SERVICE TO FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 6

SERVICE TO FARMERS

PRESENTATION TO TWO LIFE MEMBERS “CLOCKS FOR GRANDFA HERS” In recognition of long service in j the interest of farmers throughout New Zealand, and Auckland Province in particular, Messrs. R. D. Duxfield and Captain Colbeck, both life members of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Auckland Province), were today the guests - of the provincial conference, and made the recipients of handsome presentations. The Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., said both Capt. Colbeck and Mr. : Duxfield were respected and apprecl- i ated by farmers throughout the whole of the Dominion (applause), they! having taken a big part in building up one of the strongest and most influential organisations In New Zea- . land. They, after sowing the seeds of this huge concern, had watched it grow to health and strength. “I do not say we anticipate trouble of any sort,” Mr. Poison went on, “but it is a good thought to know that we have the Organisation to carry on if it does come. “We can then say we are not going to stand any nonsense. . . . We can then carry on the fight, and give in into the hands of the younger members.” In presenting the two life members with grandfather clocks, the president said: “Grandfather clocks for grandfathers of the Farmers’ Union.” (Applause.) Capt. Colbeck, in thanking the conference for its gift and the sentiments it represented, assured delegates that throughout his career as a farmers’ representative he had tried hard to do what he considered to be the best for the whole of the farming community. Whether he had been right or wrong, he had never advocated anything which would injure any other farmer. His life-loug fight, of course, had been against protective tariffs —a fight which was being justified daily throughout New Zealand and throughout the world, and backed by all the chambers of commerce in Europe, and by the League of Nations itself. Mr. Duxfield, returning thanks, referred to the changing fortunes of the ! Farmers’,Union during his connection ; with it. The pioneers had seeik how-; ever, the necessity of an organisation ! which would voice the needs of the [ farmer, and their foresight had been justified. (Hear! Hear!) The union had been a training school for many M.P.’s, but the speaker was sorry to say that many of these had forgotten what they had learned In the union. He concluded by urging the young men of the union to put up a superstructure fitting to the good foundation laid by the pioneers. The conference cheered the two recipients and sang “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.” A<i vice was given to the conference by Mr. W. Poison not to take any notice of the cry that private enterprise was the only way to success. Mr. Poison strongly asserted that the co-oper-ative concerns in this country were easily as well conducted. “Whenever a co-operative concern falls through, j the newspapers soon get hold of the J fact,” he said.