DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

KAIMATA, (From Our Own Correspondent.) The usual monthly meeting of the Kaimata branch of the Farmers' Union 1 was hold aI. (he hall. Raimata, on Tuesday, the 2flth. Tliorc was a good attendance. Mr. Davidson in the chair. Five new members wove admitted. Tt was resolved that Mr. J. B. Simpson s request to address members be acceded to. the discourse to be limited to half an hour The matter of benzine supply was dealt with, the general opinion heinjr that the farmers were beiiiS exploited. It was stated that one farmers' concern ,was likely to be able to supply shareholders at a lower rate than those ruling hitherto, and. the matter was allowed to stand over.

Mr. George Capper brought up the subject of Mr. Newman, M.P.. and the donation of surplus wool.profits to the dependents of our naval heroes, and it was resolved, on the motion and seconding of wool-growers present, to heartily endorse the proposal. Mr. fieorge Maekie, secretary of the branch, read his paper on "Land Acquirement," which evoked considerable discussion, in response to the author's invitation for criticism. Mr. Mackie, at: the outset, claimed that his scheme would, while allowing a- man to acquire 'his own land, abolish mortgages and interest or rental. As an instance, a man wished to buy 100 acres at ,-CiiO per acre. .The Government would buy the land, allowing the prospective owner to pay 41 per cont. on the capital value, J per cent, to go for administration, the remaining <1 per cent, to pay for the land in 2f> years. In the meantime, and at the end of the term, the farmer could only sell the value of his improvements, and the land could never be mortgaged, but would be free for all time. If the land were sold, the values of manurial contents of soil and the improvements would be paid by the incoming farmer after a valuation by a Government officer and one appointed by the seller. The funds necessary to finance the scheme were to be procured by the payment, of civil servants by note issue, but the author did not seem very clear as to how the issue got on after passing out of the hands of the payees. Asked as to what gold reserve would be held to back the notes or buy in the issue, the author said he did not believe in ''Gold bugs and mortgagees." Tiey should be done away with, and he Also had very little time for a gold currency. He further said paper money should be the means of exchange, and when the Government required a milljon of money for outside purchase they should acquire a million worth of produce instead for overseas' trade. Mr. Mackie frankly said he had not any knowledge of financial methods, and this became selfevident in his reply to further questions, as he said lie w'ould' substitute note issue altogether for gold coinage. Mr. G. Capper brought down the house by relating the illustration used by Mr. Richmond Hursthouse, a politician of years back. He said it was like the New Plymouth people gathering pipi shells from their beach and attempting to swap them for Auckland goods, to be met with the response that Auckland has quite as many pipi shells as New Plymouth and no use for theitf Most of the, members seemed to think tjjp mortgagee was like an Irish policeman—a necessary evil, and it did not seem very feasible that he would be satisfied to withdraw after being paid in notes, only we would have to put up with him a little longer.