FEDERATED FARMERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 15, 15 December 1945, Page 6

FEDERATED FARMERS

A POWERFUL ORGANISATION(Press Assn) DUNEDIN, Dec. 14. Too much had already appeared throughout the Dominion concerning the. plans of farmers to halt the drift toward Socialism and economic chaoe that was the declared policy of the Government, said Mr J. S. Hunt, president of the recently-formed Otago executive of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand, at a meeting held today. It was to be deplored that the secretary of the Federation of bour had commented that the executive of his federation was merely amused at the plans being prepared by the farmers to halt this move. The president of the South Canterbury Farmers’, Union must have been speaking on his own account when he suggested that there should be more co-operation by •farmers and willingness to understand the attitude of the Government, Mr Hunt said. _ ■

“We consider there has already been the fullest co-operation possible on the farmers’ part, and as for understanding the Government’s attitude, we feel that this is now one of land confiscation.” - Mr Hunt said that the farmers also were “merely amused” at the reply of the Minister of Finance concerning the taking over of one of the largest stock and station agency firms. He bad stated that he knew nothing about such a plan, but lie had given the - farmers the same reply when asked last July about the Government’s intentions concerning the country, quota. Federated Farmers was rapidly being built into a powerful organisation, and its influence would be used “for the benefit of The country as a whole, declared Mr Hunt. It -was no reflection, on the farmer that he was now determined to take a strong stand, but rather a reflection on the Government for tolerating -what the speaker described as a politically diseased minority in its controlling authority, which was the Federation of Labour. The farmers’ plans were definite, and if they had to be put into operation this would be done at a time suitable to the farmer and not to the Government.

“Our plans are constitutional. We do not believe in unconstitutional action. Should action ever'be taken in this country it will be the result of a spontaneous outburst by a majority of the people, and not merely from a section.”

Mr Hunt’s remarks were unanimously approved by the meeting, which was attended by more than 20 delegates.