FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 157, 28 July 1909, Page 2

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. DESIRE FOR THE FREEHOLD, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. The colo wil conference of delegates of the pro;. :ial branches of the New Zealand Fanners' Union opened here today.

Mr. J. -G. Wilson, who presided, said he thought the year had been one of encouragement to them. He referred witli satisfaction to the fact that the, Arbitration Court had refused to make un award in the agricultural laborers' dispute to tie down fanners to certain hours and have restrictions placed upon their work in addition to other difficul-

ties with which they had to contend. This would be to further increase the cost of living and decrease the opportunities of making one. Some of the anomalies, he said, would require to he adjusted when the shearers' award ran out. The election of 1008 had been a triumph for the views of the Union. It was a source of gratification to the Union that the socialistic element in the new House had decreased rather than increased, and that a majority of the Mouse in favor of the freehold had been returned. Mr. Wilson showed that h ten .years up' to 1908 the taxation on the land had increased from £267,280 | to £537,840. It was safe to say that land had paid a greater ratio of taxation than any other form of taxable property. Altogether land paid wellnigh two millions sterling' per year in taxes. Based on the number of landowners in the Dominion, he calculated each land-owner paid taxes which amounted to £l2 7s Gd per year, or £l7 6s lid if the general taxation were

added. Referring to the mortgage tax and the agitation that it should be.brought under the same heading a,s the income tax, Mr. Wilson said the present difference had a deterrent effect on money-lending. He also referred to what he termed the extravagance of the Government—particularly in reference to post office maintenance, alterations, etc. The president alluded to several warnings by the Premier that the taxation might be increased, and he asked: "Is it not therefore our duty to tell the people of the Dominion that we are developing the country at a greater rate than population can take advantage of!" He went on to ask whether members of the House should not be urged by the electors to stay their hands on the demands they make on the .public puree. He expressed gratification at the advance made in the consideration given to military training, and said that the personality of the Minister of Agriculture had not been, he thought, to the Union's disadvantage. The president said if Parliament again refused to grant power to the Crown tenant to convert his leasehold into freehold there would be a good many political graves to 'be dug. He expressed the hope that members of the House would receive active reminders that they were expected to keep their pledges. By refusing the right of purchase to Crown tenants the Government was leaving a 6pleadid source from which its successors would be able to supply money both for continuing the land for settlement policy and the public works. The sale of land to Crown tenants would probably bring in a sufficient sum of money to open up and settle the balance oftthe Crown lands. If monies were ear-marked and a proper system .established for the distribution and expenditure of money by local bodies, the House would become something more than a big hoard of works. THE CONFERENCE'S RESOLUTIONS. Wellington, Last Night. After considerable discussion it was resolved: That the time -has arrived when Maoris should be granted the same political and local government privileges as those of the European race; that every effort should be made to individualise their lands and that when individualised such land should be liable to rates with power of distraint; that when areas are held in common the Government be liable for rates, such rates to be a charge 071 the land, the Government have power to take over such lands, with the exception of cultivable reserves at valuation of the whole, the purchase money being held in trust for such natives as can prove their interest.

Other resolutions were adopted as follow: That the Land Act be amended so that when all improvement and residential conditions have been complied with, present and future Crown tenants should have, the right of converting their leaseholds Into freeholds at its actuarial value on a 5 jjer cent, basis, those who have paid 4 per cent, paying the capitalised value of one per cent, for " tpr ni of years the lessee has occupied tile land.

That tenants under the Lands for Settlement Act have a similar right, provided that payments mav be extended over a period of vcars, if so desiredprovided further that in no case shall a lessee have the right of purchase of a greater area than that allowed :n the various land Acts.

That this Conference again emphatically protests against the continued increase being made by the Government Valuation Department on the unimproved value of rural lands of the Dominion.

That the Conference protests to the \ aluation Department as to the excessive values placed on properties, principally based on the very high rates tW ° JearS * or ,)ro "