FARMING AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 1, 22 August 1944, Page 4

FARMING AFFAIRS

Sir, —I' have noticed during th? past few weeks ( in the daily papers, reports of a resolution being passed by N.Z.F.U. branches in the. Auckland province, to the effect that all farmers be compelled to join the Farmers' Union. If as Mr Bell states this remit, went to branches as a circular, it discloses a state of affairs which should be very closely studied by "all farmers. It is common knowledge that only a age of members attend these meetings, 25 to 30 per cent being the usual. The total membership of the N.Z.F.U. is approximately onethird of all farmers. Even allowing these figures to rise a little, it looks as if 10 per cent or less of the farmers are. trying to impose their will on the other 90 per ccnt. If there is no "Nigger in the woodpile" why was this intention not advertised or a postal ballot taken, giving all farmers an opportuity to express their opinion. I might say here that. 1 am not at all averse to compulsory unionism for farmers' sliaremilkems and farm workers. Observe the great power of the Industrial Unions since they started. But I believe in unquestionable methods and that would require a majority vote of all farmers not a majority of a small sec-; tion. only. Also sha'remilke.rs and farm workers organisations should be allied to the farmers' not Industrial Unions. Yours etc., Wm. I. WALLACE.