (1) Are you in favor of members increasing their pay without the sanction of the electors ? (2) Are you in favor of reducing the honorarium to .£240

per annum ? 10. Co-operative Labour on State works. —This system of dealing with public works is said on the one band to be an improvement on the contract system, and on the other hand to be a very costly system. Will you advocate the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the system of co-operative labour, in order to settle the question of cost, and advisability or not of continuing it ? 11. Triple Electorates. —Are you in favor of returning these in the cities or returning to single electorates ?

12. Retrenchment. —The Farmers’ Union Conference expressed alarm at the largely-increasing public debt and departmental expenditure. (1) Would you be in favor of lessening the expenditure of bon owed money ? [2] And economising in the public service by retrenchment ?

13. Assessment Courts. —Would you be in favor of amending the land and Income Assessment Act so that the local Iwxlies may appoint one assessor to sit with, the Judge of the Asses ;ment Court ?

14. Workmen’s Homes —Will you urge upon the Government the noce.--

sity of purchasing lands in congested districts with a view of assisting farm workers to make homes! for themselves-: 15. Farmers’ Union Platform —Enclosed is a copy of the Farmers’ Union [platform. I)o you subscribe to it, and i,f so, will you pledge yourself, if elected, to place the interests of the Farmers’ Union as laid down by their platform before party ?