FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20550, 19 May 1932, Page 13

FARMERS' UNION.

DOMINION EXECUTIVE. DURATION OF CONFERENCE CURTAILED. (THBSS ASSOCIATION TULEGR&M.) WELLINGTON, May 18. "Tlicy are practically identical with the proposals we hav«i advocated in the Farmers' Union, compulsory conciliation and voluntary arbitration,' remarked Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, when reviewing tho amendments to the Arbitration Act at a meeting of the Dominion Executive. Mr Poison said lie thought the effect would be to assist in bringing down costs which was such an essential point from the farming point of view. "I believe we are going to see shortly better conditions," he said, "but they won't come immediately. It will probably be a year or more before we see any appreciable improvement, and m the meantime we have to face problems in this country." Referring to the Ottawa Conference, Mr Poison said preferences with quotas would be of great value to the Dominions, and would liave the effect of stimulating primarv production in this country. "Without quotas it would simply mean that foreigners would accent less. The executive decided that this year's conference should be curtailed to two days, and that it lie a recommendation to provinces that not more than half the usual number of representatives should attend. The conference was fixed for July 7th and Bth. AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. CLOSER CO-OPERATION' WITH OTHER BODIES. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEORAM.) AUCKLAND, May 18. The provincial conference of the Auckland Farmers' Union, which was attended by a hundred delegates, yesterday, passed a resolution endorsing the endeavour of the executive "to place before other organisations our aims and objects,- and recommends the incoming executive to pursue the same objective." This resolution was passed after a long discussion on a remit from the Bay of Islands, urging "that as the Fanners' Union has so many aims and objects in common with the labour unions, we feel that closer co-operation should be to our mutual advantage." Mr J. H. Furness: Efforts are being made by tho powers that be to set town and country at each other's throats. Remember the old Roman maxim, "Divide and " One member said that the aims of the producer and the consumer were, too conflicting, but another urged that there was no real antagonism. Any conflict could be overcome when the attitude of each was understood' by the other. Mr Dunning: We should includo public bodies. Why stop at labour unions? Mr Cumming: The Labour Party is our natural ally. "We have had meetings already with labour unions," said the secretary (Mr A. E. Robinson), "and while we were not unanimous on the tariff and currency questions we were practically so. Representatives of the public service were present." Another amendment sought to include among those bodies which should be approached the Chamber of Commerce, but a delegate, Mr Dougherty, interjected: "We would not get much help from that body." Several speakers opposed the Bay of Islands remit on the ground that the general public might misunderstand it. Mr Mellsop: Don't be afraid to stand by your views. . Mr Niccol: We want to lose the old tradition that we are opposed to Labour. After further discussion, the remit w f as amended and carried in the form stated. ■