FABMEBS, UNION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11581, 12 May 1903, Page 3

FABMEBS , UNION.

ASHBURTON BRANCH.

The annual meeting of th? Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Saturday, when about twenty members were present, the President ("Mr G. W. Leadley) in the chair. The President, in his address to the members, said that the Union taught farmers the advantage of concerted action, and the force of numbers, also how to discipline their trrtnds so that self-interest should be merged in the common good. He considered that the Fanners' Union had justified its existence, and one reason why there was a need for some organisation of that kind was the amount of opposition the Union had encountered since its inaugura-

Uon. Although the opponents of the Union looked upon it as a small and insignificant thing, y*t they deemed it of sufficient importance to employ all sorts of tactics to undermine it* influence, to impede its progress, to misrepresent its objects, and to vilify its leaders. The Union had experiencecd come hostility from quarters where it was least expected. Th# Government had not recognised the fact that the Union might be of gTeat service to them. The Home Government displayed a feeling towards farmers in strong contrast to that which was shown by the New Zealand Government towards the Union This was evidenced by a recent speech of Mr Han bury, at Hull, a- lopurt of which recently appeared in the columns of the Christchurch "Preee." The Farmers' Union wanted to educate the Government, and intended to do so, but the misfortune was as soon as the heads of the Union opened their mouths, or made any suggestions, they were met 'by the cry of 'Tarty, party! National A«s.!" Even "some of the friends of the Union cried out "Politics, polities! Don't touch politics!" If politics in this country had become so dirty that decent men could not touch them it was about time a political upheaval took place. He (the President) contended that party politics had been the biggest curse that New Zealand ev*T had. Men otherwise honest and well-intent ioned had to do things under the exigencies of party needs which their conscience and commonsense could uever justify, and it would be an untold bUvtsing if all these party cries, party labels, and party jealousies could be for ever swept away. New Zealand was too small a community to be split up into parties and sections. It was necessary for the members of the Union to make their voices heard on the broad question of general politics if they were to take their proper plafies as citizens of a free country. It was a mistake to think that the Union was opposed to Mr Seddon, and personally he (the President) had a great respect for him. However, Mr Seddon was liable to make, mistakes, and if he took the Farmers' Union into his confidence as he did the Trades Unions, the farmer would show him a few wrinkles which would be of much advantage not only to Mr Seddon but to the whole of New Zealand. The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Chairman, Mr J. Lambie; vice-chairman, Mr J. Studholme; secretary, Mr Chrktian; auditor, Mr A. Roberts'; treasurer, Mr R<-id; committee, Messrs T. Taylor. Lill. A. J. Huston, Copeland, Grigg, "Leadley, Bonifant, Daniel McKendry, Harding, 'McCafferty, F. Scaly, Shjllito, Moses, Herring, Chapman, Upton, Stringfellow, J. Croy, E. Rich, E. Taylor, 'f. Harrison, J. Cochrane, L. de C. Malet, T. Drummond. The subscription for the year was fixed at 7s 6d. Messrs Reid, Leadley, and Lambie were appointed delegates to the conference. Rule 8 was amended in the direction that the President, ex-President, and Treasurer be ex-officio members of the Provincial Conference. On the suggestion of Mr Harding it was agreed that "s"' be substituted for "3" in connection with the number of members elected to the annual conference.