«PROTECTION LEAGUE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 3

«PROTECTION LEAGUE."

MOVE BY FARMERS' UNION.

RESISTANCE TO "VICTIMISATION."

With the idea of resisting "victimisation of farmers from outside source, the Auckland Provincial 1< armors Union Conference last evening passed a remit from the Franklin sub-province proposing that steps be taken to form a protection league subsidiary to the Farmeis Union. A committee to arrange details of a programme to oppose unjust treatment to farmers was set up at the meeting. "Some of the speakers have expressed themselves in revolutionary terms. Let us keep cool and act in a constitutional way," said Mr. R. D. Duxfield at the end of a long discussion. While the union was not the mover in this scheme, it was desirable to have its support, explained Mr. W. Niccol, who moved the remit. He added that activities were already under way to protect farmers whose mortgages had unjustly been foreclosed. "The time is over-ripe for something of this sort," said Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P. for the Bay of Islands. If we start we must carry it through to the bitter end. I would not have the slightest hesitation in going to extreme lengths to prevent cases of injustice sueli as are occurring. Mr. A. E. Robinson: If you refuse to have anything to do with a man dealing with firms who treat you badly, you will soon obtain results. . Mr K. H. Hatrick: This is an indication of what desperate men "are prepared

Mr.'W. B. Cummings: We must carry this through. Wβ control the export business of this country. We could refuse to send produce abroad until our demands are agreed to. Mr W Boycl said there were cases where the Crown itself was unmercifully squeezing its own mortgagors and tenants. It was almost inconceivabletaat a Government should do that. This may bo called coercive," he said, but it is to assist those incapable of helping themselves."

The passing of the remit was unanimous, and Messrs. S. N. Ziman, A. E. Robinson, 'W. Niccol, A. Wood, H. K. Hatrick, G. T. Crawley, T. D- White and T. Harcombe were appointed a committee.