THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1912.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 16 September 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1912.

The Fanners Union has assumed an aggressive attitude, and is likely to become a factor in the determining of political questions which affect the land. Ilio North Canterbury branch had a lengthly discussion last week on the subject of land policy, and eventually set up a sub-committee to formulate a policy for the Union. Prior to this decision being arrived at Mr C. H. Elisor, at whose instance the meeting was called, said hehnd moved in the matter ■ because he felt it necessary to combat the erroneous doctrines concerning land, its tenure, and its taxation being promulgated by cranks, and by the United Labour Party, land nationnlisers, and single taxers. The idsidious nature of the doctrines being pressed upon the public was made manifest by the findings of the Cost of Living Commission, aiu 1 oven there it would be noticed that , the deliberations had been coloured, by them. The findings stated tint the land policy should include measures tc break down land monopoly in both town and country. He was glad tc see that Messrs Leadley, Hall, and Fairbairn and expressed opinions op posed, .to the general findings. Tlu farmers had now an opportunity tc express their view.y mi the question of land legislation, and the basis which be thought they should build upor was that any land that Avas being I made to produce its utmost should not be subjected to any penal tax whatever. Ho would like to make it clear that ho did not object to fts being saddles!; with n fair and just proportion of the taxes of the Dominion, but be strongly protested against the harsh conditions proposed. At the same time he had no sympathy with the individual who held largo arens of land in unproductiveness, or who bold land for speculative.purposes. He would be willing that this class should be dealt with severely, because it would be for the good of the country that they should be. Tt wa> monstrous, however, tint the scientific and up-to-dato fanner who wa? working his land to as good advantage ag if it were split tip into small farms, should be harassed. The fanner, also, who provided comfortable home? for workers on his. farm, and who, by these means, was practically settling people 011 the lancT in a contented and,, happy manner, should have consic\cra-' tion shown to him in the matter of taxation, because he wag doing all that the State could do. Up to the . present nothing had been don? hy*thc State for'the laborers on. the land It was impossible to expect that every man was fitted to go on the land, or that everyone who wanted to could get on the land. Some men were* cut . out tt and he

.thought that tliey wore vastly bettor off on a good place, whore they got a good wage, and. have a comfortable home provided for them, than they would be if they wore settled 021 a small farm c,f their own, without adequate capital to work it, and condemned to scratch along with moo or less hardship for the best part of their lives. What members of the union would encourage was private enterprise, or rather freedom of enterprise, as the old method of loaning on the State and trusting to it to conduct the sett-lemon of the country had not proved all tint was expected of it. Other speakers included Mr. Gardner, who advocated the freehold tenui'e under practically all circumstances. He paid that he did noi believe that the system cf valuing nee-, tions and then balloting for them could be Hone away with altogether, but at least intending settlers could be practical farmers, and some steps should be taken to make sure that they ewre so. Tt was a trade that had to he learned, and a great deal of harm was done by men who hati been brought up to some other trade

going in for land nnd keeping out young fellows who had gone through all the drudgery of learning farm work and practice. Tho ballot system war' also condemned by another speaker, Mr S. Wild, who said it seemed unreasonable that the State shoul<s purchase land and then permit the successful applicants to make il~3earer in I passing ft on. There was something wrong with the present system of balloting, and they should have p system under wliicli bona fide settler? should secure the land. In regard to tho depletion of country popubition by influx into the towns, resulting in a dearth of agricultural labour.' j Mr Ensor declared that if they could I devise a scheme under which . tho j worker could get an option over a I cottage and five acres of land there | would he a big improvement in the I conditions. Something way necessary I to divert the influx into the towns.