Unity in farm groups sought

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33003, 24 August 1972, Page 2

Unity in farm groups sought

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 23. Farmers in Britain and Europe were strengthening their unions and co-operatives in readiness for much tougher competition in agricultural marketing, and New Zealand farmers must do the same, the president of Federated Farmers (Mr B. Dryden) said today.

Speaking as chairman of the electoral committee of the Wool Board at the end of the debate on wool marketing, he said that delay was causing great uncertainty in the industry and the trades that serviced it.

But more important was the risk of a split in the ranks of farmers. "I have looked for some compromise, and it is difficult to find,” he said. "But I hope everyone realises thait we can’t be splintered on this issue.

"If you believe you can continue to act as individuals, you are either very rich or living in a fool’s paradise.” Mr Dryden urged those who opposed the marketing scheme to work inside Federated Fanners to have it changed. Any group which had a majority could do that, he said.

In Britain the National Farmers’ Union was absorbing 22 other farming organisations, so that within the E.E.C. British fanners could compete more effectively with New Zealand and others. The German farm organisation had more than a million farmers—Bo to 90 per cent of farmers. It was the same in France, Belgium and elsewhere.

"They recognise that the day of the individual has

gone,” said Mr Dryden. "New Zealand can’t afford to have 50,000 farmers trying to make individual decisions.”