MEETING OF FARMERS AT AVONDALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 13, 16 January 1905, Page 2

MEETING OF FARMERS AT AVONDALE.

A large meeting of fanners was held In the Public Hall, Avondale, on Saturday evening, the hall being well filled. Mr Blnck was voted to the chair. Mr Harker, of Mount Albert, convener, said they were there to ask for justice. He then read his published letter, to the "Star," on the subject of the produce of the farmers betas; forced down to a price below the cost of production. Why should not the producers of the finest dairy and separator butter unite in fixing a minimum price at which their eggs and butter should be sold, and refuse to sell to or buy of any grocer who sold below that price? The Daily Association did it with their butter, the merchants with their packet teas. Say, a minimum retail price of 1/ per doien for the eggs and lOd for the butter. Below these prices the producer could not live. Co-operation, not cut-throat competition, was the producers' road to plenty. Had not their great butter factories taught them that? Why did not the farmers' unions organise them? Then they could speak to the merchants and the middlemen with no uncertain voice. In Canterbury the two great farmers' associations did everything for the farmers, buying, selling, storing, advancing, etc., to their great advantage. Why could not Auckland do the same? Here the middlemen were killing the geese that laid them their golden eggs. The far-mere' wives depended on their egg and butter money for all their needs, and if their spending powers were curtailed, all alike suffered. He read his correspondence Home by last 'EMsco mail, to induce e~g and produce merchants with knowledge and capital to come and settle here, and open up new markets for the producers at profitable prices. Mr Harker concluded try moving the following resolution: Thut this meeting of farmers and their friends request the Grocers' Association to'discontinue the publication of their Dairy Produce Committee's weekly price list 'or butter and eggs, as being most prejudicial to the interests of the producers. The motion waa seconded by Mr Davidson and supported by Mr Allen and other Pr Mr" t mrker then ptaeed the platform at Mr i. J. Entxican. nlained the action of the DahJ Vroaa s* Committee and laid the blame on the nr_STwho. he said, insisted on being I supSued* with 'these reports, and conceded SK-Uta T_a n » Cha \ m Mr Harker replied, scouting the idea of tt motionand declared it carried unanimously, amidst appl r e ™Tn<irk then said that he would take adwaSS ot' -hat meeting of farmers to 85 be\re them of im portance, and read tne »*" Farme rs' ETSrSSaa S-hrs-sas. ___-«_ s-i r_rc« B r«a»i to convert their holdings into freeholds. to The"e attacks ou the Labour been effectively dealt win /. a *«»"_: cf the Commonwealth, aud he v.ould asu tne "Star," which was the friend of the. farmer, to publish It.. He tiioa readl'r, j sldent Roosevelt's views as reported in Sv«ri«v-_ 'Stir" The vaice was t.re \okc o7 Jacob, but the hand was tire hand of Esau' it was the National Ass masquerad-, £ the lions skin of the Farmers U : on He drew a very effective parallel between its present rider and Balaam of old on his ass and hoped that they too. like him. .night come to bless that which they, started out to curse. He challenged Messrs Kirkbrido and G. J. Garland to meet Mm in the Drill Hall and defend their Published platform, aud let the people decide. It was not true that the workers In he towns were opposed to the workers in the country. He moved: "That this meeting condemns the manifesto issued by the executive of the Farmers' Uniou to rts branches as being calculated to destroy tne uniou and set country against town." The motion was seconded by Mr . Barnes. _ . , After the chairman and Mr Entrican had spokeu against it, Mr Harker replied, and it was put to the meeting. The chairman's counting being twice disputed, he deputed Mr Knight, of Avondale. to decide the matter, and that gentleman declared it carried by a majority of one. Mr Darker then moved. "That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the Premier, the the Grocers' Association, the Farmers' Union, and the Trades and Labour Council, with copies of the circular convening the meeting." This was seconded by Mr Knight and carried. The meeting, which had been attentive and enthusiastic throughout, then dispersed.