FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1916, Page 11

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

SWISS IN SOVftl TARANAKI

CREATE SOME COMMENT.

By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Farmers' Union Conferene* adopted remits urging the Government to instruct the responsible officers to a more careful study of the formation of the country when calling up land for settlement, and see the boundary lines and roads are placed in the best possible places.

That on the purchase of land for closer settlement the County Council or local authorities in that area be represented in the location of roads and in the formation of drainage of same. That the Government be urged to construct wheel traffic roads into new blocks of surveyed land before opening same for selection, and push on the work 6f present roads in baokblooks, Mr ' ■R- Dunn (Taranaki) moved: 'That the land laws.be so amended that no enemy alien subject or nnflaturalised person or anyone of full enemy alien blood and birth be eligible to acquire freehold of land in the Dominion." The mover said that the mon at the front when they returned might find land they should have the right to occupied bv unnaturalised persons. Land should be the birthright of boys of New Zealand. There were many Swiss in his province who were of doubtful loyalty, and they should be -debarred from holding land unless naturalised,

Mr. Maxwell seconded. Some of the Swiss in Tnranaki were of German blood; and their sympathies were with the enemy. In view of the fact that land would be required for returned soldiers, it was wise that the holding of land should be restricted.

Mr A. K. Campbell (Wanganui), said he could not support the motion in its present form/ He knew of Germans fighting for the Empire. Herman Jews of the Dominion were thoroughly loyal and would be glad to go to the front if they would be accepted. He was in favor of forbidding any German or Austrian being director of any commercial company.

Mr. Ross moved an amendment, "That the Government be requested to see that men of alien blood or birth who arc Ineligible for enlistment in inilitnry forces should not obtain any advantage over our own men in the matter of the disposal and settlement of Crown lands." 'After further'discussion the motion was withdrawn and the amendment relegated to the Supplementary Order Paper.

Several remits were adopted urging far greater provision of land for returned soldiers and easing the conditions in cases of tenants under any Lands Act "who arc serving at the front, The Conference also resolved that all present and future occupiers of rural national endowment lands be granted the option of purchasing the freehold