FARMERS WANT ONE BIG UNION

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 126, 31 May 1944, Page 3

FARMERS WANT ONE BIG UNION

Conference Stresses Urgency Tho inter-Frovincial conference of tho Farmers’ Union in Palmerston North yesterday placed first on the order paper the question of unity amongst the primary producers of New Zealand. Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president, spoke of the talk to split the farming community up into a number of different organisations according to their interests, with the top only welded. That way would not work. The top could bo welded all right but the scheme split the farmers into little coteries and that was a weakness. Such a collection of organisations could not bring tho greatest voting strength to bear. The only way to speak with one voice was to have all the farmers in one big organisation. Aud after all, tho problems being tackled were common to all sections. With tho farmers segregated there could not be a clear cut expression of opinion. Mr. R. 11. Buchanan (Feilding) said there seemed to be a move to split up tho farmers but if the interests of the primary producers were to be conserved as well as the interests of the men fighting overseas, there must be complete unity. There must be strength to control marketing if nothing else. Mr. H. A. Stewart (Feilding) said the primary producers would get nowhere until they were united at least 90 per cent. There was the spectre recently of legislation passed vitally affecting farmers and yet tho men on the land had not been consulted. The country “quota” was endangered and organisation was needed to fight the issue. Mr. C. Webb (Levin) stated that, while unity was desired, the movement was not taking shape quickly enough. He urged that a special committee be set up to study the problem of organisation and formulate a policy which would give the producers control of the marketing and distribution of everything produced on farms. Mr. S. Sloan (Levin) supported Mr. Webb, say-ing it was time the country was converted from a pleasure craft into a first-line battleship with colours nailed to the mast and carrying a dauntless crew. Other speakers contributed to the discussion along similar lines, the keynote of their remarks being unity. Mr. Thomas (Wairarapa) thought tho present procedure of getting membership not the best. One hundred per cent, membership could only be accomplished by a levy. Mr. F. V. Koehler (f’almerston North) thought tho Farmers’ Union would have to go if a Federation was desired. Mr. L. Hammond (Iluntcrville) agreed with Mr. Mulholland that any organisation must be welded from the bottom upwards. To divide up into different sections with only a head, was like an animal without any flesh and blood. To day the farmers were speaking with divided voices and were getting nowhere. Mr. D. G. Gordon (Taihape) said that, becauso of tho urgency of the situation, the only way to get unity was to get all farnffers into the Dominion Union. The Federation way of getting there would take too long. Other speakers supported the idea of a levy on prodWo to make every farmer automatically a member of one farmers’ organisation. Mr. W. llorrobin (Dominion treasurer) agreed that a levy was sound but to press too much for that immediately, might prove another stumbling block to unity. He urged that details be left for the moment iu favour of the main objective. Tho following motion was carried unanimously: —■ “That, as the time is now opportune for the formation of one union of primary producers, this conference is of the opinion that apart from matters pertaining to increased production, the whole energies nn/1 resources of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union should be devoted towards this goal.” Another Feilding remit carried read: “That, having regard to the serious implications of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act to the farming industry, this conference calls on tho Dominion executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union to immediately embark upon a vigorous organising campaign having as its object 100 per cent, membership of the Union.”