FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1944, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION

WAIRARAPA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE ADDRESS BY RETIRING PRESIDENT. SURVEY OF PRODUCERS' POSITION. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union was held in Masterton today. The president, Mr Hugh Morrison, piesided over a large attendance of branch delegates. . . Members of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union provided morning tea, and the meeting opened with prayer by the Rev. A. L Silcock. On behalf of members, Mr Morrison thanked the ladies for their thoughtfulness, and they were accorded musical honours. . In the absence of the president, Mis K. Groves, Mrs C. C. Jackson spoke of the need for closer co-operation between the Women’s Division and the Farmers' Union. Mrs T R. Barrer suggested mat women in the Land Army for whom employment could not be found should be employed as household aids. She asked farmers to consider taking war orphans into their homes. LONG TERM OF SERVICE. Mr Morrison indicated that after being provincial president in all foi 24 years (a New Zealand record) he was not seeking' re-election. He had been a branch chairman at the age or zz years. He said he had had an experience of party politics, coming into an organisation which he could nevei forget For two years things had gone smoothly. Then it was decided to hold a meeting to decide who to vote for— Liberal or Conservative. Mr Morrison said he took the chair and saw the biggest row he had yet seen. The secretary jumped out of the window and threw the books at Mr Morrison. Mr Morrison said he became provincial president by a strange coincidence. A quorum could not be obtained foi a meeting, and he was asked to join the meeting. There was a row and he was asked to take the chair. Eventually he .organised the Farmers' Union in Wairarapa. The smaller farmeis had put him in as president and not the big squatters. PROBLEMS IN PROSPECT. Referring to the Unions futuie, Mi Morrison stressed the danger of inflation. He paid a tribute to the work of the Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, Mr W. W. Mulholland, and to that of the vice-presidents, Colonel Waite, Messrs Holyoake and Briscoe Moore. Although Mr Holyoake would be a splendid man lor the job, Mr Morrison said, he would never favour a politician being president. Mr Morrison said the farmers did not wish to get out of paying war taxation, but at the present time they were paying more than their portion. An overhaul of taxation and justice- were wanted. They objected to having to pay heavyland tax and other rates. If anything wanted overhauling it was farmers’ taxes. Under heavy taxation they could not pay as good a wage to the farm hands as they would like to. Referring to dairy farmers, Mr Morrison said they certainly were not millionaires. Eventually no section of the community would do so much good as dairy farmers. The importance of food production was stressed by Mr Morrison. He referred to the world shortages of produce set out in the report of the Hot Springs Conference. Ultimately New Zealand would become one of the greatest primary, producing countries in the world, because they would have the markets. Mr Morrison said he knew that the farmers of the Wairarapa at least would do their best for increased production. If New Zealand got into the premier position now for her produce on the British market she would keep it. During his term of office his logan had been: “Hold the farmers together, despite everything.” The farmers’ butter, meat and wool was the basis of New Zealand’s prosperity. Mr Morrison thanked members for their support and goodwill and said he would give the new president every assistance.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. V/. J. Thomas (Carterton); vice-presidents, Messrs. James Andrew and L. T. Daniell; treasurer, Mr. J. M. James; finance committee, Messrs. Hugh Morrison, W. J. Thomas, A. Keir, L. T. Daniell, A. Ross, R. E. Chamberlain, J. H. Bremner, J. M. James, H. Bennett; auditor, Mr. A. Keith; delegates to Dominion Conference, Messrs. W. J. Thomas and James Andrew. • In returning thanks for his election, Mr. Thomas paid a warm tribute to Mr Hugh Morrison’s outstanding services as president. Mr. Thomas said he realised the need of fighting for better standards for farmers and their wives and children, and would do his best towards that end. Mr. Thomas said that on account of his election he would resign an appointment he had on the National Party executive as he believed in keeping party politics out of Farmers' Union matters. Mr. James Andrew, who was also nominated ■ for the position, congratulated Mr. Thomas on his election, and stressed the need of all farmers pulling together. Mr. R. W. Kebbell said there could be closer co-operation between the Farmers’ Union and the Primary Production Council. Mr Morrison said he was glad to see a dairyman take his job and congratulated Mr. Thomas on his appointment. He had done excellent work. Mr. H. Bennett said he felt sure that both sheep and dairy farmers would receive a fair deal.