NEW FARMING BODY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 285, 1 December 1944, Page 3

NEW FARMING BODY

THE AUCKLAND MOVE 'NO QUESTION OF BREAKAWAY' (0.C.) WHANGAREI, this day. "The action of the Auckland provincial president of the Farmers' Union, Mr. Rushworth, in registering a new farming body in Auckland was taken upon his own initiative and without consultation with the provincial executive," said Mr. A. Briscoe Moore, of Pipiwai, Dominion vice-president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and a member of the Auckland provincial executive. The first official intimation of his action was given to the executive on November 15, and was received with some astonishment, he added. The names of the fifteen others concerned were not given. The president's personal assurance that his action was purely a precautionary measure to protect Auckland's interests was accepted, although his action did not receive formal endorsement. "The present position has arisen from the peculiar nature of the Auckland provincial organisation of the New Zealand Farmers' Union," added Mr. Moore. "Comprising onethird of the Dominion membership, it is different from, other areas and includes various central activities for the benefit of members, involving a substantial investment of funds. The original draft rules of the new Dominion organisation contained a provision for the division of the Auckland province into five areas, which at first was presumed to be I mandatory. On protests from Auck- 1 land this was changed to allow Auckland members to arrange their own form of organisation to fit into the new scheme. This is now the task before us. A meeting with the Auckland section of the Sheepowners' Federation has been arranged to discuss this and other incidental matters.

"The Auckland provincial execu> tive of the Farmers' Union believes in the necessity for a new Dominion organisation, but is concerned to see that, in putting it into form, local needs are met in a way that will not prejudice the services now rendered. There is no question of any breaking away by the" Auckland provincial section of the Farmers' Union, and Mr. Rushworth's action may be considered as an individual one which as provincial president he evidently considered necessary as a technical precaution pending authority for the new amalgamation being given by the provincial conference. I feel sure that the general sentiment and goodwill in favour of the new Dominion body is so strong that our local difficulties will be resolved successfully to the ultimate benefit of farmers. Mr. Scott Davidson, a member of the Dominion committee which framed the amalgamation proposals, associates himself with me in this statement."

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Leading Aircraftman William Henry Hawken (19), eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hawken, of 19, Second Avenue, Kingsland, has received his commission in Canada. Pilot-Officer Hawken was educated at Mount Eden and Kowhai Schools. He left New Zealand in February of last year after having been two years in the Air Training Corps.