Farmers Must Combine for Strength

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 58, 11 March 1944, Page 8

Farmers Must Combine for Strength

NATIONAL ORGANISATION PROPOSAL Questions were asked at yesterday's meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union as to why the proposal for ono strong national organisation of primary producers was not being actively pushed, but Mr. R. H. Buchanan (chairman) was unable to offer any reason beyond suggesting that he understood that the trouble was with representatives of the Sheepowners’ Federation in the South island. Mr. Buchanan held the view that every other interest should be subordinated to that of creating a strong national organisation embracing all primary producers. Farmers must awaken to their responsibilities and he urged that as they were responsible for fully 95 per cent, of the wealth of the country they should be so organised as to have /. representative voice in the affairs of the country. He went on to mention the threat of a world-wide labour organisation which, he stated, had plans for handling all primary production ’ according to statements published in ; the cables from overseas. Unless farmers were prepared to organise themselves into a solid body they would be up against greater difficulties in the future. He moved the following motion: “That this branch urges the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union to call an early meeting of all interests concerned with a view to bringing one big union of all primary producers into being.” Seconding the motion Mr. B. McLeod said that there was no doubt that the position of the primary producer was becoming serious. He referred to the discussions between Australia and New Zealand by the Labour Governments about better conditions for the workers throughout the world, and while farmers had nothing against the workers he would say that unless the primary producers of New Zealand did something to counterbalance this proposal, they would be left in a very serious position. “We all heartily agree with the motion and I am sorry and disappointed that the movement is not going forward,” said Mr. D. L. Younger. There must be something blocking the proposal for one strong union, he said. Mr. McLeod: Perhaps apathy. “Is it apathy on the part of our leaders? asked Mr. Younger. “If so, then we will have to have someone who will go ahead with the scheme. We cannot afford to wait as it is very vital indeed,” he said. Mr. H. A. Stewart said that he felt very strongly on the subject of the proposed national organisation of primary producers. “If we are going to get anywhere we must be united. The whole tendency to-day is to combine f&t strength and it is up to every farmer to get behind the union right away.” He was also disappointed to find that progress was delayed. As far as ho could ascertain the whole of the sheepowners of the North Island were in favour of the scheme but a few in the South Island were opposed to it. “It seemed that most of the opposition came from the president of the Sheepowners ’’ Federation,” remarked Mr. V. B. Short. Practically all New Zealand was in favour of it but for oue small spot in the South Island. Mr. H. D. Richardson agreed that that was the position from what he could gather. Mr. L. Hammond had gone to Christchurch to meet the Sheepowners’ Federation interests but did not get a very enthusiastic reception. I-lon. J. G. Cobbe strongly urged primary producers to insist on the creation of the one organisation. Farmers, he declared, were the most important body in the country and unless they were prepared to act and act quickly they would soon find themselves occupying a subordinated position. The whole trend of things pointed to that. The high wages paid on the waterfront came from the produce of farmers and they should be vitally interested in the handling and disposal of theif* produce. He referred to the