PROVINCIAL STATUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 74, 17 January 1947, Page 5

PROVINCIAL STATUS

FEDERATED FARMERS IN BAY POLL FAVOURS SEPARATE ORGANISATION Another milestone in the protracted controversy between the Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the Auckland Province of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was passed into farming history recently when a poll was taken among the interested farmers of the Bay of Plenty.

The question mooted at the poll was whether the farmers in the Bay of Plenty area would elect to stay within the ambit of the Auckland provincial area or whether they would form an organisation of their own, responsible to headquarters in Wellington. The result of the poll was: That the Bay of Plenty be a province of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, 516; continuation of Bay of Plenty as a sub-province of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Auckland Province), 418; majority, of 98 for separation.

The ballot papers were Issued on November 15, 1946 and the closing date of the ballot was December 12, 1946. The papers were counted on Friday, December 13, 1946 and the following statement was signed by both scrutineers, Mr A. E. Robinson for Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Auckland Province) Inc. and Mr S. A. Wells for Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc. (Bay of Plenty Province): “We the undersigned, have witnessed and recorded the voting papers concerning the plebiscite in the Bay of Plenty area and state that the voting was carried out to., the satisfaction of both parties.” At the first Dominion conference of Federated Farmers of New Zealand the following additional resolutions were carried:—

“That the Waikato be recognised as a province of Federated Farmers.

“That the Bay of Plenty be allowed not more than two speaking members and two votes. “That this Dominion conference stands by {he agreement signed by Mr W. N. Perry on behalf of the organisation and that as far as the Bay of Plenty is concerned we feel that the only practical way of resolving the difficulties is for a plebiscite to be taken in that area in a manner to be decided by agreement between the Dominion Council and the parties concerned. “That in the event of the plebiscite in the Bay of Plenty being favourable to a separate province this conference authorises the Dominion Council to make all necessary arrangements for separate provincial status and that if the plebiscite in the Bay of Plenty is unfavourable to a separate province the set-up of Federated Farmers in the Bay of Plenty be, until the Bay of Plenty determines otherwise, a sub-pro-vince of Federated Farmers (Auckland).

“In reference to the report on the Bay of Plenty, that failing ratification by Auckland Province, the question of ballot be decided by the Dominion Council.”

Mr S. J. Parker, secretary of the Tauranga organisation, stated in an interview that he was communicating with headquarters so that an organiser could be sent to consolidate the position and bring every farmer in the area into the new unit without delay.