N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Shannon News, 7 September 1923, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

BRANCH FORMED IN SHANNON

On Monday evening at the Maoriland Theatre Mr T. Buxton, Dominion lecturer and organiser ol the New Zealand, Farmers’ Union addressed a fair attendance of fanners. Mr R. Tippler presided. tvir Buxton explained the position of the Farmers’ Union to-day and compared it with the organisation of year s ago 1 . !;He gave a number of examples of the necessity' for the united elfoit on behalf of the primary producers, showing that every unit ouiside that ol the primary producers were thoroughly organised and working on their own. behalf. The fanners, who were the producers of the wealth of the country had hi the past, been very careless in ithe matter of organisation. He gave an 'instance ol the position of the meat market before £,nd alter the Meat Control Board came into operation, which clearly showed that the coming into existence ol the Meat Board had proved a very large benefit to the m/eat producers. He also explained the position of butter on. the London market when the Imperial Government released 850,000 boxes of butter which had been held under rationing conditions during the war. This being thrown on the market had resulted in butterfat dropping in price 8d or 9d per lb which would have been disastrous to producers had the price been allowed to remain at that, level. The N.Z. Farmers’ Union and Dairy Association got into touch with the Government with the result, that the Government promised, To 'guarantee the amount required to x purchase the butter and to have it put on to the market as- required instead of throwing in one, dump and causing a slump. The result, of tins action was that in a very short time the price of New Zealand butter was on the upward grade, and has proved, fairly steady ever since as an outcome of which this yea.r’s pn.ym/eihs to suppliers had varied from Is 6d to Is tOd uer lb, which must he admitted as being a big benefit not only to thq primary producers but to the Dominion as a whole. The sneaker also spoke on shipping hanking, ate. At the conclusion of the address b was resolved “That a branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union be formed in Shannon, to hie known as the Shannon branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union.” Mr R-. Tippler was unanimously elected president, and\Mr L. H. Best vice president; Mr D.'Reed, secretary and a committee of twelve were appointed with power to add to their number. The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to ‘Mr Buxton for his address and a -similar compliment to the chairman.