FARMERS' UNION MEETINGS-

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 421, 25 October 1918, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION MEETINGS-

A very -enthusiastic gathering of farmers met in the Kohe Kohe Schoolroom on Tuesday, October 15th, to hear an address by Mr S. Oldfield, the Organising Secretary for the Franklin district, on questions of vital importance to the farming community and also on the advisability of forming a Kohe Kohe branch.

Mr Oldfield gave a lucid and comprehensive demonstration of the advantages to the farmer by closer organisation throughout tho Dominion to enable him to take a keener interest in the political questions of the day governing the production, transport and marketing conditions of the farmers' produce. He pointed out that the formation of small branches with real live men in every country district, kept in constant touch with the other branches of the Union, would go far towards cementing the organisation into a concrete whole, capable of fighting the battles and upholding and preserving tho interests of the farming community. Mr Oldfield also dealt with Good Roads Association, Hy-dro-Electric Power League and Mutual Fire Insurance.

At the close of the address a local branch was forming of almost all those present. Mr F. Harcombe (President) Mr H. Ashworth (Secretary and Treasurer), and Mr Harcombe was appointed delegate.

A well attended meeting of the Glen brook Branch was held last Thursday evening, Mr C. Hodgkinson in the chair.

A number of questions of local importance were discussed including extermination of rabbits. A suggestion that with a view to improving the quality of New Zealand butter a greater difference should be made between the price paid for Ist and 2nd grade cream, did not receive the support of the meeting.

In spite of the inclemency of the weather a number of farmers gathered at the Otaua Hall last Friday to consider the question of the formation of the lecal branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr C. Motion presided. Mr Oldfield, District Organiser, in addressing the meeting pointed out that although Waiuku Branch had over 160 members on the roll only a few attended the meetings. That was mainly due to the fact that most of the members lived a long way from the centre. It was therefore thought desirable to form branches at Otaua and Aka Aka. The general feeling among the farmers throughout New Zealand, he said, was that the time had arrived for them to take a more active interest in political questions. The huge amount of profiteering that had been going on during the war had not been in the best interests of the primary producer and has had a disastrous effect on the cost of living throughout the world. Experts had recently shown that the unjust profiteering on meat and wool alone had run into over 16 million per year. The farmer was generally blamed for making large profits, but when the high cost of fertilisers and other necessities were taken into consideration his net profits were little more than before the war. The farmer was as loyal as any section of the community and would not complain if these profits were made by the Imperial Government instead of going into the pockets of merchants and manufactuers The huge profits made by shipping combines Mr Oldfield stated were a menace to the welfare of the Dominion. Freights had risen from 7s od to £4 7s on a bale of wool and from 3s 8d to 10s on a carcase of mutton A ship was thus able to earn in one cargo more than it cost to build before the war.' Unless some action was taken by the Imperial and Dominion Government that state of affairs would continue for a long time after the war was over Mr Oldfield contended that the interests of the farmers and the workers Unions were almost identical. Strong organisation would have to be formed in every town and country to be ready for the coming conflict with capital.

Other important questions were dealt with, and at the close of tho address the meeting decided to form a branch Mr (J. Motion was elected President and Mr J. Crouch (Secretary and Delegate). Tho President moved a hearty voto of thanks to Mr Oldfield and tho same was earriod by acclamation.