The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1901.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 19, 15 October 1901, Page 2

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1901.

Accordißg to reports, the establishment of a local branch of the New Zealand Farmer's Union is an assured fact. The canvassers appointed have received every encouragement in their mission, and the necessity for combination to safeguard their own interests has been recognised on all sides. The principal objects of the Union, as set forth in the Report issued, and now

before us, are "to foster ,the interests of the farmers,, fruitgrowers, and settlers of New Zealand; to promote the opening up and settlement if Crown and -Native lands, and the formation and improvement of means of communication, to obtain cheap freights, and to place the sale of produce and/the purchase of material required by agriculturists on a satisfactory basis. The Union to keep a vigilant watch on all measures brought from the House of Representatives, and on the working of the present laws, and protest against any measure deemed injurious to its interests. Should measures be proposed or become law affecting the interests of the Union then tliemembers of the Union are advised to vote only for those candidates at any election who .pledge themselves to carry out the demands of the Union." It will be remembeied that Mr Fisher, who ad—dresed the settlers in Motueka, in referring to. the political portion of the programme, stated that when the Union was started polities were kept in the back ground, and even now, the Union would only use its influence to secure the return to parliament of candidates (irrespective of party) who pledged themselves to look after their interests in the Council Chamber. If this course is adhered to, the farmers, as a class, will be able to speak with no uncertain sound in the future. Apart from political considerations, the Union can accomplish much good for its members by securing reductions in freight, improved land laws, cheaper loans, better education for their children, and a thousand and one things which could not be got by farmers individually.