The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1900.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 17, 8 October 1901, Page 2

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1900.

During the past fortnight two very important public meetings were held in Motueka. Through a variety of of causes, the attendance of settlers was poor, which was to be deplored for many reasons, as the subjects dealt with vitally affect their interests. We refer to the meetings to consider the advisability of joining the Nelson Fruit Grower's Union ; and, also, to establish a branch of the New Zealand Farmer's Union in our midst. Combination, or co-operation, was the essence of the speeches; judging from the remarks of i those who addressed the meetings the necessity for taking action, iu the direction suggested, was both apparent and urgent. It was pointed out that far-

iners, as a class, were si aw t> organise for the protect ion of "their own interests, the result being that, single handed, they would never be able to get an equitable and fair return for their labors, or. a meliorate their condition. By combining, a better state of things could be looked for all round. The fruit growing, combination was more of local than colonial importance. The objects of the Union were clearly explained by Mr Batt, the representative sent from Nelson, and so far as we can understand, the grower who becomes a member is only prevented from selling his fruit in open market in localities where the "Union has depots. He can still dispose of his products locally to the merchant and can execute orders sent to him privately. That the Union, as an institution, will be able to place its fruit and produce on the market on more favorable terms is self evident. By having fruit properly graded, and an executive officer preventing certain markets being glutted, as has been the case for years past, to the injury of the shippers, a better condition of affairs must be brought about. We would strongly advise growers to grasp this opportunity of bettering themselves. If they manifest indifference on the subject, and fail to help themselves by combination the future outlook will, indeed, be gloomy. We shall refer to the proposed formation of a Farmer's Union here in our next issue.