AT CROSS PURPOSES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6144, 3 October 1945, Page 4

AT CROSS PURPOSES

DISCUSSION AT FARMERS’ UNION MEETING LACK OF HARMONY EVIDENT A discussion that jumped from the need of the Farmers’ Union to take greater interest in local inatters of farming interest to some of the inside history of the Federated Farmers took place in the closing stages of Friday night’s meeting of-the Te Awamutu Farmers’ Union. Mr Lorimer said he would like to see the Farmers’ Union do more local work. Some years ago they had held field days and he would like to see them started again. They could also get officers of the Department of Agriculture and others to give lectures. In order to get the interest of member of the Farmers’ Union they must do something along those lines, and they should get some one to give an address on the movement. The chairman, Mr A. E. Bryant, said he was pleased to hear the remarks of Mr Lorimer. In regard to the Federation they seemed to be nothing doing but “scraps” and they were doing nothing of their own job. He was not competent at that stage to speak about the Federation. Mr Lorimer moved that the Farmers’ Union try to arrange field days and lectures of interest to members. He suggested that Mr Rhodda, formerly manager of the Ruakura Government Farm and now of the Department of Agriculture should give a lecture. Mr H. R. Clarke seconded the motion and suggested that a small committee be set Jip to go into the matter. The chairman moved that a committee consisting of Messrs Hodgson, Clarke and Lorimer be set up. Mr Hodgson said that when he was secretary some years ago the scheme had been put into operation, but it had faded out because the farmers would not attend. They were up against the latter fact.

Mr Lorimer proposed that the executive call a meeting to hear a lecture on a subject of interest to farmers. At the request of Mr L. S. Richards the chairman then gave a report on the Federation along lines already familiar to readers who have followed that movement.

Mr Richards then created something of a sensation by making reference to a petition containing 19 signatures which he alleged had been sent to Wellington opposing the form and setup of the Federation in the Waikato Province.

The chairman said that Mr Richards had got the matter wrongly and there was a misunderstanding of the position. Mr Richards then alleged that Mr Bryant’s name was on the petition and suggested that in view of that fact he should resign from the Provisional Council set up to implement the Federation in the Waikato.

Several members rose to their feet at the same time and it was impossible to grasp what they were all saying.

The chairman said they were waiting for the Rules Conference to be held in Wellington when the proposals would be discussed. It was hoped that they would be agreed to. After some further discussion the chairman said that he was not prepared to allow a discussion on Federation. The press reports had confused the farmers. Until after the meeting to be held on Thursday he was not in a position to tell them anything. They had held their previous meetings in committee but at the next meeting in Hamilton he intended to move that they take the discussion in open meeting.

At this stage Mr W. G. Parker moved a vote of confidence in the chairman.

Mr Richards stated that a meeting was being held at Putaruru that night, the object being to reform the Farmers’ Union. The Farmers’ Union was not going into the Federation as it should.

The chairman at this stage again closed the discussion, stating that Mr Richards had information that he (Mr Bryant) had not got. He was elected a member of the Executive of the Federated Farmers, Waikato Province, but there had not yet been a meeting of that executive.

Mr North pointed out that the Auckland Province Incorporated had not given its proper consent. The chairman said that the Waikato movement was taken against the sanction of Messrs W. Marshall and Mulholland. In regard to Mr Lorimer’s motion it was decided to call a general meeting and that Mr Rhodda be asked to give an address on weed control. Mr J. S. Pattison said he would not like the meeting to close without a little harmony being manifest. He asked members to have confidence in their chairman until something definite came out.

Mr W. J. Hodgson detailed the steps taken to set up the Provisional Executive. Those elected were representatives, arid not as a branch. No decision was arrived at by groups but his election was approved by the whole conference which was a testimony to Mr Bryant. As a branch they had no authority to say who was on that Executive. If Te Awamutu decided to have nothing to do with Waikato Mr Bryant’s position was not tied up with the branch. The chairman said there would be a Waikato Province and he supported it. The objection to Waikato was that they were accused of taking the cream of the province, and leaving little pockets. The rank and file had the say in their own organisation. The idea was that local problems could be settled here without having to take them to Wellington. Mr Day said it would be an education for Messrs Richards and Pattison to sit in on a meeting of the Waikato Executive.

Mr Hodgson suggested that Confidence should be expressed in Mr Bryant as a representative of farming organisations. Mr Richards said there was no suggestion of lack of confidence and he was going on to speak further when the chairman finally declared the discussion closed.