Farmers to Take Action

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 290, 8 December 1945, Page 6

Farmers to Take Action

Sequel to Recent Legislation Main Points Outlined of - Non-Cooperation Plan (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. A plan to withdraw farmers’ accounts from the Bank of New Zealand and the Post Office Savings Bank and to cancel their business with several other major State trading institutions, is being put into effect throughout the country by the Action Committees of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. This step is being taken to register the union’s disapproval of recent legislation, in particular the Electoral Amendment Bill, which involved the abolition of the country quota.

Officials of the Farmers’ Union report that they have no authority to disclose the plan, but it is known that the details have been widely circulated, and evidence of action on the part of farmers is appearing throughout the country. It is known also that attempts are being made to induce commercial and industrial interests to take similar steps. Some farmers are reported to be refusing to deal with persons or firms who have accounls with the Bank of New Zealand and are boycotting tradesmen known to deal with the Bank.

The general plan is described as a policy of non-cooperation with the Government. Here are some of the main points, already widely canvassed:— 1. That farmers who bank w ith the Bank of New Zealand transfer their accounts to other institutions and persuade others to take the same course. 2. That farmers having Post Office Saving Bank accounts should close them. 3. That farmers withdraw their business from the State Fire Insurance Office and the Public Trust, and that no new business be taken to the Government Life Insurance Department.

4. That farmers refuse to support any future loans floated by the Government. 5. That farmers’ wives be asked to monitor advertising from commercial radio stations and refuse to trade with firms advertising on the radio. As already announced by the Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union (Mr. W. AY. Mulholland), a fighting fund of £250,000 is being established and this will be used for an extensive campaign to impress upon the public the significance of the primary industries in the economy of the Dominion and to demonstrate that encouragement of farming will be for the benefit of every section of the community. Action committees arc being established in every centre and it is understood that immediately the new electoral boundaries arc announced, a Dominion conference of the Farmers’ Union will be called to consider political action.