DAIRYING MATTERS.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 942, 15 May 1920, Page 5

DAIRYING MATTERS.

THE PIRONGIA UNION.

A DEFINITE BASIS ASSURED,

MR A. E. FEAR FIRST PRESIDENT.

The Pirongia dairy farmers have definitely formed a "Dairy Farmers' Union," as indicative of the separate needs of dairy farmers as distinct from other branches of the agricultural profession. This .matter has been under consideration for some time, and has been dealt -with exhaustively, and appeals to the farmers concerned as the only means for effectively organising dairy farmers in the Dominion.

At a meeting held recently at Pirongia it was decided that the matter be gone on with, and that the forty farmers concerned term themselves, in definite title, "The Pirongia Branch of the New Zealand Dairy Farmers' Union."

The election of officers .of the new Union resulted: President, Mr A. E. Fear; vice-presidents, Messrs T. C. Grace and W. McCarthy; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Livingstone.

Regarding the New Zealand Farmers' Union, interviewed yesterday, Mr Fear said that the object of the new organisation was not to break away from the New Zealand Farmers' Union, but simply to ensure the separate working of the meat, wool, and dairy producer, and, in fact, all other agricultural branches to the best and most advantageous end. " The dairy farmers," added Mr Fear, "do not wish to shield anything from the public or the New Zealand Farmers Union, but wish to place everything before them. We will, I hope, meet the Farmers' Union executive in Auckland shortly, and discuss matters with them, and also a conference will be held at the Waikato Winter Show in Hamilton."

Trying to Organise. Mr Fear added that the Farmers' Union had been trying to organise for the past twenty years under the one heading—the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Under the system of foundation they had failed. It was hoped that under the component system, as inaugurated by the formation of the Pirongia Union and sister branches, the problem of systematic and efficacious organisation would be to the mutual benefit of all farmers concerned, and woulc|- undoubtedly benefit the general public as a consumer. "The farmers realise," said Mr Fear, "that the upward tendency of the cost of living must be balanced, and the only way seems to be that the farmer, as the producer, and the public, as the main consumer should be more united and in doing away with the profiteer, should achieve an equitable (and restrictive as far as high prices are concerned) basis of supply and demand in relation to cost." *

Mr Fear referred to the present chaotic state of the beef market in relation to the commandeer. He considered that had the beef men been organised as a union .of their own theywould have had a say in the distribution of meat and export facilities. Had they had their own distributing centres in London, and a qualified agent accredited to look after their interests, the present state of affairs could never have happened. "The Imperial Government," added Mr Fear, " seems to have taken advantage of the farmers' inorganisation and has simply left their ni3i\t because other countries employed better means of distribution for their products. Hence the glut and downward tendency of prices that should never have occurred." The Wool Question.

The dissatisfaction among wool producers was referred to by the president, who stated that the Imperial Government had made £64,000000 on the wool clip during the war, and it was promised that half should be distributed among the wool producers. The latest news was that only £600,000 was available for New Zealand, showing again the need for organisation of wool growers so rhat victimisation could never have occurred.*

" The , Imperial Government has simply traded on our inorganisation," added the speaker. r

At the meeting it was resolved to form suitable rules and regulations and to have the Union registered, subscriptions to be paid through the dairy companies.

One of the rules is that " subscription fees shall be a minimum of ss; 6d addition on every cow up to forty, and 3d per cow for the succeeding forty; thereafter 2d per cow. The subscription shall be deducted from the monthly cheques of the several operating dairy companies, a scale to be computed on a 2001 b butter-fat basis."

Dairy farmers interested should attend at either Auckland or Hamilton during the conferences, when the matter will be fully discussed.