N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 463, 4 April 1919, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Reeling Mr Morgan's and Mr Oldfield's letter*, and your leader, together with the report of the meeting of the Cambridge branch of the Farmers' 1 r nion, it would seem that our Union is in a very bad state. Further, neither Mr Morgan nor Mr Oldfield seem ready with definite suggestions to remedy matters, or state the cause of the falling-off in membership, or failure to pay subscriptions; for, without doubt. th»re is a reason. For insranc ', sme time ago the Pr >vincial Execu'ive's attitude in support sf the six o'clock closing of hotels was resented by a large number of members, many of whom there and then ceased to have anything fuither to do with our Union, and the recent loDg article written and published by Mr Boddie, as President of the Farmers' Union, in favour of Prohibition, I venture to pay will have a still further bad effect. That Mr Bod tie is entitled to his own opinions, and i 9 entitled to publish them if he thinks fit, no one will den\, but that he should use the farmers' organisation to further them is wrong, and is objected to by members. I have taken an active interest in our Union for some years past, and know that this is the cause of the decreased membership in this and surrounding districts, and it is only reasonable to assume that the same feelings exist in others In business, an old customer once lost through dissatisfaction is haider to regain than getting new ones. So it will be in getting the largo number of farmers who were formerly members to re-join. To do so, drastic steps will have to be tab n in re organisation. In fact, I think a xew organisation would be the better course, and I suggest a union of cooperative suppliers, with a wily subscription < f say ss. Farmers, not co-op. suppliers, could be admitted to in- mbership at the samp subscription The subscription .. ay seem low, although I should favour half that am innt, as we should have the memb i.-hip, and, with (food leaders our »ay could lie lei', Mid the subscl . ion advanced laier, if necessary.

That a change is necessary is evident. Th farmers want proper organisation no one knows lifter th ,n the t i mers themselves, but 'hev are satisfied with present conditions, ilence their failure r refusal) to << v subscriptions

Yours, e'e , W. T. BAK.EK Rama Fa na, March •"> Ist, 1919.

(T( the Editor.)

Slit,—l lead wi'h interest Mr Morgan's i t'er, and your leader, ar.d also Mr < ddfield's letter I h-dd with you th it the pr-side: t im-i Executive sh "ltd stand own for new men. T consul ; Mr 80-i iic's sch.-0.0 « confession f .\eakn<s> md ia'i i'v, and a slur on farmer Mr "Idli Id says that i; ho fa:tin - w.-ulil ;-iy tin ir sub' i , ti-• 11- p j ' 'y -II would be w 11. 1 venture to iy the conver -the more correc' i-d ;. if i r r well, or a• v i. •; nk: w.l 1 , Mibsci i j»* ■ ■ » ■ no- in f.:-" ; ngh Foi \ a- I -loii.-.'ain. it : i* th" i. • 1 - oi Executive i of such .11. ub •. • ■ tn i and al ■ ' isapp- ,n:;ii. liar r as to evento . end la -iis.-i-t i • it I was always characeiiM'd m i ,;t of >"bol ag i . tin- I i i• ■ r: In I ' • :. > one wh i i not icil i identic ■ • v the same id v hi tin- E\»-. -■ iiv»- o t ro he-trinr. 'Ju - n- - 1 .'■■rwaid Wi -• it 0.-. n ii, ~ meiits, but 'ao way - f " did Ii • Executive a jaovc " 1' alw \-- se< m»d to n . -jo, that the Ex«a ifdid ro* w;a,' any subject bro-o in . forward, no matter how good lor faru ers, that would cause continuous haul work All rh'-v wanted »o

have was a resolution " urging the Government " etc., no continuous hard work attached to it, only talk, and it seemed to ma that it did net matter whether the Government took any notice or not. The numbers of resolutions or remits, sent to the Government ami no more hoard of, would astound farmars if published.

Now, I consider a Farmers' Union should be a useful body. Good for the farmers, and good for the country generally, too, not an offensive or prsdatory body, but a practical aid and exponent of farmers. And the lirst tiling it should do is fo alter its theoretical methods, and t > insta! practical work It means hard work and no " Government billets " but we will have to do it if we are to keep alongside other countries. To that end a ■' collective credit " should be established, and every branch of the Farmers' Union should be a farmers' financial &genc.y v aad a farmers' educative ' centre, and so pjur the life blood of assurred tiaance and information-into agriculture. This is beiug djcfhe in other countries, but I could never persuade our Executive to listen to it. They Foemed to have the ostrich-like idea or sticking their heads intone sands of dried-up methodss#-ajd saying they could not see Mything new. Take Siberia. Prior to the war it was quoted as likely to oust our butter from the market. For the tiiree years prior to the war Siberia iiistituted 15,000 farmers' financial agencies, and lent out £50,000,000. Even Russia, since the revolution, his doubled the number of her farmers' agencies. America has lent millions, also; but New Zealand sticks to the old antedeluvian methods.

Of course, the Farmers' Union could do much more, but that is a good start. As for the proposed paper run on right lines, it could do much good, but it would need to be on quite different lines to anything so far tried.

Yours, etc., SAM. A. BROWNE Clove-lon, March 29th, 1910.