FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 51, 18 July 1912, Page 5

FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

A NON-POLITICAL BODY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney. July 17. The Farmers' Conference has adopted a system of registration of members who" will take the place of unionists handling produce who may strike. A visiting Victorian delegate urged tlwt if the Association was going to do anv good it mint be a political one. The New Zealand Farmers' Union had started as a non-political body, but soon found it had to be political to be of any use.

NEW SOUTH WALES LAND POLICY. Received 17. 9.25 p.m Sydney. July 17. At the Farmers' Conference resolutions were carried in favor of decentralisation by the opening of new ports connecting with the railways and protesting against the Government's land policy as against the best interests of the State. Mr. Beeby, addressing the conference, reiterated the Government's intention to adopt a system of perpetual lease with the first five years of occupancy free of payment. The first appraisement would be" at the end of twenty-five years. Dealing with closer settlement, he said that the Government had devised a scheme whereby in the course of time it would be impossible for anyone to hold more than £.5000 worth of unimprovedvalue land within ten or twelve miles of a railway. A year would be given to owners to divide, and at the end of the second year a super-tax of 2d in the £ would be imposed on holders above the amount mentioned, rising in the fifth year to eight pence. Owing to the large prices paid for estates purchased by the Government for closer settlement a good deal had been left on their hands. In future they intended to purchase wheat lands, equally good, for which they would pay 15s an acre instead of £5 4s to £7 as previously.