FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8477, 3 July 1907, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION CONFERENCE.

LIMITATION OF HOLDINGS,

The first business dealt with by the Colonial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, yesterday, after the President had delivered his annual opening speech was consideration of the remit on land tenures, and the Land Bill, on which questions the order paper contains twelve motions. Mr J. C. Cooper (Masterton) moved: "That this conference, while considering the past land proposals of the Government crude and unworkable, is not opposed to the principle of limitation of areas under some equitable system." Speaking to his motion, Mr Cooper said that this was the first time the conference had really discussed the freehold limitation question. The union certainly had a plank in its platform on the subject, but that only referred to the leasehold of Crown lands. It was not for the conterence to provide a system for the Government, seeing that the latest land proposals of the Government were not yet known. He contended that the statements made that the aggregation of estates was still going on were not founded upon fact, for there had been disintegration during recent years. The aggregation that had been going on was in the backblocks, and. such action had been for the mutual good of settlers and the State. The Wellington Land Board had cut up the holdings too small and settlers had sold out to neighbours, the latter by this means being able eventually to get holdings that -were workable. Mr J. McQueen (Taranaki) seconded the motion. Mr E. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved as an amendment: "That this conference, while considering the Government land proposals crude and unworkable, is of opinion that until all Crown and native lands in the colony have been settled, the union oppose any interference with existing titles, such as limiting the area that can be held of lands for which unhampered titles have been granted, and considers the power of the Government under the , Lands for Settlement Act is sufficient." The mover was convinced that limitation would operate against the small farmer as well as the large holder. Captain Bell (Auckland) seconded the amendment. After considerable discussion the motion was carried on the voices, and limitation was affirmed.