The Farmers' Union

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7029, 13 June 1901, Page 4

The Farmers' Union

At a recent meeting at Patea, Mr A- J. 0. Glass, organising secretary of the Farmers' Union, shed a further ray of -light on the aims and objects of the Farmers' Union, Generally speaking he said the objects of the union were to foster the interests of the farmers, fruitgrowers, and settlers; to promote the opening up and "settlement of Crown and native lands, and the formation and im_ provement of means of; communication ; to obtain cheap freights ; and to place the sale of produce and the purchase of material required by agriculturists on a satisfactory basis, The platform, which is only provisional/sets out that the Government should be requested to give authority for grants for roads and bridges, etc , to be expended as'soon as the Estimates had passed the House of Representatives. Mr Glass pointed ont in this connection that amounts were often kept back until after 31st March, in order tp swell the surplus. What they wanted was that as soon as a. grant was voted a voucher for the amount should be given, and the local body empowered to borrow the

money and go -on with the work. Another plank was that some scheme should be devised by which the fWoiera with good security could obtain temporary leans at low rates of interest and at short notice, to save the sacrifice of produce and stock as at present. It was also asked that practical farms should be established in different parts of the colony under the eoutrol of a Board, on which the Presidents of the Agri. cultural Aasociationa and of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Bhould have 'a>eat Certain proposals are' also pot forward in respect of Grown and native lands. The programme is admittedly provisional, and will be defined by the members when, the organisation becomes more complete. Before this is done district conier.ences will be held and delegates ap ' pointed to central conference, at which the Union will be given a more-definite corisiitutipn:-'". .■: