ACTION NECESSARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 133, 18 March 1939, Page 3

ACTION NECESSARY

PROBLEMS OF THE FARMER. SUPPORT OF DOMINION UNION. A charge that recoinmendiftions forwarded by the Provincial Executive to the Dominion Executive in regard to the attitude and action of the Government in matters of vital importance to farmers, had resulted in nothing whatever being done, was made by members of the Mid-Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon. The question arose when a circular was received from the Dominion Executive, drawing attention to the serious position of primary producing industries, the deterioration of the land and the urgent problems facing the sheep-farmer. The circular was a, copy of a letter forwarded to the Prime Minister. The president of the executive (Mr C. C. Winn) moved that the New Zealand Union be strongly supported in its representations to the Government. He said that local members should endorse fully the statement as set out, for the problems facing the farmer to-day were of the utmost seriousness. A long discussion ensued on the difficult position in which primary producers were placed as a result of the legislation of the Labour GoveiSnment. One member alleged that there was little use the local executive merely supporting headquarters,, as there nevei seemed to be a great deal done as a result. “We should take action ourselves.” r . , Mr L. 0. Oakley objected to another statement that resolutions had been passed for 25 years by provincial meetings and nothing had resulted. “It is well known that a few unions do not combine with the headquarters as much as is desired, aijd in some cases work against it,” he said. The Government watched this and knew that there was such a split. This weakened the power of*tiie Union, which, if it was observed closely, was doing a great deal to help farmers generally. It was unanimously decided to support the Union in'its representations to the Prime Minister, and on the motion of Mr A. P. Bruce a vote of confidence in the Dominion President (Mr W. W. , Mulholland) was carried unanimously.