N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1928, 18 January 1919, Page 1

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

BRANCH FORMED AT OTAKI. A very successful meeting oi farmers was held at Otaki on Monday night for (lie purpose of forming' a branch of the sub-provincial district of (lie New Zealand Farmers’ Union. .The attendance was large, and keen interest was evinced in the meet ing. Prior to the election ol chairman, the organism', Mr Tancml Hooper, said he felt elated at seeing such it large and representative gathering of fanners. He thought all would agree that a union, to protect the farmers’ interests, would be a good thing, not only for the farmers, hut for the Dominion as a whole. There was no thought of forming a farmers’ party, the move was just one solely for men on the land, lie thanked Mr Field, the member for tlie district, for the interest be bad displayed, and referred to (lie splendid work also done by .Messrs Bollard, Vernon Weed, and Ryder. Mr Cooper considered I bat if farmers would only lake an intelligent interest in the union they would find the policy would he welcomed by Parliament.ary represen tat ives. Mr F. J. Ryder, who was voted to (he chair, while admitting that he was disgusted at the last meeting — when only ten persons were present- —was pleased at (lie present meeting lo see the largo number of farmers and others present. 'He apologised for the unavoidable absence of Messrs Booth, Taylor and Anderson, who, unfortunately, were ill. -Speaking of 'co-operation, Mr Ryder considered the time was ripe tor every right-thinking man to tie up and doing. In his opinion capital had no rigid to rule the world as it had done in the past, and he advised ail to think deeply on the matter. Things wore different to what they used to be'; (hoy bad advanced, and laborious work hail given way to machinery, and anyone who did no*, wish to make a relrogre.de step should at once act tor themselves. Capital should not bleed labour, or labour bleed capital; both should pull together fur the common good. He believed in paying a honest day’s wage tor a honest day’s work, believed in law and order, and advised all not to allow the Red Fed to run the country into a revolution.

Mr IV. H. Field said the subject under revicuv was one of vital interest to the farmers, and he was pleased to see such a large attendance, and, like the chairman, admitted itivas rime Tor all to be up and doing, The war had changed the current of things, hut what (ho change would be would be bard to guess, though, no doubt, it would bo great. They could see trouble looming in the industrial world; (here were indications of revolution which might spread to this country; From all parts came the reports that tlii' Bolshevik doctrines were spreading. In Parliament (here were a few fighting in its favour, while others were trying to gain, seats. As (he members of such a parly were on the increase, it behoved fanners to see (hat (he-rights of capital and labour were fully maiulained. He knew farmer.-, would not be unfair lo la Dour, but on the other hand would do I heir lies! and be on I he side of generosity. When a union was established he hoped (o see farmers and farm labourers join as members, and hoped also (hat business men would join. Farmers’ unions had been in existence for the past 20 years, and one of the lirsl things he noticed when, he entered Parliament was that farmers were not adequately represented. He had begged of farmers to combine. Branches

wore ultimately set up, and good resulted. There was then great diversity of opinion relative to the question of freehold versus leasehold, and a party was formed to net in the farmers’ interests. Mr Field considered farmers should become a political machine, and by their voice uphold the policy laid down. The time had come when the ability of the farmer should be used to (ho utmost, and he implored all lo'organisc and-become a political power in the land. Tie thought preferential voting should be one of (h« subjects to be discussed by farmer's, and pointed out that in July, probably, a general election would be held, and if so it meant there would not be much time for organisation. He maintained now was lire lime i'o;< farmers to move, combine, and become a political machine. It was un-, fortunate, said Mr Field, (hat some squatters were not in sympathy with the small fanner. He also pointed out that the country was one of small producers, ami considered B should produce ten times (he amount of the present lime. The farmer, said (lie? speaker, should not! sland idly by while all oilier branches of labour—some of which would he deli'imenlal (o (he farmer —were organising. There was also a move on Foot lo form a Bolshevik policy, which would he against the interests of (he farmers. Onco formed, it would make farmers sit up, and later they would awake to find they had no farms. Tire farmers’ interests had been ignored, and the general feeling in the cities was that they were exploiters, Mr Field pointed out that taxation was unfair-, and eon tended farmers were paying more than their fair share. This wasyi question farmers should consider, and he advised every small farmer to make his voice heard. Mr Cooper spoke of (he meat I rust ami the Milk Supply Bill, and considered both detrimental to (lie farmer. If (he latter Bill had been carried (he Palmerston farmers would have been large sufferers, as, no butler works could have been erected within twenty miles of (he town. Production must not be hampered, but increased. The shipping combine also was going to be a terrible menace to (he eurmlry, and would, among oilier things, affect (he fruit industry. Many farmers favoured Stale-owned ships, bill he doubted if il would bo advisable. In any ease farmers must at present realise that the combine has a lot of influence in England, and it will he found that when we want (o load our ships we would he partially eat out, which would ruin us (iiiancially. Taxation was also going to he a serious matter. Sir Joseph Ward said money was not going to tighten much; but he thought Sir Joseph Ward optimistic. Personally he thought it would lighten as it had done after the Bulgarian and Smith African wars; money was an essenliijl thing. Speaking on the farmers'' union, Mr Cooper stated it had been said (hat it was of no good (o (he small man and was only run for (he squatter, Air Cooper pointed out that 7n per cent, of farmers were small men, and with organisation would have thorough representation on unions. The reason the unions were run by big men was because they paid (heir own expenses; it could not he expected that the small man could afford to he away for days and pay his own costs. It the small farmer did not organise and put money into the fund, (hen he could not expect (o he property represented. He was a believer in small unions, and not in favour of one delegate from the whole district voicing the feelings of a large section of farmers. He implored all not only to join the union, but to lake an active interest in it —to do things in a thorough business way, ami not look upon mailers from a parochial point. He advised all lo discuss mailers thoroughly, and jo get the feelings not only of local farmers, hut from all farmers of the Dominion. Some nine-tenths of the products came from the laud, and it was a duty of the farmers jo organise and do their best for the country, besides if they did so they would have'the backing of business men. Air Field urged all farmers and farm labourers to join the union, and thought business men should also be allowed to join. He asked had the Farmers' Union ever tho--ught of altering its name? The name, in his opinion, only indicated that farmers alone should be members. Air Cooper said this was a question that had never been raided, but said the rules provided that farm labourers could be members, while business men could become honorary members by paying half the minimum subscription, but could not vote. He had known instances where the business man had been of big advantage. The Chairman considered business men had as much at stake as (Concluded on page 4.)