THE FARMERS' UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 166, 18 April 1916, Page 1

THE FARMERS' UNION.

Its Objects and Aims. The following letter, from Mr A. A. Boss, of Te Kauwhata, president of the Auckland branch of the* New Zealand Farmers' Union, was published in the Waipa Post, of 4th inst., in reply to an article appearing in (hat paper on March 28th : " Sir,—l have read with interest the leader in your issue of March 28th on the above subject, and I must admit that to a considerable extent your criticism is a true bill. Although it has been conclusively proved that the farmers, if effectively combined, have au almost irresistible power, and, although it is plain commoo sense that without effective combination they are, in these days of trusts, unions and combined helpers, yet a great many are conte nt to adopt an apathetic attitude to any movement of this kind, to sit down quietly and suffer loss and injustice, and when anything is being done for their benefit, to share in the benefit without contributing to the cost. It is hardly fair, however, to compare the Farmers' Union with an ordinary trade union. Farmers do not naturally combine. Iu their daily occupation it is each man working for himself in his own way. In their leisure time they have not the same opportunities as the ordinary workman of meeting together, or the same direct object of higher wages and shorter hours. Then, in most cases the trade union has practically the legal power of compelling a man to join its ranks under a penalty of loss of employment— a state of things which is not possible or desirable in thecase of the farmer. The sturdy independence of the men on the land has been the. salvation of the State on many occasions in the world's history, and is a trait, which it would be folly to suppress even if such a thing were possible. It is not ' blind-follow-ing " which the Farmers' Union desires from it members, but intelligent co-operationj and in this respec f , if we recall the state of things say twenty years ago we must admit that great progress has been made by the farmers of this province. It is not too much to say that they are gradually taking chargo of all business matters affecting them so far as that is possible, and if they have not obtained in political affairs the weight which their numbers and importance would warrant, still the Union provides a rallying point of which they are not slow to avail themselves when cccision demands it."