THE FARMERS’ UNION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4605, 8 March 1902, Page 4

THE FARMERS’ UNION.

Practical fruit has appeared at last on one of the branches of that much-dis-cussed institution, the Farmers’ Union. In the beginning the political element was, thanks to the efforts of various Oppositionists, given a prominence which nearly brought what even then promised to be a useful organisation to premature extinction. It was to the good sense of the great body of the farming community that the Farmers’ Union owed its narrow escape from that disaster. After that, the spread of the general belief in the usefulness and practical value of the organisation of an agricultural community for agricultural purposes was a matter of course. At the same time, there seemed to be reason r expecting that there would bo praccal fruit immediately. That expectation had not been disappointed. A branch of the Farmers’ Union —the North Canterbury branch—has taken in hand the rising meat industry in a spirit at once practical, hopeful and determined. It is, next to the woolgrowing industry, the most important of the industries on which New Zealand agriculture depends, and it is closely allied with it. Two facts have long been known to give this industry a special character. One is that the product of this industry is the very best that gets to the British markets by importation from beyond the seas, and the other is that its profits to the grower are the very worst. These facts have struck many minds many times during the now somewhat long history of our meat export industry. There have been in consequence many protests and some agitations; but these, being all as destitute of organisation as the meat trade, for whose reform they were made, all came to nothing in the natural course of things. A similar fate befell, for similar reasons, some not by any means unworthy attempts at consolidation of all the interests engaged. Throughout these failures the want of a solid backbone of agricultural interest was severely felt. That want the Farmers’ Union, North Canterbury branch, is making a strong attempt to supply. The first clause of the motion passed on Wednesday by the executive of the branch is in itself a most suggestive commentary on the ineptitude with which the trade has been hitherto conducted. It has been actually, so it might appear to the hasty reader, left to the Farmers’ Union to discover the elementary truth that competitive disunion in place of a largo and active interest in possession of a rUc-A-it, market, is the way to disaster. The executive’s resolution uses business language to characterise the short-sightedness of the men who control tho meat export trade of this colony;—lt says that “tho present system of disposal by. a number of different consignees competing against one another is very prejudicial to the interests of the producers.” The different consignees will resist, but the time has come for asking whether the trade belongs to the consignee or to the producer? A strong institution has put the question for the producer, and only one answer will be satisfactory. The second paragraph carries the subject on to the next logical stage, namely, “that some form of co-opera-tive combination of those interested in the frozen meat trade, whereby absolute control of sale of the whole output of New Zealand shall be vested in one company or board, is essential for realisation of the full intrinsic value of our product.” This is a matter which those interested have in their hands absolutely to manage and regulate as they please. We have heard much of trusts and syndicates of late years, at first entirely on the adverse side, but now a great deal of a favourable nature, of which tho most notable example was in the last “Message” of President Roosevelt. Here tho contention is that these institutions have their uses, and if they can rescue a great national industry from spoliation and disaster, there will not bo much left standing of the indictment against them. The third paragraph is the satisfactory proof that the crucial resolution is not a mere matter of rhetoric. Having marked the way out of the labyrinth the executive of the North Canterbury branch invite all the ramifications of their institution over New Zealand to meet and consider the questions It is the stage which no other agitation has hitherto ever reached, and it is itself at the same time left behind by another. Instead of leaving the branches to discuss, the resolution asks them, pfier their consideration, to arrange a representative conference ’n Wellington' to take up the question and carry it to beneficial completion. Now nothing is more certain than that the producer, who has a right to be heard and considered in important matters concerning his welfare, will never obtain that recognition until he asserts himself by combination of all bis strength. Failing such combination, his interest will continue to suffer from the preferential claims of the diverse consignees. It will suffer net only from the competition at his expense, of those who ought to be united for his advantage. but from tho absence of some representative head aware of nis wishes, knowing his requirements, and able

to speak "with authority on his bobs?!?. Kar the first time in the hist ory ot the meat trade tbo producer has new the opportunity of insisting on the proper organisation of the trade which concerns him and his country so nearly. He should not hesitate to avail himself of it to the utmost.