LAND LEGISLATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9138, 10 July 1908, Page 5

LAND LEGISLATION.

FARMERS' UNION REMITS

In regard to land legislation there are a great many remits from provincial branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to be considered at the conference set down for 28th July, at Wellington. A motion from Auckland reads as follows:—"That this conference protests against any attempt by the New Zealand Government in the direction of land nationalisation, and considers the legislation of. last session, by which nin« million acres of Crown Lands were removed from the optional system, when thrown open for settlement, is the first step in this direction." It is further affirmed by the Auckland branch: "That no option of the freehold tenure is satisfactory to the farmers of this country unless provision is made by which the selector can acquire the freehold of his section, after he has complied with the conditions of residence and improvements; and that the optional system should apply to all land equally with Crown Lands." Southland and Otago forward almost simi ■ Jar motions.

A motion from the Taranaki Union asks the conference to decide, "That no tenure is satisfactory to the farmers of this country that does not provide for the selector of Crown or surplus Native lands acquiring the freehold uf his holding; but the conference considers that the, title so acquired should be saddled with similar conditions as to area as the original lease had"

The Wellington Union recommends: "That the Government be urged to amend the Land Act so as to give-all'.'Crown tenants the option cf purchasing the freehold of their lands at- the originr.l value and the payment of the difference between the four per cent, now charged on the lease-in-perpetuity and the rive per cent, charged to tenants with the right of purchase, and all future lands disposed of shall carry th j right of purchase." The Poverty Bay Union recommends: "That the Government be urged to amend the Land Act, so as to, give the L.I.P. Crown tenants, other than those settled on resumed estate lands, the option of purchasing the freehold at a fair value." In regard to Land ' Boards, the Hawke's Bay Union asserts: "That in the interests of,, the people of this Dominion it is imperative that at.least one member of the Lands Purchase Board and Native Lands Board shall be elected by the people in each land district."