N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otaki Mail, 15 January 1919, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Trior to organiser, Mr Tancred Cooper, said lie felt elated at seeing such a. largo and representative' gathering of ..farmers. •Ho thought all would agree that a. i union, to protect the farmers' interests, would be a good thing, not only for the farmers, but 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. He 'thanked Mr Field, the member for the district, for the interest he had displayed, and referred to the splendid work also done by Messrs Bollard, Vernon Reed, and Ryder. Mr Cooper eon- ' sidcred that if farmers would only take an intelligent interest in the union they would find the policy would Ift! welcomed by Parliamentary representatives.

Mr F. J. Eyder, who was voted to the chair, while admitting that he was disgusted at the last meeting—when only ten persons "were present—was pleased at the present meeting to seo> the large 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-opera-tion, Mr Byder considered the time was ripe for every right-thinking man to be up and doing. In his opinion capital had no Tight to rule the world as it had done in the past, and he advised all to think deeply on the matter. Things were different to what they used to be; they had advanced, and laborious work had given way to machinery, and anyone who did not wish to make a retrograde stop should at once act for themselves. Capital should not bleed labour, or labour bleed capital; both should pull together for the common good. He believed in paying a honest day's wage for a honest day's work, believed in law and order, and advised all not to allow the Rod Fed to run the country into a revolution. Mr W. H. Field said the subject under review was one of vital interest to the farmers, and he was pleased jto see sueh a large attendance, and, like the -chairman, admitted it was time for all to be up and doing. The war had changed the current of things, but. what the change would be would be hardy, to guess, though, no doubt, it would be great. They could see trouble looming in the induslrial world; ther were indications of revolution, which might -spread to this country. From all parts came the reports that the Bolshevik doctrines were spreading. In Parliament there were 3 few lighting in its favour, while others were trying to gain seats. As the members of such a party were on the increase it behoved fanners to sec that the rights of capital and labour wero fully maintained. He knew fanners would not be unfair I" labour, but on the other hand would do their best and be on the side of generosity. When a union was established he hoped to see farmers and farm labourers join as members, and Ixopcd also that business men would join. Farmers' unions had been in existence for the past 20 years, and one of the first things he noticed when. JiC entered Parliament was that fanners, were not adequately represented. He £t7id begged of farmers to combine. Branches were ultimately set up, aTid good resulted. There was then, great diversity of) opinion relative to the question of freehold versus leasehold, and a party wasYormed to acjLin the farmers' interests. Sir Field considered farmers should become a political ma- j chine, and -by their voice uphold the ; policy laid down. The time had come when the ability of the farmer should . be used.to the utmost, and he implored , all to organise, and become a political j power in the land. He thought pre-; ferential voting should be one of the • subjects to be discussed by farmers** and pointed out that in July, probably,' a general election would be held, and it so it meant there would not be nvucl, time for organisation. He maintained now was the time for farmers to move] combine, and become a political ma chine. It was unfortunate, said M_ Field, that some squatters were not ii sympathy with the small farmer. H also pointed out that the country wa one of small producers, and eonsidere/. » it should produce ten times the amount of the present time. The sab the speaker, should not stand July b; while all other branches of labour—jj some of which would be detrimental t«, tke farmer —were organising. There" was also a move on foot to form a Bol- | shevik policy, which would be against I the interests of the farmers. '- Once formed it would make farmers sit'up, and later they would awake to "find they liad no farms. The farmers' interests tad been ignored, and the general feeling in the cities was that they were exploiters. Mr Field I pointed out that taxation \vas unfair, and contended farmers were paying imorc than their fair share. This was a question farmers should eonsiaer, and he advised every small farmer to make his voice felt.

Mr Cooper spoke of the meat trust and the Milk Supply Bill, and sidered both detrimental to the farmer. If the latter BilLhad been carried the Palmerston have been large sufferers, as no " butter -works could have been erected within twenty miles of the town. Production must not be hampered, but • increased. The shipping combine also was going to bt a terrible niesfc&e to the country, and *nrald, among leWer, things, affect the fruit industry.' TSltytfy; farmers favoured State-owned thipsi'but he doubted if it, Tould be any case farmers must at present realise that the combine has 7 a lot of influence in England, and it Will be found that" when *b want $p load «ur sMps we wotdd bo

I partially shut out; which, would ruin {is financially. Taxation was also going to bo a serious matter. Sir Joseph Ward said money was not going to j tighten much; but hp'./ thought Sir (Joseph Ward optimistic. Personally he 'thought it would tighten as it had done 'after the Bulgarian and South African ('wars; money was an essential thing. /Speaking on the farmers' union, Mr ] Cooper stated it had been said that it '] was of no good to the small man and * was only run for the squatter. Mr Cooper pointed out that 75 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 their own expenses: it could not be expected that the small. man could afford to be away for days and pay his own costs. If the small farmer did not organise and put money into the fund then he could not expect to be properly represented. He ■ was a believer in small unions, and not in favour of one delegate from the whole district voicing the fcelings""of a largo section of farmers. He implored all not only to join the union, but to take an active interest in it—to do things in N a thorough business way, and not. look upon matters from a parochial point. Ho advised all to discuss matters thoroughly, and to get the feelings •not only of local farmers^but from all fanners of the Dominion. Some ninetenths of the products came from the land, and it was a duty of the farmers to organise and do their best for the country, besides if they did so they would have the backing of business

Mr Field urged all farmers and farm labourers ta join the union, and thought business men should also be allowed to join. He asked had the Farmers' Union ever thought of altering its name? The name, in his opinion, only indicated that farmers alone should be members.

' Mr Cooper said this was a question , that had never been raised, but said the ; rules that farm labourers could bo 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 farmers, and should be entitled to air their views—they were equally interested in the welfare of New Zealand. He conit wrong not to allow the business man a vote, and asked could not the rules be altered.

Mr Cooper said they could be altered by working up a polity and forwarding propositions to the executive to modify or enlarge; it was probable the rules would be icvised. Branch Formed.

On the motion of Mr H. Moffatt, seconded by Mr Geo. Wells, it was unanimously decided to form a branch. On the motion of Mr P. A. Gillies, seconded by Mr T; <s"'Eourkc, it was resolved that the branch join the M'anawatu sub-provincial district, and that the minimum subscription be £l, with a recommendation to the incoming executive that :i sliding scale be adopted. The following were elected officers: — President,,Mr T. O'Rourko; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. M. Simcox and P. A. Gillies; secretary. Mr F. J. Ryder; delegate, Mr T. O'Rourkc; executive, Messrs H. F. Blair, A. J. Podcvin, and G. Wells.

Mr Cooper asked that all help by making donations, and stated that ho hoped to get £.IOOO in the Wellington district. When this sum was secured an office, staff, etc., would be set np. He then moved that hearty votes of thanks be accorded Mr Field, who has helped in urging farmers to organise, and Mr Ryder, who had done- much for the success of the meeting. Mr Field, in returning thanks, considered that as the district's representative in Parliament he was only doing his duty. He urged upon farmers to consider such questions as the health of the people, the education of the young, the settlement of soldiers, and the like. He added that co-operation was needed as there were rumours that there would soon be a strike to prevent