Speaking For The Farmer

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 16 (Supplement)

Speaking For The Farmer

By

D. W. GRAY,

Former Provincial President, North Canterbury Federated Farmers. THE need for organisation was realised by farmers many years ago and resulted in the formation of the Sheepowners Union and also the Farmers Union. Started by a few’ enthusiasts these unions grew in strength but a good deal of overlapping in their activities show’ed the need for one organisation to speak for all farmers. Several years’ negotiation and a lot of thought resulted in the birth of Federated Farmers some tw’elve years ago.

Under our democratic system, or for that matter any system of government, no politician can be expected to have a grasp of all the diverse needs of the people he represents. Federated Farmers supplies the necessary means of presenting a representative opinion of the most widely scattered group of individuals in the country. Its three main sections, meat and wool, agriculture, and dairying, are- autonomous in dealing with their own particular problems but work together through the provincial executives and the Dominion council on matters which affect more than one section. Other smaller primary industries, poultrykeeping, commercial gardening, beekeeping, tobacco growing, and fruit growing have their own associations, but each have a representative on the Dominion Council of Federated Farmers. One Voice Thus, practically all land users in New Zealand can speak with one voice. Membership of Federated Farmers is entirely voluntary but has between 80 and 90 per cent, of possible membership. In the future, farmers will have to have an efficient and live organisation. They have one now and it is in their own hands if

they wish to keep it and improve it as the years go on. Canterbury is covered by local branches so that, with few exceptions, farmers have regular meetings within easy distance of their homes. Any farmer can put forward his ideas at these meetings and it is essential that thia democratic ideal.be kept. We don’t know exactly what the production potential of Canterbury may be. There is no doubt that even our present products can be enormously increased. . With a larger population and diversification of farming the results may well stagger the most optimistic person of today. Many Problems There will he many problems which must be dealt with by Federated Farmers. The trans- 1 port and disposal of good? will call for combined action. The development of the high country concerns at the moment a small number of people: they will need all the help and encouragement the rest of the farming community can give them. We have many able young farmers in the district today. Some of them have shown great promise in their Young Farmers’ Clubs. It is to them that we look for the farmers’ leaders of the future.