FARMERS UNITE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26273, 3 October 1946, Page 8

FARMERS UNITE

INTERNATIONAL BODY DOMINION REPRESENTATION (P.A.) - WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. Approval of New Zealand participation in the proposed International Federation of Agricultural Producers was given by the annual conference of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand to-day. This decision was reached after a full afternoon in discussion of the reports of the delegates who attended the recent international conference in London. . The president of the Federated Farmers, Mr B. V. Cooksley, ,in his address to the conference edrlier, said he was convinced that if there were to be a world food board there must be an international farmers’ organisation. The leader of the delegation to London, Mr W. W. Mulholland, said the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the various food councils were becoming a major factor in'international trade in foodstuffs. While a food and agriculture organisation existed, the New Zealand farmer would not suffer for lack of an international farmers’ organisation, but there was every indication that a condition of world surplus would develop about 1949 or 1950. A policy in farmers’ interests to deal with that would have to be determined well in advance. It was, therefore, necessary to go ahead with an international farmers’ organisation. The International Farmers’ Organisation contemplated an expenditure of £25,000 yearly when in full operation in about two or three years’ time, Mr Mulholland said. New Zealand’s share, it could reasonably be expected, would not exceed £IOOO. In addition, there was the cost of representation. A delegation could not be sent from here at less than £SOO to £6OO a man. It was considered, if they were to have a farmers’ organisation, they should, as farmers, finance it. It should be kept free of Government influence. It was decided to approve participation by New Zealand in the proposed international organisation, and the Dominion Council was directed to make arrangements accordingly.' The conference also decided to request the Government that at least one member officially appointed on the recommendation of the Federated Farmers shonuld he included by the Government in its delegation to all future assemblies of the Food and Agriculture Organ isation.