Farmers' and Settlers' Association of New South Wales

[2] The foundation president was G. F. Plunkett (c. 1847–1902)[3] and the secretary M. M. Ryan,[4] (c. 1859 – 21 August 1919),[5] who acted as delegates to the land conference held at Cootamundra, their appointments ratified, along with the election of W. Walsh as treasurer.

[7] They resolved that Government should release more land for farming, but with the proviso, to prevent further land-grabbing by wealthy pastoralists, that successful selectors must live on their claims.

[8] In its early years much debate centred on the competing fiscal philosophies: protectionism v. free trade, the free-traders generally having the upper hand.

The Sydney Morning Herald, which had paid scant attention to its existence, for its tenth annual convention devoted whole pages to each of the five days' deliberations.

[28] Campbell proved ineffectual in the position, and Harry J. Stephens was de facto editor from September 1906.

At the Association's 1910 convention the executive was authorised to again establish an official newspaper, and on 27 January 1911 the first issues of The Land were printed, to a barrage of criticism from the Farmer and Settler.