F.U. Urges Political Action Through A Rural Party

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1939, Page 5

F.U. Urges Political Action Through A Rural Party

[Per Press Association. Copyright 3 WELLINGTON, Monday.

The following report of a discussion held m committee at the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union has been issued. “The conference, after a. long discussion in committee on what means could be used most effectively to counteract the progressive worsening of the farmers’ economic position, adopted the following resolution: “ ‘That the Dominion executive be instructed to draw up a programme of action—either economic or politicalto be placed before a special Dominion conference to be called immediately it deems advisable, having special consideration to the fixing of the guaranteed price or the Government’s expressed intention in respect to the finding of the Sheepfarming, Commission.

“ ‘This conference is of the opinion that ultimately political action, through the medium of a rural party, is an effectual means of . securing economic justice for the farmer and the community in general. ■

•“ ‘Therefore the Dominion executive is instructed to examine the question from all angles, with a view to adoption, by the next annual conference, or sooner if necessary, of concrete proposals to give effect thereto’,” . The president, Mr W. W. Mulholland, commented that this resolution would in certain circumstances become of momentous importance, and. impressed on delegates the gravity of the implications that it contained. It was evident that the farmers were determined to have more positive action unless some action was immediately forthcoming to rectify the industry’s position.

Resolution Not Binding, President Explains

[Per Press Association. Copyright.l CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “It should be understood that the resolution adopted at the annual conference, and reported yesterday, does not commit the Farmers’ Union to the formation of a political party,” said Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the union, when he was asked to explain further the report,'from Wellington. “It must not be taken that the. union ) has decided to form a political party,” he added. Mr Mulholland said that there was nothing definite yet, and there would not be until the Dominion executive, at its next meeting, considered the resolution passed at the conference. The resolution was not an operative one, but one creating proposals for investigation and decision. All aspects of the questions involved had to be gone into. This might be done When the executive met in the third week of August. Explaining the reference, to- the Sheepfarming Commission, Mr Mulholland said that the conference expected the Government to take some action. If it failed to do so, the farmers would regard it as a serious situation which might require immediate action.