EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 March 1946, Page 4

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

N.Z. FARMERS' MISSION j The idea was to set up an international federation of primary proI ducers, said Mr. B. V. Cooksley, the j Dominion presidtent of Federated -Farmers, when explaining in Levin , last evening, the purpose for which jthe forthcoming conference- of j farmers in London was being held. jHe is one of six delegates and the others are Messrs. W. W. Mulholiand, G. Grigg, A. C. Congdon, W. Hale and K. J. Holyoake. Mr. Cooksley said that under UNO certain committees have been set up and one of them was FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation). The farmers of Great Britain had felt that they could not; with all def erence, leave this important subject to govnrnmental representatives alone, and hacT' decided on ealling an Empire con- : f erence. This had been extended to include United States, Danish, French and Dutch farmers, and each country and Dominion was sending six representatives. The aim was to- set up 'an international federation and agree on a constitution, but" before any decisions affecting individuai farmers were W made an expression of farmer : opinion in all the countries concerned would ^be obtained. "We are gorpg to build an organisation which, I hope, will clear up the problems -of hunger and famine in the world and aid peace thereby," declared the speaker. "It seems wrong to have a surplus production in one place when there is hunger in another."