FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11764, 26 February 1919, Page 8

FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

LITTLE PROGRESS MADE

POSITION OF THE USSION

Responding to the toast of his health at the Farmers’ Union smoke concert at Whangarei last week, Mr J. Boddie, president of the Auckland provincial executive, said that the union had not been able to do more than keep the flag flying. They were not making progre'2s in any part of New Zealand. They bad tried in Auckland by means of subprovincial areas and branches to awaken interest. They had established eight sub-districts at a cost of £BOOO, and not one of the districts had sent in an optimistic report. They ought to be able to say that 90 per cent of the farmers in the country were live members. There were two objectcs in organising:—(l) For defensive purposes, and (2) to spread education concerning their own industry. Many farmers had not yet been able to grasp the fact that old, antiquated methods would not ‘do. He had tried to find out the average csst of producing 11b of butter —labour, interest, manure, etc., included—and he came to the conclusion it was Is 6d per lb. The Dairy Commissioner made it Is 7i£d, The farmers were therefore selling at a loss. Yet on top of tbis they bad to take out a slice so that well-paid professional, business and wageearning men might get cheap butter. He suggested live political action not party?* politics —to ensure tho gaining of their ends. They would not succeed on the old lines. He declared the greatest difficulty was to get the farmer to pnt Ins hand in his pocket and puli ont £l. The small subscription was wrong. The farmer could as easily pay £2 as a lad from the front 10*. He pointed out that 50 per cent of the GOOO members in Auckland were unfiuancial. He proposed, as a way ont ot this difficulty, to apply to the co-operative farmers’ companies i to pay up these subscriptions, based I upon'the number of their shareI holders.