FARMING AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 3, 29 August 1944, Page 5

FARMING AFFAIRS

Sir—The article inserted by Mr E. J.' Whyte on the 11th inst. in relation to the New Zealand Farmers.' Union is quite corect in all its details, and was inserted to combat ccrtain untruths which were being eirculatcd in this district. The membership of the Union is open to all persons engaged in farming, and all have equal voting powers. The Union is, the only body which stands tor the protection of all sections of farmers, as it is composed of members of all sections. Mr Bell in his letter of 15th inst. asks why the Auckland Provincial Executive issued a circular regarding compulsory unionism. His statement is entirely misleading and incorrect ) as the executive's desire is a genuine endeavour to obtain the. opinion of its members on the question of compulsory unionism which has been raised from time lo time by by submitting the matter to them for their consideration. A postal ballot is also under considers-

tion. The Auckland Provincial Exe* cutive is not directing the branches which'way they should vote on or any matter. Mr Bell's remark* regarding the constant war between-, the Auckland executive and the Dominion executive are to say the least, misleading; there has been no war; the differences arose' from the fact that the Auckland executive having adopted a more radical pro-* gressive and fighting policy years ago which included the uniting of all farming have been conr stantly endeavouring to convert the* more conservative minded element of the Farmers' Dominion represent tatives with at last considerable success. They give a strong support to any plan which has as. its objec-. tive t the uniting of, all farmers. Ift Mr Bell is serious in his remarks re-« ferring to the somnambulistic statet of the Auckland Provincial Exeeu-** tivc T can onlv suggest that he was during the period in question tin-r wittingly emulating the inaction cf that mythical person Rip Vant Winkle. Yours etc., J. MULLINS.