The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY. MAY 2. 1919. FARMERS AND THEIR UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11819, 2 May 1919, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY. MAY 2. 1919. FARMERS AND THEIR UNION.

A FEW days ago the annual meeting of the Wanganui branch~of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held. It is necessary to keep in mind the fact that it was the annual meeting and, therefore, the occasion |wheu,it might have been expected there would be a maximum attendance, but the report discloses the fact that there were only four members present Naturally the few faithful bewailed the absence of others who should have been present. But, judging from the remarks regarding the limited membership of tire branch we are inclined to think that the usual proportion put in an appearance. In every movement except where conscription is enforced, or other external pressure is in [action, the attendance at meetings may usually be accurately predicted at five per cent, or less. On which basis of computation, even if we had not the complaints of the four as a guidance, we should estimate the membership of_the Wanganui branch of the Farmers’ Union to be considerably less than a hnndred.

1 Now, what is the cause operating to restrict the membership so effectually? At the meeting it was held to be the amount of the membership subscription, which — tell it not to Messrs Semple and : Webb lest they scoff mightily!—is apparently a maximum of £2 -5s per pannum. Mr F. Allen considered that the subscription as high as £- as was too [mud:-. and if it ' were reduced ro £1 Is •‘more farmers would attend and be financial. ! " Mr ; J. Higgle, however, had no symf patliy for this spirit of concession to » the numerous brigade which is I to allow others the privilege

of spending and working for them. He recalled the fact that when the Union was started the subscription had .been fixed at one shilling which, of course, meant that the Society suffered at the outset from financial starvation. however, those who fixed the subscription at that low figure had a fairly accurate conception of human nature and made the financial hurdle so low that perhaps the most stingy would not baulk at it. But one cannot help thinking, considering the value apparently put on the existence and operations of the Union by those farmers who refuse or neglect to join, that if the subscription had been threepence or a penny the membership would have been vastly swollen at the outset.

Evidently, however, numbers would have been lost later when the amount was raised, as it was to ten shillings, at which sum it may well be believed the Union is still starved. At a later stage of his remarks Mr Higgie touched the spot when he said that “some farmers could not pay the ten shillings subscription, but they would lose £5 at a race meeting and go back next day to chase it. ’ ’ This niggard policy towards what is essential to their own interests, and prodigal expenditure in the pursuit of an illusion are, however, not confined to the farmers of the Wanganui district. It is very much the same in the Raugitikei district, and probably in most others in the Dominion. And yet it is certain that there is nbt a single farmer who has not benefited to the extent of many pounds by the activities of the Union, We need only cite one case, which was referred to by Mr Higgie, to indicate how much the individual farmer owes to the Union, It will be remembered that an endeavour was made in Parliment to place rural labourers on the same terms as other classes of workers in regard to hours worked and in other particulars of employment. The proposal considering the conditions existing on farms, was a ridiculous one, but would have been passed into law but for the fact that the Union convinced I"everybody, the Government included, that it was absolutely unworkable. Had it received legislative adoption, however, tire farmer who now employs one man would then need two. It seems to be a most singular circumstance that union workmen with, perhaps, onethird, or even [pne-fifth, of the income of some farmers, cheerfully and unanimously pay up, while the prospect of a subscription of a few shillings a year so appals so many farmers that they turn away from it. A time may soon come, however, when they will wish they had organised and consolidated their ranks for defence of.interests that in the long run will be violently assailed.