FARMERS’ UNION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 158, 1 April 1937, Page 15

FARMERS’ UNION

Membership Campaign This

Month WORK FOR MAN ON THE LAND From April 5 to April 12 the Farmers' Union intends 40 conduct au intensive membership campaign throughout the Dominion. A statement issued by the bead office of the union states that as all other sections of the community are pushing ahead and organising themselves—in many cases they are being organised compulsorily—the leaders of the union felt that it was essential that immediate and very energetic steps be taken to bring home to those members of the rural community who may not have realised it the urgent necessity for strong organisation and increased membership of the union. “Since Mr. A. G. C. Glass started out in 1899 to organise the Farmers’ Union, the union has grown steadily until it is now the largest body of its kind in New Zealand, and from being ’a few farmer bodies’ at the beginning of this century, its membership is now well on the way towards 20,000,’' states the union. “The union is a democratic organisation in w-hich the views of the smallest farmer are treated with as much respect as those of the biggest squatter, provided, of course, that in themselves they merit attention. The union has long been recognised by successive Governments as the official mouthpiece of the farming community on farming matters, and if any farmer wishes to have his say on matters of national policy as affecting farming interests he must be a member of the union.

“The work of the union is wide and varied. Primarily, it is the farmers’ ‘defence force’ and is constituted to watch the interests of the man on the land. It is the defender of the farmers’ rights and the recognised mouthpiece of the farmers of New Zealand. One of its main objects is to ensure that farmers’ costs bear reasonable relation to the return for their produce. The subjects that it deals with are many and varied. The union aims at achieving the systematic organisation of farmers and the advancement of farming knowledge, the provision of facilities for country people more nearly approaching those provided for town dwellers, and the general betterment of the conditions of life of the people engaged in the farming industry. The union endeavours also at all times to put before the urban population the viewpoint of the farmers of this country, and to acquaint them with the problems of the farming community.

“Over its 30 odd years of existence, the union has encouraged the establishment of co-operative enterprises in all forms, including co-operative butter factories, freezing works, and other co-operative trading associations. It has persuaded the Government to improve the educational facilities for country children, and its representations have been successful in improving the lot of the country teacher. One of the things which it is not generally known is an achievement of the union is the institution of ithrough-booking of goods on the railways between stations in the North and South Islands. This is a matter which has benefited not only the farming community, but every citizen in New Zealand. The union scrutinises all legislation brought down affecting farming interests, and through sympathetic representatives in Parliament puts forward the union’s viewpoint. It watches its chance to obtain for the man on the land any improvement at all in his conditions of living, and the extension of hours for bureau calls in country areas, and the provision of cheaper and better mail communications are results of the union’s efforts.

“On the negative side it endeavours to resist any imposition on the farming community which can be successfully fought, and has successfully done this on many occasions, particularly in regard to Government regulations. The union also aims at keeping the man on the land apprised of various movements in the city and other developments with regard to farming. This is done per medium of its official journals. In essence, the union aims at putting forward the views of every section of the farming community and in endeavouring to see that those views receive just consideration.”