Strong National Organisation Of Farmers Wanted

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 8

Strong National Organisation Of Farmers Wanted

MUST PUSH AND FIGHT FOR THIS! “We must push, and light for one strong national organisation of farmers/ ' declared Mr. R. H. Buchanan at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Provincial executive of the Fanners' Union at Martou when supporting a resolution urging the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union to call a meeting of representatives of all sectional interests to discuss proposals to this end. It is now nearly twelve months since the proposal was advanced and it was time, he claimed, that some real acti.m was taken. Farmers as a body would have to tako action if they desired to preserve their interests in the postwar period. Other sections were busy organising and he referred to the action now being taken by the primary producers iu England. The proposals of the British Uabour Party included control of exchange and also the control of prices for primary products. What were the farmers of New Zealand doing? He favoured one strong national organisation embracing every farmer who would have his sectional interests fully represented. After Mr. B, McLeod had seconded the proposal, Mr. L. Hammond stated that he had attended a meeting in Christchurch with representatives of the Sheepowners’ Federation. Mr. Begg, president of tho Sheepowners’ Federation, said Mr. Hammond, did everything to block every suggestion the Farmers' Union offered towards removing obstacles in the way of amalgamating the interests. Mr. Begg. said that his federation agreed to |. federation of primary producing interests so long as it did not interfere with his organisation. “We made proposals for which wo had no authority," said Mr. Hammond, “in an effort to reach agreement, but Mr. Begg would not agree. Mr. W. Glenn was most irate over the situation because he is very keen on tho one big union of farming interests." Mr. Hammond went on to say that he felt that the majority of sheepowTners in the federation were in agreement with the idea and if a vote were taken the proposal would bo endorsed. There was only a little opposition in a part of Canterbury. Mr. Richardson recalled that at a conference between representatives of the Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners' Federation in Wellington last year there was agreement to amalgamate. “It appears to me that there aro only two men stopping progress and the sooner they aro removed tho bettor," he declared. “We feel that this matter should be

pushed,” said Mr. V. B. Short, who went on to opine that the main bar to progress appeared to be the Sheepowners' Federation. He thought that it would be worth while getting a branch of the Sheepowners ’ Federation to take the matter up. The resolution was carried unanimously without further discussion.