N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 21 November 1910, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TAUAXAKI EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the Tarunaki Provincial | Executive of tin? New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Thursday. Present: Messrs. .J. Davidson. E. Maxwell. Sergei!, A. L. Allhusen. J. Thomson. R. Lambie, A. Hunter. E. Marfell. U. Preece. Leave of absence was granted to the president, Mr. J. \V. Jones, and Messrs. Cleaver and W. Roger*. Mr. J. Davidson, vice-president, took tlie chair.

TILE ESSAY. Mr. Thomson enquired what was the amount promised in connection with the proposed essay upon the achievements, standing to-day, and the prospects 01 the Farmers' Union in the future. Mr. J. B. Sim. Provincial Secretary, replied that £l2 18s lOd had been collected, and with other amounts promised the sum at present totalled £2B 18s 10. The committee previouslyappointed to deal with the matter of going on with the proposals reported that they had been unable to meet. The Executive decided to leave the question with the committee, who will advise at next meeting if there be sufficient money available to go on with the scheme.

AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP. Some time ago the Wanganui Education JJoaril brought under the notice of the Executive a scheme for a proposed University scholarship for boys taking a secondary agricultural course at district high schools. One of the conditions . that would govern the scholarship, was that the students, after they had finished their course, would have to become special instructors. Mr. Allhusen said the Kaponga branch would not support the proposal while that condition was stipulated. Other members agreed with this.

Eventually Mr. Allhuseu moved: That the Wanganui Education Board be asked to alter the conditions of the agricultural scholarship to the effect that a student winning the scholarship be offered the position as instructor, but that the acceptance by the student shall be optional.

Mr. Lanibie seconded the motion, which was carried. The Executive further instructed its secretary to advise the Board that if the compulsory acceptance clause be retained it might prevent reasonable support being accorded to the scheme.

In the course cf the discussion Mr. Hunter pointed out thnt the Board desired to get competent instructors to take the various agricultural classes. Members agreed that, this was a laudable object, but thought it was not right that the students should become compulsoriiy instructors. Some students might desire to take up the position as an instructor, or on the other hand to go bac-k to the farm.

PARIHAKA LAXD. Mr. Maxwell informed the executive that the Public Trustee was now advertising native land situate near the Pari : : liaka village, for a short lease of .21 years, with no right of renewal, with compensation up to £2 only. He thought these terms were unjust and that they should induce the Public Trustee to give more liberal terms. The country in the Parihaka block was over-run with weeds, and before the settlers had got their land cleaned tiieir land would probably be a mass of weeds. The compensation proposed, £2, would not cover the cost of felling the wood, let alone the grassing. The European would only be working in the interests of the native to whom the land would revert. Mr. Lambie said what Mr. Maxwell had stated was news to him. He agreed that the conditions were not right and that £5 compensation would be nearer the mark. After some further discussion, Mr. Maxwell moved the following resolution: "Having seen the advertisement by the Public Trustee that certain native lands in the Newell Run are offered for lease for 21 years without right of renewal and oniy £2 compensation for improvements the Taranaki Executive wishes to respectfully appeal to the Public Trustee to alter the conditions c« the executive is satisfied that they are unjust for the following reasons—(l) That the tenant would have to spend at the least £4 per acre before any of these lands could be brought into profitable occupation: (21 that experience ha? shown in this locality, owing to the nature of the .bush, there is a difficulty in getting good bush burns, and years are lost before any return is obtained and the remaining years of the definite term of 21 are required to make up the loss of time with back rent and interest and leaves no chance o? recovering the difference between the actual cost of improvements and the £2 allowed: (3) the lands are adjacent to open native lands and infested with weeds and as soon as cleared are certain to be similarly overrun. unless a greater incentive is offered to tenants to control them than under the conditions now advertised."

Mr. Lambie seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.—Star.