Farmers' Unions Again. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 22

Farmers' Unions Again. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Tho farmers' unions are becoming povrerfu', and it would be a great pity to see them break up for the want' of live subjects to discuss. Here are a few subjects that the various unions throughout Southland and Otago could well take up and deal with at their leisure : —

(1) Botany — a most interesting, as well as instructive, subject. Every farmer should knowsomething about botany, and where could they learn better than at their unions?

(2) Insect life. Every farmer should know comething about insects— insects thai; aro harmless, ard insects that are destructive about ttie farm. Where could a farmer learn somethirg of this interesting subject quicker than at lii 3 union meeting? (3) Bird; life. Here is a wide subject, and one that every farmer should take an interest m. Where could he learn all about his neighbours' experiences, and give 1 is own to better advantage than at his union meeting ? (4) Why should every b-ianch of the union not have a small microscope? A ve^y useful little instrument could be obtained tor a, few pounds. Whit a field of useful I:iio-,vledge. one of these little installments would open tip to the ordinary farmer. A thousand and, one obscure points touching questions of daily interest could be made plain to him.

(5) Why should the social side of faim lite not receive attention from the various countiy unions? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and I am of opinion that more general interest, could be infused into the fanners'

union meetings if an occasional pocial meeting were held. Everyone knows how dull and monotonous country life is, and it appears to ma that a social meeting now and then, to which! tanners and others, young and old, could bring their wives and lady friends, would tend towards deepening and widening the interest m (farmers' unions throughout the country.

(6) If a peripatetic soli erne of reading papei3 and giving lectures could be mtro^ ced, so that members would never, unless solicited to do so, read papers or deliver lectures to their mother (branch) union, without a doubt a decided advance would be made. No man is a prophet in. his own country, and the members of every, bianoh should clearly understand and realise this. Farmers without p doubt are a most intolerant class. Perhaps the nature of his catling and his isolated life tend to make the t farmer more intolerant than other classes, and . i to break down and sweep away this spirit of ' intolerance to tho opinions and views of their i ', neighbours, a good idea woiild be if the various i branches- could be induced to exchange dele- ' gates or members, as it were, for the purpose of reading papers and delivering lectures on ques- ', tions of general or local interest. In this way > | I think the general run of farmers would soon. learn to tolerate other folk's views, j There are scores of other subjects that might ; be mentioned. I have merely touched on a few for the purpose of discussion, with your consent. — I am, etc., Calliope. June 20.