FARMERS' UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 2 December 1922, Page 10

FARMERS' UNION

address at motuitko ORGANISATION URGED Tlierc was no cause to complain of the lack of interest in the representative gathering of fanners who met to hear Mr liuxton speak for the Farmers’ Union at Motupiko. The local president, Mr E. E. Newport was in the ciiair, and in introducing Mr Buxton, lie referred to the good times daring the war, followed hy the inevitable slump afterwards, disorganisation generally, and stressed the consequent need for drastic measures now being taken, such as the meat control, wool marketing control and proposed butter control,^ all worked for and supported hy the Farmers’ Union. Mr Buxton was a. capable man and able to explain the position clearly. In commencing his address, Mr Buxton complimented the'only lady present, on her enthusiasm for the cause ,and explained how his visit had been unduly delayed owing to his negotiating with the Daily Farmers’ Union in the North Island, with whom arrangements for combination had successfully been made and therefore no split hut solidarity was the result. Referring to the Farmers’

Union lie said that although tho individual brand may not have much to allow, yet organised in combination much has been accomplished. _ Those who complained wine not cognisant of the work done but remained outside. There were 82,000 farmers of 10 acres up in Mew Zealand. -A. year ago 7,500 were financial members of the Union, now the numbers had risen to 10.000 and in a very short time ought to read 15,000. The subscription of all the Labour Unions was £1 up to _£2 10s and even more, resulting in big increase of wages and improved conditions. The Farmers’ Union only asked £1 for all benefits obtained and strength lay only in getting together solidly. An isolated deputation to Parliament for instance,, was not of much count, but the appearance of a deputation representing a big combined organisation, was a very different matter. The enormously large interests of the primary producer, comprising the wealth of tho country as was the case, demanded combined organisation. Was the farmer to do all the hard work, early and late, and let the middleman get the benefit? At present the latter got £6O out of every £IOO produced, and the farmer only £4O. Is it satisfactory to be tho milch cow of the country? If so, leave the Farmers Union alone. As an example of the first benefits of organisation ; Early last year in Canterbury, fat lamb was only 4£d. to 5d a. lb ; after the meat pool was proposed it immediately rose Id, and canvassers against the proposal arose _in their wrath all over thecountry, predicting disaster. They said “Look, cables every day are- arriving to the effect that if this pool is effected the big English companies would not touch controlled meat, and offal would he wasted.” Was that the result? No, for in 3 months afterwards there was a rise of 3d a lb, and in 6 months double! _ Whatever big reform is proposed against great vested interests, there was always a howl of “Can’t be done, must go the same old road,” bat this has proved , all wrong. , _ T , Mr Massey claimed in the House that tho benefit'from the Meat Pool alone was £2,500,000 to tho good. The report from ono big meat export bouse was “Wo had big loss of profits last year and owing to the Meat Pool have no chance of making same up.” This was authentic and Mr Buxton had read it off a file held by the manager of the Meat Control Board, when tho latter was in a private capacity and had not been appointed to his present position. Before returning to New Zealand the High Commissioner, Sir T. Mackenzie, reported lamb costs 9d in London, is sold at 1/2 to 1/9 lb. Big profits, and what were the dealer’s risks writing out his order perhaps for 100 carcases or more on a slip of paper, compared with the farmer’s who had bred, reared, fed and fattened the stock? The rocket wont up and only the slack came down for the farmer often at present, hub the Fanners’ Union was trying to get the profits for the toiler on the farm and nob the London middleman in his car. Last vear 800,000 cases ot commandeered butter was still in hand, so we were told, glutting the market. In a fortnight, owing to proposed organisation of the butter pool, there were only 200 000 cases left and 600,000 had disappeared ! Often a proprietary concern, such as a butter factory, will offer more than a co-operative, but compare the final results and_ the comperativo comes up top every time. The final results are what count and what the lanneis Union has already done with limited membership is not the limit of hilitv- Numbers count and each member gained counts at least double m to look at failures of the past, but we should look to the future. A lot of consolidating woik had been effected latidy. Dairy farmers were now federated with tho .^® c " h ' tivc of tho Farmers Union, although specialising in their branches. The fruitgrowers had federated, and w hat they could nob accomplish on their own had been effected m combination with the Farmers’ Union when thev got a grant for fruit export from the" Government. Remits all v°«m! proved— alone, failure ; combined, suecess. In the late freezing works strike men wore obtained to keep the works going, largely through the efforts of the Farmers’ Union, but at the same time the aim was to be fair, and prepared to meet labour, but all the same firmness and organisation were necesto the Farmers’ Union platform, it was non-political, non-sectarian. Aimed at fostering co-operative marketing to support the weak against the strong; improved shipping and transi and improved finance in the form of agricultural banking. Matters engaging the attention of Urn Union were tho unreasonable cost ol such goods as binder twine horse covers, manure—especially tho Nam phosphates in which the Government had sunk £600,000 and certain proprietary concerns wore reaping tho benefit.

In conclusion, the speaker felt it was not an unreasonable request to ask every producer to como together and join' together in united effort, and so working together as one big whole gain one hie benefit, all for £l. (Applause). Replying to questions, Mr Buxton explained that certain Auckland candidates for Parliament were not standing on behalf of the Fanners Union, but merely as farmers’ renreseutatives. On'the motion of Mr W. B. North, seconded hv Mr G. L. Mead a hearty vote of thanks was proposed l« Mr Buxton for his comprehensive and enlightening address, and carried by acclamation.