DELEGATION TO BRITAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23283, 20 August 1945, Page 4

DELEGATION TO BRITAIN

Farmers From New Zealand Representation Raises A Discussion When a delegation of farmers from Great Britain visited New Zealand some time ago they invited farmers of the Dominion to return the visit to the Home Country. • It has been decided that ‘he New Zealand delegation will leave for Britain next May. In the opinion of members of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union, there is room for improvement in the representation of the delegation, and at a meeting of the executive in Timaru on Friday the following remit, originating from the Temuka branch, was adopted: “Because of the delay in the departure of the delegation of New Zealand farmers for Great Britain, the personnel of the delegation should be revised and the representation spread fairly over both the North and South Islands; the personnel should include members of the Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union and all members < f the delegation should be chosen from the organisation of Federated Farmers.” Introducing the remit from Temuka, Mr J. Macaulay said that present arrangements made provision for 11 members from the North Island and two from the South Island to constitute the delegation. This was not fair representation either in numbers or intellectually. The South Island should have at least five delegates. Because of the large amount of work they did, members of the Women’s Division were entitled to representation. “The National Farmers’ Union of Brit? in issued the invitation to farmers of New Zealand,” said the president (Mr J. Dempsey). “There was no specific reference to members of the Women’s Division because there is no similar organisation in Britain.”

Mr A. R. Botting: It was an invitation from the Farmers’ Union in Britain to the Farmers’ Union in New Zealand, with a view to Empire-wide, or even world-wide, federation. Member.-; of statutory boards should not be included at all. The women of New Zealand must be represented. They are doing, and have done, a great job. “There has been a change of Government in Britain and we learn from the King’s Speech what is going to be done,” sa’id Mr L. V. Talbot. “This political trend seems to be universal; we have had experience of it in New Zealand and we must be careful not to prevent members of the statutory boards from going to Britain.” Mr A. V. Pavey: Yes. Not only will federation be discussed but exports and imports will undoubtedly be considered, and the information that board members will be able to make available will be valuable. Mr Arthur Ward: Ability for the job should be the first consideration in selecting personnel for the delegation. “Members of the Meat Board and the rest of the statutory boards only implement the policy that the farmers define,” said Mr Macaulay. “They will go to Britain, whether they are members of the delegation or not, to discuss meat, wool and dairy produce, and. they will report back to the statutory boards in New Zealand. If we send women in our delegation it will likely induce the formation of a women’s section of the Farmers’ Union in Britain.” The Temuka remit was adopted.