QUOTA AND CENSUS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23258, 20 July 1945, Page 2

QUOTA AND CENSUS

I Discussion By Farmers’ Union I Talk Of Direct Action ■N.Z.P.A.t WELLINGTON, July IS. i Direct action was mentioned freely I in discussions on flu: census and the I country quota at tile annual confer- ■ cnee of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. i One remit asked that, in view of the unsettled state of the country, the absence of so many overseas, dislocation of the population under manpower regulations and the labour shortage, the census be postponed rill a year after the war, failing which farmers must draw their own conclusions and take the action necessary to defeat the insidious attack on their liberties. A second remit protested again- 1 the suggested abolition of the country quota, stating that Parliamentary representation enjoyed for 64 years should not be filched. Abolition of the quota would accelerate a further and larger drift to the towns. Rural interests had little enough representation today. Both remits were adopted unanimously. If he could receive an assurance of 100 per cent support from the farming community he would approve of farmers boycotting the census, said Mr E. Blyde (Taranaki). That would be effective direct action which would not affect the war effort. The president (Mr W. W. Mulholland) said he did not think such action would be effective for any purpose they wanted. Mr 1,. Hammond (Marton) said the conference should say directly what action it wanted. It should not “pass the buck" to the committee. If they wanted either constitutional action or otherwise Iqt them say so. Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P., said the only direct action suggestion was negative—and that was the most he thought farmers would do. Wliat they must aim. at Was influencing public opinion. A petition to the GovernorGeneral had been suggesed. but nothing came of it. If they could not get farmers in sign a petition they could not get them to do anything. What equid they do in direct action aimed at influencing public opinion. Would mothers say farmers were great fellows if they withheld milk? Or the people if they withheld butter? What overwhelming support would they get if hops and barley were withdrawn? Thev would lose by any of these means, and the Government would be delighted to use the farmers as a whipping horse. The new primary producers’ organisation, Federated Farmers of New Zealand (incorporated), was discussed in committee. A decision was reached which will be put forward for confirmation at a special general meeting of the union on August 22. The decision was that the Dominion executive be empowered to conclude an agreement with Federated Farmers, providing 'that members of the union who remained financial be entitled to full membership, including services at present given members by the union, the union pay Federated Farmers the whole of its annual income remaining after discharging its liabilities for such period as the Dominion executive thought fit, and also pay the federation or. or'before August 1, 1949, a sum by mutual agreement exceeding £lOOO, but not exceeding £15.000. Mr Mulholland (Darfield), Mr Thomas Currie (Wanganui), and Mr James Begg (Otago.) were elected ate members .of the union.