FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 212, 13 September 1901, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION.

tTo the Editor of Times.)

Sin, —I was very pleased to see your article this morning, urging the farmers to form a branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. If the farmers do not soon combine for their own protection, they will find themselves completely shut out from power by the other combinations that have been formed in this colony. If a unionist requires or desires attention to any real or supposed grievance he has only got to get his union to bring the

matter under the notice of the Government, and the complaint immediately getrespectful attention. I do not say that that is improper; indeed I. consider it a right method to proceed about business, but tho mischief of it is that all fav- ■ orable attention is focussed on the unionists, while the producer on tho land is allowed to continue on his dreary course of toil. That the union which has been formed by farmers in other parts of the colony is having some effect can be judged by the outc-ry with which it was greeted by time-sc-rving politicians, and the ready manner with which they “ kow-towed ”

when they found that the union had come to stay. Ido not believe in farmers wasting their time in intermeddling with politics, but they should formulate a plat-

form that will insist on some attention being paid to the needs of farmers. At least the people of this district can well join with the farmers in other parts of the colony, and let matters develop in their ordinary course. What is wanted is a firm combination that can make its wants known, and when the power is shown the Union will not have much fighting to do. My idea is that a Union of the kind should have no party lines to proceed on, but should itself by moral suasion mould the public opinion of the colony. That can he done without any

electioneering, and the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union should do it. I think that a branch of the Union might well he formed in this district prior to the holding of the annual Show, and then an active canvass by an honorary committee would he able to secure the name of evert' farmer in tho district, after which tho regular annual officers could be appointed. I hopo that the Times will keep pegging away at this subject, and not let it drop until a really strong local branch of the Farmers’ Union has boen formed.—l am, etc.,

Farmer,