UNITING PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22726, 2 June 1939, Page 13

UNITING PRIMARY PRODUCERS

* ACTION BY FARMERS’ UNION IMMEDIATE CALLING OF CONFERENCE DECISION OF PROVINCIAL DELEGATES A conference of all primary producers’ organisations in North Canterbury will be called immediately by the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, to discuss the formation of a united primary producers’ organisation. This was decided after a long discussion in committee at the annual conference of the North Canterbury district of the union yesterday. Other provincial executives will be notified of the proposal, which was described at the conference as extremely urgent. It was the culmination of many references to the need for greater consolidation of the interests of all primary producers. The Dominion president of the union (Mr W. W. Mulholland) blamed lack of organisation largely for the neglect of farming interests by a Government which, he said, had originally taken office as a “pro-farmer” Government. How was it that this Government had carried through its policy in the interests of other sections of the community, yet had taken no effective measures in the interests of .farmers? There was a tendency to. blame the Government for the neglect of the farmers. The Government had certainly been instrumental in bringing about the farmers’ present position. But there were other forces behind. The key to the position was indicated in a recent statement that there were 250,000 trades unionists and 25,000 members of the Farmers’ Union. The union should therefore pay much more attention to efficient organisation. The conference reaffirmed a resolution passed last year: “That provision be made in the constitution for the affiliation of all organisations or associations of primary producers with the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, thus forming a complete Primary Producers’ Federation, such organisations to have direct representation with the local branches and thenceforward with the provincial and Dominion executives.” FARMERS’ UNION OFFICERS ELECTION FOR NORTH CANTERBURY Officers of the North Canterbury district of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, elected at the annual provincial conference yesterday, are as follows: President. Mr I. L. M, Coop; vicepresidents, Messrs R. G. Bishop (senior vice-president), and A. M. Carpenter. Executive—Messrs F. J. Farquhar (Amberley), D. Kay (Banks Peninsula), C. A. Mowat (Cheviot). A. Fisher (Culverden), M. S. Bower (Cust-West Eyreton), J. K. Skinner (Dunsandel), J. H. Syme (Darfleld), R. T. McMillan (Ellesmere), W. L. Wright (HawardenWaikari), M. O’HorKe (Hororala), G. E. Brown (Kaiapoi), F. A. Bull (Malvern), W. G. Viitic 1 Motukarara), C. McCaskey tOmihi), C. H, Bassett iOxford), H. T. Mctherell (Sefion and district)., A. E. Payne (Springston), M. Fiommg (Tai Tapu and district), G. Edgar Jones (Waiau), S. G. Farquhar (Waimairi), H. C. Wild (West Melton), and T. A. Guy (Yaidhurst). The F'ernside and Waikuku-Woodend members have still to be appointed by those branches. Members, ex officio, are the Dominion president (Mr W. W. Muiholland), and the group delegate (Mr G. C. Warren). ‘ Messrs Coop, Bishop, and Carpenter were appointed delegates to the Dominion conference. Mr A. E. G. Lyttle was reappointed secretary and Mr W. H. Nicholls was reappointed auditor.

GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS “LET US CO OPERATE WHOLEHEARTEDLY” OPTIMISM OF PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT Most farmers felt it was their duty to join the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, so that they could formulate some plan to put before the country, said Mr I. L. M. Coop, president of the North Canterbury district of the union, addressing the annual provincial conference yesterday. The union had to thank the Government for setting up a Royal Commission to go into farmers’ problems, and it was pleasing to hear the Prime Minister say that he would go where truth led him. “The Prime Minister and his Government have asked for our co-opeia-tion. Let us give it to them wholeheartedly. Let us do everything in empower to .co-operate with them to the fullest extent, and I.feel confident that if both the Government and ourselves go into these problems broadmindedly New Zealand will be once again on the road to prosperity, and there will

be no more necessity for these drastic import restrictions which only make it harder than ever for New Zealand to market its produce overseas. “Although we have had nearly 10 years of very low prices for most primary produce,” said Mr Coop, “I feel sure that prosperity will come again, and that land will be a safe and sound investment. It is the duty of the Farmers’ Union to stop the eviction, if possible, of ' farmers from their homes and properties while we are passing through this depressed period.” _ ~ - _