THE FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1919, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION.

This year New Plymouth is to be honored by the provincial branches of the Farmers' Union in that they are holding their annual conference in the town. <We trust that the fanners of the district and townsmen will gee to it that the visitors' brief stay will be both interesting and profitable. This part of Taranaki has really never evinced the interest that it should in an organisation that plays so important a part in nil matters affecting the welfare'of producers. Why, it is difficult to say. Other parts of the province have taken a lively interest in the Union and done 11 good deal to conserve and promote the interests of their fellows. Perhaps it is that no systematic effort has been made to organise the district and establish branches. However that may be, efforts are about to be put forth to interest local farmers in the work of the Union, and with that end in view meetings are to be held shortly at various centres, j It is to be hoped the farmers will re-j spond. Never in the history of the count'V was it mora necessary foi- far-H mtrs fo combine and speak with one voice on matters in which thoy are vitally interested. The country is faced with some tremendous 1 problems as the result of the war, and in their

solution, who more than the producers

Shave a better right to make their j voices heard and their influence felt? By far the greater part of the additional burden' imposed by the war will be borne by the producers, and they must take nare that it ia evenly distributed and does not press unduly on any particular section. Without unity the interests of farmers may conceivably suffer, as they have in the past in many important respects These facts should need no emphasis; they are so obvious. Yet it is difficult to make seme farmers realise the necessity for organisation and unity. Not so with Labor, who has perfected unions for practically every branch of labor and cheerfully contributes regularly to tha funds. The reason is that Labor knoWB the value and benefit of unity as against sectional and individual effort. With this object lesson in front of them, farmers should endeavor to take an interest in their own union, which has done so much for them in the past, and is capable of doing a great deal more if only they would get behind it and give it whole-hearted adherence and the active support it merits. We therefore hope the meetings being held locally will be largely attended, and that the deliberations of the provincial conference will awaken a keen interest in the Union, as well as in the various matters to be discussed and which so materially affect the welfare of the producers and the Dominion generally.