THE LAND BILL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8733, 6 February 1907, Page 2

THE LAND BILL.

Farmers’ Union Campaign

(Per Press Association.) Paiiiati'a, February 6.

Messrs Cooper and Matheson, representing the Farmers’ I uiou, addressed a meeting here last night on tha Laud Bill from the freehold standpoint, die Mayer presiding. Mr Cooper said that the Minuter of Lauds had unwarrantably attacked the Farmers’ Union on all the platforms on which he had spoken, and it was for this reason that Mr Cooper and his colleague had had been appointed to try and 'remove the false impression. Mr Cooper contended that the land legislation of Mr Rjllestoa was the best ever introduced, because it gave land on easy terras and enabled tenants to acquire freehold. The lease in perpetuity was a bad tenure for the poor man, but Mr McNab'e G(> years’ lease was infinitely worse. Various other proposals of the Laud Bill were dealt with by Mr Cooper and strongly opposed. Mr Matheson detailed his experiences as a member of tha Land Commission, contending that the conseasusMf feeling in the country was in favor of the freehold. He twitted the Minister of Lauds with having changed hi< opinions on the land question. A motion was unanimously pissed in favor of giving Crown tenants the option of the freehold, and also thanking Messrs Cooper and Matheson for their addresses.