FARMERS UNION EXECUTIVE AND THE STOCK IMPROVEMENT BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 November 1933, Page 6

FARMERS UNION EXECUTIVE AND THE STOCK IMPROVEMENT BILL.

(To the Editor). Sir,—l observe that an executive meeting of the Fanners’ Union held oil Hawera. oil Monday last briefly discussed the provisions of the proposed Stock Improvement BSi!:l, and ovferwlielmfingly defeated a motion that that Bill should he supported. It is the same old. story over again. Anything that is likely to affect the pockets of a few for a brief period finds no favour, even though tbe ultimate benefits to all would be enormous to the farmer in particular and the country in .eeneral. Mr D. Wards- said, in speaking- to Ins motion, that no doubt- tli-e Bill was drastic in its intent®, but then we have* had other

drastic changes which have In thtj main—and tjub Fanners’ Union are in (full accord with of these changes—proved of great benefit. Air D. Wards’ motion should have secured a great deal of support from the meeting, as he has shown himself to be most progressive and successful in every herd he has handled and knows the value of good constitutioned and proved sto-ck. There are many farmers to-day breeding so-called pedigree stock, which are not fit- to be sold for breeding purposes. Probably at the start off their stock was fair, but by inbreeding to the limit they are now offering what is usually designated “weeds” and these “weeds” are picked up by short-sighted fanners because they get them “cheap!” What an illusion! Jt seems to me the Farmers’ Union, generally speaking, devote too much time to politics which will not affect them very much either way —and do not lend enough support to policies which will raise them front floundering and groping in the dark to progress, success and satisfaction. There is an article by Mr G. IT. Buckeridge in your valuable and historical hrbilee supplement just issued in conjunction with the A. and P. show. This article discusses neglected opportunities, and conies at an opportune time for [farmers to think seriously and with pommon sense—or even horse sense—to take advantage of the poliev advocated by the writer and thus give their hearty and united support to the Stock Improvement Bill. This is too big a job for the executive of the Farmers’ Union to decide, and the members generally will havt> something different to show. - am etc., MUCH INTERESTED. November 8, 1933.