MOTION FAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 3

MOTION FAILS.

UNION OF FARMERS.

COMPULSORY MEMBERSHIP.

" UNITED ACTION ESSENTIAL."

A resolution that tlie Government should tie asked to introduce legislation for the establishment of a national farmers' union was put to a public meeting in the East Tamaki Hall on Saturday night. The resolution was declared lost by Mr. F. M. Waters, chairman of the Manukau County Council, who, presiding, stated that the voting was equal, and that he must therefore give his casting vote for the status quo. The meeting was held to enable dairy farmers to discuss legislation affecting primary producers with Mr. C. It. l'etrie, M.P. for Hauraki. In determining the guaranteed price, said Mr. l'etrie, the Government had appointed representatives of the industry to report on the average prices over the previous eight to ten years, and the same principle had been observed in connection with the wage scales in the Agricultural Workers Bill. The Farmers' Union approved the rates proposed, i "We maintain that we are not represented by the men whom the Government lias been consulting," said Mr. C. A. Moore. Many farmers, he added, denied that these men were representative of the farming community. "The men you refer to are engaged in 'an expert capacity in the industry, and are elected by the farmers," replied Mr. Petrie. "If you desire any change the matter lies in your own hands, and you can scarcely lay the responsibility on the Government." Mr. Moore then moved that the Government be asked to introduce legislation for the establishment of a national union. Mr. D R. Renton: You have a farmers' union already. If you are not a member then it is your own fault. Farmers should by this time have the intelligence to see that united action is essential to look after their interests. If they do not see the necessity of joining the union then they have no right to ask the Government to niake membership compulsory. Mr. Moore held that the present union was not a dairy farmers' movement, but embraced sheep farmers and others. ,