THE FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 23

THE FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE.

This conference was held in Invercargill on May 29 and about 70 delegates were present to , discuss the tru’y gigantic order paper. Mr E. K. Sim, the newly-elected president, has filled the position before, and kept things moving very Capably, the business being concluded in time to allow the delegates and visitors to attend the annual dinner in the evening. It is noticeable that the Eastern District is much more strongly represented at these conferences than the district lying north and west of Invercargill. but whether this is a virtue or othetwise is a matter of- opinion. Naturally the economic questions of to-day in various forms, were the theme of many remits, and just as naturally all the discussion that ensued led and will lead nowhere Too many farmers at present sccin to think that they are the only section of the com munity that is being affected by the slump, and could the Farmers’ Union make laws instead of recommendations there would be some legislation placed on the Statute Book that would nearly if not quite cause a revolution. It seems strange, too, to read of a practical farmer fathering a remit suggesting nutting unemployed on 50 acre blocks, and letti”” them workbut their own salvation. There are today in Southland manv men who own sections of about this s’ze, with no encumbrances, and who are forced to register on the unemployed to get a living for themselves and families. It would hardly be correct to sum up the whole conference as a waste of time, as these round the table discussion lead to interchanges of opinion that is in many cases useful, but the net results achieved sometimes appear to be small.