FARMERS DEBATE ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE ON ISSUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 August 1947, Page 7

FARMERS DEBATE ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE ON ISSUE

When the time came to vote on whether West Coast farmers should or should not support Mr Johnston in his scheme to establish a limeworks at Cobden, a new problem presented itself to the branch of the New Zealand Federated Farmers, which held its quarterly . executive meeting at Greymouth yesterday afternoon. “Who is entitled to vote on the issue?” was the question asked, particularly in view of the presence of “rank and file” farmers whose interest in the lime issue had resulted in their attendance. Some members proposed that branches should be entitled to two votes each and others favoured a single vote for . each branch with . members present. It was pointed out that according to the constitution, the voting power of branches was assessed on its membership, but thesex figures were not immediately available. It was also stated that, on this basis, some of the so-called branches represented would become inoperative on account of lack of numerical strength.Some objection was offered to the proposal that only executive members —official delegates—should vote, on the grounds that the constitution had not been adopted in the past and custom should be followed on this occasion. . Finally, a motion proposing 'that all members of the branch of the Federated Farmers should be entitled to vote and an amendment favouring one vote per branch, , were placed before the meeting, but a stalemate was reached when, members asked who would be entitled to vote on the resolutions. j - Both were finally withdrawn in view of. the fact that the resolving of the issue was a policy matter, and it was agreed that each branch represented be entitled to a single vote irrespective of membership. There was no time to settle the controversy and it was agreed that this should be done at another meeting.

PROGRESS LEAGUE AND FARMERS: ATTACK AND DEFENCE

TretiChaht criticism of the attitude Of the Westland Progress League m advdoatirig the establishment of a lime-works fit Cobden in direct, opposition to the farmers—the people most concerned—was voiced by two farmers following a dissuasion on the position at yesterday afternoons meeting of the West Coast Federated Farmers at Greymouth. Their views Were not shared by all the farmers present, however', and after a discussion the. critics were asked to withdraw a motion of censure. “I want to voice a protest at the Progress League taking _ sides in an issue primarily concerning farmers, and at the mdnner in Which it rushed hurriedly to hand over to private interests- the riieans of production of a fertilising, agent -vital to the farmers,” said Mr C. Jamieson (KokatahiKoiterangi). “I hope that the league Will take heed and cognisance of the Views of the farmers, as expressed by their decision today, on the place of private enterprise in any matter of public importance, and I suggest that they now examine the question of extending' electric power to Ross as a means of increasing lime production for the West Coast. I hope that the chairman of the league (Mr W. D. Taylor), who in his statement this afternoon said that he was not concerned whether the lime was produced by private enterprise or cooperative enterprise so long as it was produced, will understand, clearly and concisely, from the voting this afternoon where we farmers stand.” “Emphatic Protest”

Mr Jamieson moved that the conference emphatically protest at the attitude of the Progress League in becoming partisan in a matter primarily of interest to the farming industry and express its gratitude to members of the Trades and Labour Council for' its expressed support, and stand loyally for co-operative enterprise. The resolution was seconded by Mr M. Mcßride, of South .Westland. “I must oppose this motion as far aS it refers to the Progress League,” said Mr L. Mockett, who is president of the Buller Progress League. “The explanation given for the league’s attitude is satisfactory, and it must be accepted that the organisation’s sole purpose was to see that farmers obtained sufficient lime to enable them to make something of their properties. It is their job to delve into these things, and I don’t think that they have fallen down on the job.” Expressing similar views, the provincial president, Mr Martin, said that he hoped that the league would now be able to help the farmers in other activities, particularly as far as the Ross works were concerned. “A motion such as this, at this stage, might have the effect of making the league disinclined to assist us in the future,” he added. “You have won your case today, and I prefer to see you leave it at that.” “Not Courteous”

“Mr Johnston and the league have not agreed with the viewpoint of the farmers as expressed by today’s vote, but they have come before us and stood up in public and backed their opinion and have stood under crossexamination,” said Mr P. O’Regan (Inangahua). “In the British constitution, the opposition is regarded as being of the utmost importance,” he declared. “A resolution sUch as that proposed is not courteous and not in the public interest. Neither is it the British way of doing things.” Mr W. A. Jamieson said that the proposers had,been hasty and suggested that the motion be Withdrawn. “There is nothing hasty about my

opinion,” said Mr C. Jamieson. “Tne league right throughout has been cutting across the interests of the farmers, and has encouraged an enterprise not in the interests of the farmers. These are my sentiments, but if you wish to rule the motion out it is quite all right by me. I have had an opportunity of saying what I wish. Material for contrast is provided by the attitude of the Trades Council and that of the Progress League,” he -concluded. “I agree to the withdrawal of the motion, but more or less under protest,” said Mr Mcßride, and the resolution was then withdrawn. Mr Taylor’® Comment

“It is rather strange that the local Progress League should have to be defended by foreigners,”' said Mr W. D. Taylor, referring to the support of the Westport and Inangahua delegates. “I have told you where we stand,” he went on, “and I still feel the league was justified in its attitude.”

Mr Taylor pointed out how the

league in the past had endeavoured to assist the farming industry by advocating the establishment by Lincoln College of an experimental farm in the province, and Mr ff. Saunders added that the league had been iristrumental in having a survey of West Coast land carried out by Lincoln. College experts, who were preparing a report on their findings. “We must now forget the past and look to the future,” said the chairman, Mr Martin, who added that’ the salvation of the West Coast lay only in the' development, of its land.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD CLEAR AND DRAIN UNDEVELOPED LAND Proposing that the Government should be approached to develop all f suitable lands with the object of assisting to solve the world food problem and, in addition, adding to a great national asset, the president (Mr .Martin) said that farmers could not tackle the necessary clearing and draining themselves, and, in any case, they would be better employed on production. The world was desperate for food supplies and would be so for some years to come, and there were many thousands of acres of idle and undeveloped land that could be brought into production with Government assistance. In this respect he did not think any district in New Zealand offered greater scope than the West Coast.

Commenting oh the make-up of the' Aid-to-Britain Committee, Mr M. Wallace said he had noted that the chairman of that committee Was Mr F. P. Walsh, of the Seamen’s Union, and that there were four other representatives of industrial or political labour and only One farming representative. He' (Mr WallaCe) considered that farming was such an important industry and its activities so diverse that no one man could repfeserit th'e whole of'the farmers. He considered the Federated Farmers should be approached to secure on that committee' a' representative for every branch of the farming industry. He did not wish it to be interpreted that he did not think the other

•members should be on the committee, but he thought the farming industry should have wider representation. . . . The meeting was occupied almost throughout the day with the lime issue and no decision was made on the' two foregoing proposals'.