FARMERS BANDING TOGETHER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 4

FARMERS BANDING TOGETHER.

//["'■-■■ ■■..»''."" ■ ■■■■'„" TO CAST A SOLID TOTE.I ißy Telecrapn.—Press Association.! - Christchurch, October 26. The executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union to-day discussed in committee proposals for the organisation of farmers with a view to political action. After the ■ proceedings an offi-. cial .report to the following effect was supplied to the newspapers:— "A report was .submitted that ■ stated that the organisation of voters in other industries . made, it necessary that farmers should 1 organ-' . , ise for their own protection, politically independent, of -party,... ■•since '.' politicians largely form their opin- .' ions to . suit the largest organised , ; section of voters. To,carry out this .organisation a fund ' should be established to be called "The Farmers' Political Fund,' and'that a committee of five should be ap- ' pointed by the executive to administer it; and arrange'for carrying out • the work of the organisation by "appointing organisers, and in other' ways."- -■ ,- ■ ■ •'■■•'■ ■ ' .•- ' - 1 - ■••■•

Mr. Wilfrid Hall moved the adoption of the report, Mr. C. H. Ensor seconded, and said that the scheme proposed was one that he thought would be fair both to the large and small farmers..lt would permit of a large protection fund being raised., and of a large section of voters being: organised. The larger the fund was,, the more could, be spent in : educating farmers on the necessity for them-casting a solid vote. The labour unions had Vbecomo sucli a large Organised vote that some politicians framed their opinions and their legislation with the view of catching, that vote. In view of the danger to farmers, in the absence of. organisation, it; was imperative that they should organise before the next: general elections in order to seoure their share of representation in Parliament, The successes of-the--Labour party, .'in securing the Government of the Commonwealth and of New- South Wales, ought' to convince ! the farmers of New Zealand that they . must nieet combination with combination, and they should combine before it was too late. He advocated the employment of organisers and lecturers and stated, that it'-should- be unnecessary to fight any..particular-poli-tical section because the whole of their energy would be better.expended in the formation of a Farmers' Party strong enough to exert a powerful influence over existing political parties. By the time 'c-f the general election., they might , be strong enough to' return representatives whose intention it would be to make the interest of-farmers' their first oonsiderav tion.;; ■•. ■ - ' : '

, i The report was adopted, and it was resolved to refer it- to all the branches in the provincial: district for their earlier consideration. ;