A PLEA FOR UNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1922, Page 5

A PLEA FOR UNITY.

COOPERATION AMONG FARMERS. FARMERS’ UNION POLICT, DAIRY POOL SUPPORTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Masterton, Last Night. Co-operation of farmers to protect their own interests was the policy of the Farmers’ Union enunciated by tne Dominion president (Mr. W. J. Polson) to an enthusiastic meeting of members to-day. He pointed out the necessity for better marketing, shipping and banking facilities, which could only bo brought about by co-operation. He explained what had happened in America in connection with marketing there. The Farmers’ Union had received an enormous impetus; it had eight million members and had been granted by Congress the rights of compulsory polling. He strongly emphasised the necessity for compulsion, >nd declared the weakness of the pre#nt Meat Export Control Act was the responsibility placed on the shoulders of the board to decide whether compulsion should be applied or not. Me agreed that the board had made a good beginning on small matters, but it could not satisfy the producers until complete compulsion was established. Mr. Polson dealt at length with proposed dairy pool, strongly supporting the proposal. He urged, with twelve thousand miles of handicap and a strong probability, as a result of the Genoa Conference, of Siberia’s eariy return to the butter trade, that the most complete organisation should be undertaken to enable the Dominion to maintain its position. The union was strongly supporting the dairy pool. He dealt with the question of costs, but characterised the Bolshevik pro-

posals to reduce rents and interests compulsorily as double-edgec; and likely to destroy all confidence in the country. The union was out for an agricultural banking system, based on the German system. He quoted ex-Presi-dent Taft's address and explained how the system had been adopted in the United States, and what it had done to provide cheaper and more plentiful money for the producers an the country. He explained the Farmers’ Union shipping proposals, including the appointment of a shipping board, and pointed out that it was useless io send trade commissioners to the East without shipping. The present freights were prohibitive. We must follow the example of America, Holland and Japan, and subsidise shipping if wo desired to participate. He dealt at some length with the work of the union in connection with dairying matters, and Explained that half the members of the union were dairymen. He concluded with an appeal for complete unity amongst all classes of the farming community at this critical stage in our existence.