Waipukurau Progress= ive.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1910, Page 4

Waipukurau Progress= ive.

" ♦ —— THE FARMERS' UNION REDIVIVUS. TTS ADVANTAGES KECOUNTED \\ nipukitriirAU is nwaking from xvlisit one local exponent of the not altogether obvious described as " tlie sloth of let things slide." An indication of the renewed activity was seen last Tuesday, when a meeting of farmers was hold (to consider the question of . resuscitating the local branch of the .Farmers' Union. At the meeting Mr A. Read briefly outlined the objects of the meeting, and introduced Mr J. Beatson, of Hastings, to those present. Mr Beatson said the idea of those responsible for the meeting, was the formation, or rather the re-estab-lishment, of a branch of the Farmers' Union, or, failing that, to persuade the farmers to become members of other branches. The Fanners' Union had been in existence for a number of years, and during that period was responsible for a lot (tf good work. in the Tlawke's Hav district they were somewhat dilatory— there were only two branches. In Auckland matters were different; they were very much alive, and they should be so in Hawke's Ray. The farmer was a power in the land, and by concerted action be could make that power felt in the legislation of the Dominion. Let the Union be strengthened. The good work that bad been accomplished in the past should act as an incentive in the future. Three years ago, when the shearing trouble arose in the South, it wa sthe Union that carried the day. Tt was the Union that was instrumental in getting the Bill passed for the establishment of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. In four years they had £90,000 worth of fire risks in Hawke's Bay and a reserve, fund of £'5800. In urging all present to give in thoir names as members of the Union, Mr Beatson said they wanted the support of all. Let the well-off mail join, but they must not depend upon the big and wealthy to do any work; they were all too lazy and too tired to be of any use that way. That would fall oil the shoulders of the small man, and he was quite confident that the work would bo done. (Ap•ilause). Mr A. L. Eraser said he was present as one of the members of the executive committee, willing to cast bread upon the waters in the hope of immediate return. The speaker dwelt at some length on the advantages of the Farmers' Union, the good work it had achieved and its great possibilities in the future. Speaking of the letrislation of the Dominnn. Mr Eraser asserted that the city exercised too much influence; the voice of the country had not been quite strong enough. Out of the £20,000,000 worth of products produced by New Zealand last year, the land was responsible for £ 10,000,000 of that amount. He did not wish to raise the cry of the city against the country, but he warned the farmers of the danger ahead if they allowed themselves to be dictated to by the ignorant and unthinking people of the cities. Independent thought and action, was required, and it was the absolute sacred duty of every landholder to join the Union. Tt- was resolved, unanimously, that the branch be formed.