FARMERS’ CASE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1946, Page 6

FARMERS’ CASE

IMPLICATIONS OF FIGHTING FUND MORE PUBLICITY DESIRED [SPECIAL REPORTER] HOKITIKA, May 31. Suggestions that the establishment of a “fighting fund” by the Federated Farmers of New Zealand implied political activities were repudiated by the retiring president of the West Coast branch, Mr. H. D. Beckett, at the annual conference at Hokitika, today. The discussion arose out of a letter from the Dominion executive pointing out that the West Coast provincial contribution to the Federation defence fund had not yet been received and that the action committee, which was now formulating its campaign, was handicapped by not knowing what amount of finance was available.

Left to Branches.

Mr. Beckett said the whole matter had been left to the individual branches but with the exception of Weheka there had been no response. It appeared that opinion was divided as to whether the West Coast should go into the fund or not. He considered that it would be unfair to ask the delegate to the Dominion conference to face a barrage of questions without giving him an expression of opinion. The fund had been decided upon by a majority decision at the last conference and the question was whether the farmers of the West Coast were going to sit back and let the remainder of New Zealand carry them on its back.

Mr. M. J. Sullivan. (Weheka)-.ask-ed whether Mr. Beckett could give any indication as to how the money was going to be spent.. Mr. Beckett said the fund was to be used to complete the setting up of the organisation and to get as complete a membership as possible. Following that, various means would be used to put the farmers’ case before the people of New Zealand. At the time of-the electoral boundary changes there had been a lot of talk about such things as direct action but that did not go down. Party politics did not come into the matter at all. Mr. Sullivan said his view was that there should be co-operation between the farmers and the Government, irrespective of what Government was in power. Once there was feeling between them, then they did not get results.

Mr. Beckett said the fund was for the purpose of trying to safeguard farmers’ interests. In the electoral changes he thought farmers had lost the small majority they might have had in the voting field and they had to enlist the sympathy of people outside the rural field to get anywhere. A delegate: Do you think you will get people to understand that? Enlistinq Sympathy. Mr. Beckett: You have always got to live on hope. Mr. I-T. G. Carter (Ngahere) said he thought the whole thing had been handled rather badly. All knew that there had been some rash talk by farmers and the naming of the fund was unfortunate. If the fund was wanted for publicity, it should be put under its proper heading. Mr. AV. Vallance (Rotomanu) said the members of his branch had agreed to contribute to the fund on the basis of 6d per cow. After some further discussion it was decided that the matter be referred back to the branches for an expression of opinion and that the chairman of the action committee, Mr. H. E. Blyde, be invited to visit the I West Coast and address farmers on the purposes of the fund.