Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1910. THE FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10135, 4 November 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1910. THE FARMERS' UNION.

At last week's meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union the following report of a committee set np to consider the question of appointing organisers to canvas the North Canterbury district,, was adopted:—"(l) That the organisation of voters in other industries has made it necessary that farmers should organise for their own protection, politically, independent of party, since politicians largely form their opinions to suit the largest organised section of voters. (2) That to carry oiit this organisation a fund should be established, to be called "Tlie Fanners' Political Protection Fund." (3) That a committee of five should be appointed by the executive to administer this fund, and to arrange for carrying out the work of the organisation by appointing organisers, and in other ways.' In speaking to tlie motion, Mr C. H. Ensor said that unclei' the scheme proposed a, large protection fund could, be raised, and a large section of voters organised, and the larger tho rovenuo the more there could be spent in organising and educating farmers to the necessity that existed' for tliem to cast a solid vote. Labour unions had become such a large organised

vote that some politicians formed

their opinions and tlieir legislation with the view of catching the vote. ' Mr Ensor cited the experience of Australia, where both the Federal and the New South Wales Parlia- > meats have been won by the Labour party. There is 110 doubt that in New Zealand, while tlio labour unions are working strenuously and constantly to educate people in their particular tenets and interests, the farmers are doing very little in the direction of organising tlieir voters 6r persuading the public of the para- | mount importance of the farmers' I interests to the general welfare of the community.