FARMERS CONFER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 119, 22 May 1945, Page 6

FARMERS CONFER

PROVINCIAL DELEGATES

DISCUSSION ON FEDERATION

About 130 delegates from all parts of the Auckland province attended the forty-fifth annual provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which opened in Auckland this, morning. The conference will continue daily until Friday. ; The president, Captain H. M. Rushworth, in declaring the conference open, welcomed five life members, Messrs. W. H. Allen, J. B. Jordan, J. W. Jones, C. C. Munro and A. White. He also welcomed Mr. R. P. Parlane, who was a foundation member of the union 45 years ago. In replying to the welcome Mr. Parlane recalled the circumstances Under which the union was formed. A proposal was submitted by the Auckland executive that two days' discussion be devoted to the proposal to form a Federated Farmers of New Zealand. , "* Mr. S. S. Green moved an amendment that matters dealing with the rules of the new federation be referred to a select committee of not more than five, firstly to bring down a report covering the main points raised* and making recommendations, and secondlyto co-ordinate and draft recommendations covering the necessary amendments to the rules in the light of the proposals received from sub-provincial branches. The amendment further provided that notices of motion from the Dominion executive Of the Farmers' Union dealing with the new federation be considered after the report of the select committee had been dealt with. The amendment was seconded by Mr. A. S. Matger. Mr. A. E. Robinson, provincial secretary, said that it would be unwise to attach the responsibility of dealing with the rules to a select committee. The responsibility belonged to the conference, and when the committee reported back the conference would still have to discuss the matter. It was essential that everyone should understand the rules and why they were proposed. The amendment was lost, as was another amendment eliminating the proposal to limit sub-provincial speakers to 15 minutes in discussing the rules and applying the standing orders in its place.