FARMERS AND THEIR UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9107, 5 June 1908, Page 4

FARMERS AND THEIR UNION.

The unconcern which the averatro farmer shows regarding the payment of his subscription to his Union is somewhat bard to explain. At almost every Farmers' Union meeting the dilatoriness of the farmer in this direction is referred to. Mr T. T. Youle spoke in no uncertain voice on the matter at the annual meeting of the Eketahuna branch of the Farmers' Union. As he pointed out, factory girls in the manufacturing towns of England pay their weekly subscription to their Union much more readily than the majority of farmer," contribute their quota to an organisation which was formed for the purpose of assisting them. As a rule there is but little expenditure in connection with the branches of the Union, and sufficient funds to meet small liabilities generally is all that is required. There are occasions, however, when sumo matter of vital importance to farmers crop up—as for instance, the recent shearers' dispute—and funds are then required to conduct the farmers' ca3e. It u

urged that each branch of the Union j should be in a position to contribute to a fighting fund; and this can only be done by farmers promptly paying their subscriptions. Every farmer, if he studies his own interest, should belong to a Union. It is unfair that the farmer, who does not belong to a Union, or who has not paid his subscription, should enjoy the same benefits as the man who is a member of a Union, and who has at expense, and sometimes personal inconvenience, helped to conserve the interests of the farming community.