THE LAND CAMPAIGN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8351, 7 February 1907, Page 5

THE LAND CAMPAIGN.

ATTITUDE OF THE FARMERS'

UNION

MEETING AT PAHIATUA.

By Telegraph—Press Association. PAHIATUA, February 6. Messrs Cooper and Matheson, representing the Farmers' Union, addressed a meeting here last night on the Land Bill from the freehold standpoint, the Mayor presiding. Mr Cooper said the Minister of Lands had unwarrantably attacked the Farmers' Union on all platforms on which he had spoken, and it was for this reason that he (Mr Cooper) and his colleagues had been appointed to speak, and if possible remove any false impression that may have been created. The Minister could only be regarded as a freeholder, and in attacking the freehold, which undoubtedly the proposed Bill did, it was like old friends falling out, and becoming bitter enemies. It was quite justifiable to change one's opinions, and for a man to do so required considerable moral courage, but it was as well for others to judge the reason, if there was one, for this change. Mr Cooper contended that the land legislation of Mr Rolleston was the best ever introduced, because it gave land on easy terms and enabled settlers to acquire the freehold. The lease-in-perpetuity was a bad tenure for the poor man, but Mr McNab's 66 years' lease was infini itely worse. 1 Various other proposals of the Land Bill were dealt with by Mr Cooper, and strongly opposed. Mr Matheson detailed his experiences as a member of the Land Commission, contending that the concensus of feeling in the country was in favour of the freehold. He twitted the Minister of Lands with changing his opinions on the land question. A motion was unanimously passed in favour of giving Crown tenants the option of the freehold, and also thanknig Mr Cooper and Mr Matheson for their addresses.

MR M'NAB AT PATEA. PATEA, February 6. The Hon. R. M'Nab addressed a meeting at Patea, this evening, in explanation of the Land Bill. He dealt exhaustively with the proposals contained in the Bill, his remarks being on the lines of previous speakers. At the conclusion of the speech the following motion was moved:—"That while this meeting apreciates Mr M'Nab's address it is opposed to any Land Bill which does not give the Country settler the benefit of the freehold."

To this the following amendment was moved:—"That this meeting accords Mr M'Nab a hearty vote of thanks and approves of the general principle of the limitation of large holdings, and thinks that provision should be made by the way of endowments for education, charitable aid and old age pensions." The amendment was carried by a large majority.

The Minister was frequently applauded during his speech.