FARMER'S UNION ORGANISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12775, 27 January 1905, Page 7

FARMER'S UNION ORGANISES.

Tire Auckland Provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union have appoint- . *!« a. travelling organiser in the person of Mr. G. H. Buekeridgo for the purpose of popularising tho objects of tho union and ■ increasing the membership list. Mr. Buckerfdgo has before him a very important task, but ho is entering on his campaign with a niueh better prospect of success than most other organisers have had. In the first place he has shaken off some of the shackles W the old union platform, and has the opportunity of laying before farmers a simple * . - policy 'which should receive their unanimous support. The. main planks which. Mr. Buekeridge will ask fanners to work for are * good road policy, commercial eo-opera--t'oh, and freedom from class legislation. r'/ a the old platform of tho union there were , many controversial subjects. In that put forward now there is nothing that any individual 0? party can object to. Good roads are a national necessity, and will benefit/ city workers as- well as country settlers. ■ Commercial co-operation simply means , economical distribution, and this should be advantageous both to the producer and the consumer. As to freedom from class legislation, that should be the desire of every citizen in New Zealand. If the- farmers will 'not join tho union on these lines, then there -is no hope for them politically, and they will deserve to pass under the thumb of *fty other association or' union which takes ■■;■. the trouble to organise its members.. One . , thing. Unfortunately, is not in Mr. Bncko- . ' ridge's propaganda, and that is an increase in the- union'-; subscription. Every member .°f the Fanners' Union should pay at least. £l per year, and lie prepared, to meet .special levies. The present paltry penny a • week is ,only worthy of a band of schoolboy*. If it were not for int»n of Mr. Buekeridge's stamp, who arc prepared to give their services nlmosl for nothing, the union would not have a single- respectable official, and why such men should continue giving ,>.. '"Pir time and their labour to benefit a z prosperous bo-lv of farmers can only be un-d-rstood by those who know their genuine patriotism.'