STRIVING TO UNITE PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6666, 20 July 1928, Page 8

STRIVING TO UNITE PRIMARY PRODUCERS

D.F.D. Does Not Want To Lose its Identity

BUT FAVOURS FEDERATION

The vexed question of whether the Dairy Farmers’s Union should amalgamate with the New Zealand Farmers Onion, was discussed at yesterday’s annual conference of the Dairy Farmers’ Union.

, Messrs E. S. Chadwick and J. Livingstone, of the Danncvirko Farmers’ Onion, waited upon the meeting to urge the amalgamation of the two bodies. They pointed out that the time had come when the farmers of the Dominion'should present a . united front in order to combat the many difficulties that faced them. It had been said that the Farmers’ Union, did not represent the dairy farmer. That might have been true but the dairy farmer had himself to blame for that. In recent years, however, < the old order had changed and now the of the members of the Farmers’ Union were dairymen and the majority of tho remits sent down to the Government from conferences directly affected tho dairy farmers of New Zealand. Tho Farmers’ Union needed the support of the members of the Dairy Farmers' Union in its own ranks to get unanimous action. Unity was strength and a united presentation of requirements and protests would be more effectual than several'small bodies endeavouring to secure redress. Finance was also a tremendous , factor in all movements and that was the weakness of farmers' notwithstanding the wealth of the farming community. Had the farmer a consolidated fighting fund of say half a million, ho : would get all tho respect he desired. 'ijWc have come as an earnest representation from the Farmers’ Union,” added Mr. Chadwick,, “to persuade yon to join hands with us. There should be a way of uniting the two forces.” The president (Mr. N. Campbell) said it was well understood that the two unions should be together.'" . Mr. P. J. Small (Kairanga) mentioned that the matter had been discussed previously but tho members were by no means unanimous that tho D.F.U. should lose its identity. Furthermore, the D.F.U. was so financial-that it ; need not collect 'another sixpence *for four, or five years. There were other difficulties as well. The D.F.U; had no mandate from its members and even if the sponge was thrown in,' thcro was the difficulty of persuading members to join up with tho Farmers’ Union. Tho D.F.U. could not be struck out by one stroke of the pen. Mr. Chadwick said he could see no difficulty against the federation.; He urged that the D.F.U. deal /direct with the Dominion, executive and not 'the Provincial committee. He' would like to see federation if it was impossible for the D.F.U to disband and enter the Farmers ’ Union as a whole. Ho would also recommend, that the .D.F.U. be represented *on the Dominion executive of the Partners’ Union. Mr. Campbell: You are in favour of federation, the D.F.U. paying a portoin of its funds to the Farmers’ Union and having a definite say,on the Dominion executive? ' 1 Mr. Chadwick: Yes, I think that by so doing we will be building a decent bridge. , Mr. Short pointed out that that door had been definitely slammed in the face of the D.F.U. previously. Mr. Mason asked if all dairy farmers in tho Farmers’ Union would bo dele-, gated to the D.F.U, in the case of federation. - Mr. Chadwick: The Farriers’ Union is purcly a voluntary institution. At no tirap had the Farmers’ Union endeavoured to persuade'the D.F.U. members to quit their "organisation and join the Farmers’ Union. Mr. Balmer: You. are on delicate ground nowMr. Chadwick: Well, I would like to hear about it. Mr. Balmer: And I will have much pleasure in telling you. Mr. Chadwick: If that is so it was a paid organiser that did it. Mr. Balmer: 1 need not go out of this room for witnesses. • Mr. J. McFarland .(Aorangi) asked what the position of the beekeepers and poultry keepers was and was informed that those- organisations were federated with the Farmers’ Union. The deputation withdrew at this juncture. Mr. W. G. Short (Feilding) then spoke against sinking the identity of the D.F.U. but favoured federation. There was no doubt, he considered that the D.F.U. was doing splendid work on behalf of the dairy farmer and had been the means of getting many redresses. »■’ Mr. P. J. Small suggested that first of all it should be decided ■ whether they desired to keep their identity. Members: Yes. Mr. Small: Do you want federation? Members: Yes. Mr. Small: I agree with you. The president then moved a motion on tho lines of tho discussion and it was carried, the president, and Messrs Wagstaff, Boyce and Balmer being appointed to meet the executive of the Farmers’ Union in Wellington to discuss the situation further.