FARMERS’ UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4453, 14 August 1922, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

PAEBOH BRANCH. A meeting of the Paeroa branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was he’d in the Criterion Buildings on Friday night, when about 60 members were present. In the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr G. A. Wilson), the vice-president, Mr L. E. Cassrels occupied the chair. There were also present Mr Colbeck, an aspirant for the Ohinemuri seat, Mr Forbes Eadie, district organiser, and Mr L H. McAlpine, a member of the Provincial Council of the Union. Addresses were given by the three visitors, Messrs Eadie and McAlpine covering muc,hi of the same ground as previously reported,' with the exception of the aims and platform of the party.

Captain Colbeck also covered a lot of the ground that Mr McAlpine had explained in connection with the agricultural bank. In dealing with the matter of contesting the seat he said th,at the position now was that it seemed they must make a bargain with Mr Massey, otherwise Mr Ppland would slip in between them; in other words, our vote is for sale. He h.ad offered it to Mr Massey, but had not yet got anything definite. Unless they got the thipgs they asked of Mr Massey they were going to fight this electorate. The Country Party had been the chopping block long enough. They were the people of the Dominion, namely, the producers, and •should demand their rights. There was a world-wide movement at the present time to organise the farmers, and ae hoped to see them well organised in New Zealand this year. He dealt al some length with the agricultural bank?, shipping bill, meat pool, waterside workers, taxation, railways, and post office matters. In concluding his address he se.t out that the Farmers’ Party had got to the stage whep they could make a bargain with Mr Massey. and were prepared to sell their vote, provided that a banking Bill, shipping legislation, general legislation for pools, and a drastic retrenchmcn policy were brought down this session. If Mr Massey would give them these things this session they would be satisfied. He was in earnest in these matters, but was not particularly anxious to contest the shat, as a man getting to 65 years was getting on. He had only stepped in to “fill the bill.” After the addresses the following resolutions were passed:

Proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Mr Geo. Buchanan: “That this branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union request Mr Polsop, the Dominion President, to use alj his endeavours to get Mr Massey to pass the necessary legislation this year to enable the formation of a farmers’ mortgage bank.”

Proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Mr Vuglar: “That this branch request Mr Polson to urge on Mr Massey to pass the necessary legislation to enable a Primary Producers’ Shipping Company to be formed." Mr Buchanan recorded his vote against this resolution, as he contended they required to know more about it before voting or asking the matter to become law.

A number of new members were then enrolled.