New Zealand Farmers’ Union

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 201, 22 May 1931, Page 11

New Zealand Farmers’ Union

Sir, —I was delighted to read in your issue of May 13 a letter written by “A Member of the Union,” on the activities or inactivities of our organisation. The writer demonstrates clearly that he is one of the few remaining members who have been a dead weight which the active members have shouldered for so many years past. And from the tone of his letter one can only infer that he has

never attended a meeting of his branch or read a report of a meeting for .years past. . , Now that economic stress has embraced this country, in common with all other countries, “A Member of the Union” finds himself without an income, and in a position which is causing him a good deal of financial thought. His first at-

tack is directed to the organisation which has been fighting, almost single-handed,, his battles for the past decade. From the tone of his letter one would infer that the union was responsible for the drop of 37 millions of money in the national income, and that the same organisation could remedy that deplorable state of

affairs by a single stroke of the pen. If your correspondent would attend an executive meeting (and I cordially invite him to do so), or he would read the personel of the executive, or branch committee, he would find the names of new and energetic members, whose services and deliberations are always valued by those who have stood by the union for so many years. I am glad of this opportunity of enlightening him. and others who may read this correspondence and

think similarly with him, as to what the Union has done, is doing, and hopes to do. The correspondent in question suggests as a remedy to our present uneconomic position the abolition of the Arbitration Court. This is a sweeping statement; it is unwise to advocate the repeal of any Act of Parliament unless it can be replaced with something better. What would your correspondent, suggest as something better? The union has always strenuously opposed certain clauses in .-the

Act —for instance, preference to unionists —and recently it advocated, in consequence of the depression, the revision of existing awards under the Arbitration Act, and this was adopted by the Government at the special session just closed. He also advocated a reduction in the rate of interest, May I say, for the past ten years the union has advocated the establishment of an agricultural bank, and succeeded, after a lons fight, in having the Rural Advances Act (Long Term Loan) and the Rural Intermediate Credit Act placed on the Statute Book. Under both these schemes the rate of interest is below current values. The union also advocated that the Government should assist the farmers in the matter of procuring cheaper fertilisers; last session £lOO,OOO was placed to the credit of the R.I.C. associations for the use of farmers. We also pressed that something should be done to relieve the mortgagor during this time of stress, and the Mortgagors Relief Act was passed. And it has always been the cardinal advocacy of the union to trade within the Empire. We were also resnonsible for the free carriage of lime and reductions in fertiliser freight on the railway: were actively engaged in the establishment of 'the Meat and Dairy Boards, freezing and lime works, butter factories, herd-testing associations, reduction of freight on bacon (which amounted to some £50,000 in three years), exemption of farm hands from Arbitration Court awards; prevented the passage of the Fair Rent Bill; successfully fought the super land tax. which saved the farmer nearly £120,000; exercised a big influence in destroying the One-hour Daylight Saving Bill, and there are, many other benefits, worthy of note, which the farmers, both members and non-members, have received at the hands of their union, but I think the foregoing will convince your correspondent that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union is being recognised as a force in the land — worthy of the support of the 85,000 farmers in New Zealand. —-I am. etc.. C. C, JACKSON, i President. Wairarapa Provincial District Farmers’ Union. May 16.