DAIRY FARMERS UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4542, 21 March 1923, Page 2

DAIRY FARMERS UNION.

NEW BRANCHES FORMED. Mr A. E. Fear, organising secretary' of the Dairy aFrmers’ Union, has been lecturing through the Lower Waikato during: the past week, and branches in Bombay, Tuakau, Drury, and Papakura have been formed. On Saturday, March 17, Mr Fear addressed dairy farmers in the Papakura Hall, Mr J. R.. Wilson presiding. The speaker stressed the need for the dairy farmers to organise. There was pever a time in the history of producers of the Dominion when the farmers should get, together and put the finances in order H not the present, he said. Labour had proved the value of organisation, and had made it possible, to double their teprjesentatoin in Parliament at the last, election. “We do not want a Farmers’ Party,” stated Mr Fear. “It is absurd, the attitude taken by the Auck- 1 land executive of the Farmers’ Union to create a Farmers’ Party. What would be the use of a' Farmers’ Party without the z support of the farmers behind it. Mr Polsen does not support the Farmers’ Party; Hamilton executive is divided, and Morrinsville is prepared to stand by Mr Massey. “We as a daily farmers’ union are non-political,” continued the speaker. “Seeing organisation Js the order of the day, let us get together and make our wants known by organisation, and the Government in power will do its best to assist the farmers. We must have cheaper money, so as to increase production and help the farmers in their financial difficulties. If the Moratorium is lifted, what is going to be the position with the average farmer ? There is £14'6,600.000 unde • the Moratorium,” stated the speaker. “What will happen if in June, 1924. the Moratorium is lifted ? A rush on the money market, and high rate of interest, and ruination of hundreds of farmers. The finances of the Dominion have got to be arranged. The Dairy Farmers’ Union has a proposal to place before the mortgagee, the mortgagor, business men, 'and the Government,’’ he said. “We do not want to wait until the eleventh hour, so have arranged conferences in Taranaki, Palmerston, Wairarapa, ami Waikato districts to suggest a remedy. The aims of . the Dairy Farmers' Union are to keep the farmer on the land, double the production of ths dairy herds by testing, culling, and using only red pedigree bulls of high butter-,fat production,’’ said Mr Fear. Mr Fear stated that the Dairy Farmers’ Union had *l6O branches formed, with three provincial executives —Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Wairarapa. Another was to be formed in Pukekohe early in April, representing the Lower Waikato. A central executive, to be formed in Wellington in June, would* represent all the dairy farmers in the Dominion.