EMPIRE’S FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 768, 14 September 1929, Page 6

EMPIRE’S FARMERS

PLAN FOR BIG UNION LAUNCHED MANY LINES OF ACTIVITY (From Our Resident Reporter) WELLINGTON. Today. A move for the formation of a Union of Empire Farmers has been launched by the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and at its next meeting the executive of the New Zealand farmers’ body will have to decide its attitude toward the proposals. Sympathetic consideration is expected, as last year a very similar proposal was launched in the Dominion by members of the Farmers’ Union. The Scottish scheme, which emanates from Mr. James Lennox, a former president of the National Union of Farmers, is aimed at development of the agricultural resources of the Empire at Home and in the Dominions, united action for the promotion of agricultural interests, and an attempt to awaken public interest in Empire agricultural products. It is proposed that representatives of the united farmers throughout the Empire shall constitute a central council in Britain and that meetings shall be arranged b» the council. The objects of the union are set out as the enlargement and development of agricultural resources, the encouragement of persons connected with farming to emigrate to the Dominions rather than to foreign foreign countries, and to institute propaganda in Britain for the sate and consumption of Empire products.

Other important proposals are the establishment of agencies throughout Britain for better distribution of produce from the Dominions, the elimination of unnecessary competition between Empire countries, the regulation and control of surpluses, the stabilisation of quantities and prices, the organisation of transport, and when thought advisable the establishment of central stores or distributing depots. It is suggested that the union should negotiate with Empire manufacturers whenever mutual action might be considered helpful to the advancement of the interests of farmers and industrialists, and that united action might be taken to co-operate with the Home and Dominion Governments for the promotion of agricultural interests within an indicated sphere. Also the union is aimed at awakening public interest in Empire agriculture in order to encourage consumers to ask for Empire produce, and to fight foreign competition in every legitimate way.