THE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81854, 29 September 1906, Page 2

THE LAND BILL.

PROTESTS BY FARMERS, Per Press Association. Feikling, September 28. Thu largest meeting of t'aimcrs ever held in this district took place co-day, when about 800 gathered to protest against the Government Land ISiil. Colonel Gorton presided, and a number of speeches were made against the measure. An amend men; in favour of the measure only found three supporters. The following motion, by Mr G. G. W. Wheeler, seconded by Mr E. Newman, was carried, amidst the utmost enthusiasm: "That this meeting directly and indirectly representative of rural interests, enters its emphatic protest against the Land Bill introduced by the Government, (1) because it withdraws the optional system of disposing of Crown lands which was approved of at last election, (2) that the renewable leaso as proposed in the Bill will not be a satisfactory way of settling much of the Crown lands remaining, (3) that the proposed offer to l.i.p. tenants to allow them to surrender their leases and have their land auctioned is neither equitable, just or desired, (4) the proposal to limit the area of land either by way of freehold or 'lease has never been before the country, and as the result of it will be to destroy credit, upset present contracts entered into in relation to freeholds and leases, depreciate the security of rural lands for mortgage purposes, and thus ruin many farmers. Though the limitation only affects rural land, it reacts on every individual in the country, and the proposal should not be passed. Therefore this meetinghopes that a'l members who have the future welfare of the people at heart, and especially those who at last election supported the freehold tenure, will be unabating in their efforts to prevent the measure from becoming law." 5

Auckland, September 28.

A meeting of farmers and landholders was held this afternoon to consider the land proposals of the Government.. Mr L. R ti |Phil(lipS ; President of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, presided. Mr R. Hall. President of the Auckland Agricultural Association, moved: "This meeting of farmers records its emphatic protest against the provisions of tho Land Bill, which makes it impossible for settlers on Crown lands to acquire the freehold of their holdings. They consider that a lease without the option of purchase wi'l he unsatisfactory to settlement and detrimental to the best imerqst of the State as tending to discourage settlement.'' Mr J. C. Allen moved, "This nroing also protects against attempts to pass such an important measure without, the country first having the opportunity of considering it, and expressing an opinion upon it." Both resolutions were carried. The secretary stated that letters and telegrams protesting against the Lan:l propos. als and the endeavour to make suoh cliastic changes in the Land legislation without first giving the people of the colony an opportunity .of expressing their views, had been received by the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the Auckland Agricultural Asscciation from thirty districts in Auckland province. Mr Hall said this was an admirable Bill to drive young men out of the colony to Canada and to the Argentine. Dunedin, September 28,

The Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union passed a resolution strongly objecting to the Land Bill as introduced bj; the Hon. the Minister for Lands, and declaring it to be directly opposed to the evidence given before the Land Commission last year. Meetings of all branches arc to be called at once to consider tho Bill.