Farmers' Union.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 191, 20 August 1901, Page 3

Farmers' Union.

There was a fair attendance at St Augustine’s schoolroom on Saturday afternoon to hear an address from Mr A. 6. C. Glass, organising secretary of the New Zealand Union, under the auspices of the Waimate County Farmers’ Club.

Mr Hertslett was voted to the chair, and introduced the speaker. In the course of a resume of the rules, Mr Glass said they were said to be a political machine, but they were simply organised to protect their Own interests. It was for the farmers in the South Island to draw up their wants and submit them to the Council. In regard to the vote for roads, Mr Glass said that the surplus was made up of the unexpended votes, for the money was held back until the Financial Statement had come down, and he defied any politician to prove that he was Wrong. They had asked the Government to subsidise a line of steamers, say to South Africa, and he saw by the Financial Statement that this was to be done, and a!sb that cool stores for meat would he erected. What they wanted was freetrade in the Empire, with a preferential tariff. If a protective

tariff Were put on here for the purposes of revenue it would bo all very, well, but it was to bolster up industries that could not stand on their own legs. This and labour legislation was what was putting the country back Through com-

bination and organisation in every institution, be it shipping companies or lawyers, the price was fixed, and they had to pay it because they were not strong enough to resist these charges. They desired to devise some system whereby by application to the Branch a loan could be procured on stock if required, also farm aUd technical schools to enable the farmers’ sons.to learn a trade if they desired. There were several Bills introduced, but he saw that since the farmers had organised Mr Seddon had dressed down the unionists for going too far. This he would never have done had the farmers combined. The unionists

had combined to abolish sweating, but having done this they were not content and went further. If this labour legislation were to be gone on with he did not know when they should stop. The Bills before this were able to be rushed through, but they were now to have Bills affecting farmers submitted to the Union before being passed. , In regard to the E : ght Hours Bill, he could not see how they could apply it to the country. But they must not blame the Government, which had done a lot for them by reducing postage and bringing in the Advances to Settlers Bill, but now were simply pandering to' the organised vote of the labour unions. It was simply the result of the apathy of the farmers. On 3 of the first things that made him start this Union was the dissatisfaction of carpenters working at his house. They had Is 8d an hour* with Is per day extra for working in the country, with pay both ways. Then they wanted to raise it, and this started him in an effort to protect the farmers-. They were not organising to hurt anyone, but to look after and protect themselves. The Speaker then went on to refer to the rules, which, he said* were not final, but subject to revision. . In reply to a question, Mr Glass said he did not object to granting the freehold to settlers, but if they did they upset the whole of the late Sir John McKenzie's laud policy. Mr Studholme thought the inclusion Of farm labourers as members a sign of weakness, and of deference to the Labourers’ Union, and the speaker said this was a temporary rule until the question had been fully threshed out.

To report progress, Mr Norton Francis moved, “ That a branch of the New Zealand farmers 1 Union be formed, and that a committee be appointed to, select the questions that should be brought before the Provincial Council." This Was seconded by Mr Oprdgan, and carried unanimously. . The following were elected a committee *-*Mes6ts Mitchell, Studholme) Watdy Urancis, Pratt, Corrigan* H. Meyet, John Hanley, Hayman, Oibell, S, Corcoran, Douglas* W* Oeddes, Buddenklau, Cowan and HertSlett> with power to add to their ntsmtor*