THE FARMERS' UNION.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1097, 13 November 1901, Page 2

THE FARMERS' UNION.

On Monday the Wellington Correspondent of the N. Z. Herald telegraphed from Wellington :Mr Glass, chief organiser of the Farmers’ Union, returned to Wellington from Christchurch yesterday, after attending a meeting of the Canterbury farmers, To-day Mr Glass has been arranging with two of the the leading insurance companies for terms upon which the employees of the whole of the members of the union can te insured under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act. As the union has nearly 2000 members the company that securies the contract will have a large order to fill In conversation with a member of the Post staff, Mr Glass indicated that the Premier had aroused the wrath of the farmers of the colony, and those of Auckland in particular, by ignoring their interests during tie session which has just closed. Mr Glass says that every other interest than that of the farmers’ received attention dating the session, and this, deepile 'the promises made to the farmers by the Premier, the Minister for Lands, and the Minister for Public Works. When in the North of Auckland the Hon, T, Duncan promised that during the session ihe Government would secure needed reforms in three directions—(l) Giving three years' free occupation to Crown tenants in bush country, where there were no roads ; (2) a defined period for the burning season ; and (3) an amendment of the Crown Tenants' Rebate of Rent Act in the direction either of ui'king its application universal, or making the measure more satisfactory than it is at present. None of these promises were kept. The Rebate Act was not touched, and with regard to the other two proposals, the Minister brought down amending Bills iu the dying hours of the session without any terious intention of carrying them into effect. The Minister also promised the Northern people better roads and bridges this year than they had last year, and the result is that they are worse off than ever. ‘ Then,’ said Mr Glass, the Premier promised us he would amend the Compensation for Accidents Act, so as to exclude casual labourers on farms from its operation. The promise has not been k-pt. Again, the Minister for Public Works promised that we should have a larger vote for the North of Auckland railway, and the vote passed is less by £7OOO than that granted last year. Let the Ministers come up North again, and they w 1: get some candid criticism that will do them good, They have given themselves and other members of P«rllament increases of salaries, and have given votes all round to everyone but the farmers, who have been completely ignored, and the farmers won’t forget the fact.