FARMERS AND STATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1945, Page 2

FARMERS AND STATE

BUSINESS BOYCOTT PROPOSED TRANSFER OF PATRONAGE WELLINGTON, December 7. A plan to withdraw farmers’. accounts from the Bank of New Zealand and the Post Office Savings Bank and to cancel their business with several other major State trading institutions is being put into effect throughout the country by action committees of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. This step is being taken to register the union’s disapproval of recent legislation, in particular the Electoral Amendment Bill which involved the abolition of the country quota. Officials of the Farmers’ Union report that they have no authority to disclose the plan, but it is known that details have been widely circulated, and evidence of action on the part or farmers is appearing throughout the country. It is known also that attempts are being made to _ induce commercial and industrial interests to take similar steps. Some farmers ate reported to be refusing to deal with persons or firms who have accounts with the Bank of New Zealand and to be boycotting tradesmen known to deal with the bank. The general plan is described as a policy of non-co-operation with. the Government. Some of the main points already widely canvassed are: — ■ (1) That farmers who bank with the Bank of New Zealand transfer their accounts to other institutions, and persuade others to take the same course. (2) That farmers having Post Office Savings Bank accounts should close them. _ (3) That farmers withdraw tYieir business from the State Fire Insurance Office and Public 'Trust, and that no new business be taken to the Government Life Insurance Department. (4) That farmers refuse to support any future loans floated by the Government. , (5) That farmers’ wives be askea to monitor advertising from commercial radio stations and refuse to trade with firms advertising on the As already announced by Jhe Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union (Mr. W. W. Mulholland) a fighting fund of £250,000 is being established, and this will be used for an extensive campaign to impress upon the public the significance of primary industries in the economy of the Dominion, and to demonstrate that the Oncourageineht of farming will be for the benefit of every section of the community. Action committees are being established in every centre, and it is believed that immediately the new electoral boundaries are announced a Dominion conference of the Farmers’ Union will be called to consider political action. MR. MULHOLLAND’S COMMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, December 8. “The statement is quite unofficial and I have nothing whatever to say about it. ft has not been issued by any of our organisations and somebody is probably guessing,” said Mr. Mulholland, President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Won, when asked to comment to-day dn the forecast of direct action by farmers.