The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1917. FARMERS' FEDERATION

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13388, 16 January 1917, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1917. FARMERS' FEDERATION

The movement to federate the several brandies of the Now Zealand Fanners' Union throughout this district, and ultimately throughout the Dominion, though belated, is a step in the right direction, and the measure, of success which has thus far attended the efforts of the organising secretary is both satisfactory and a good augury for the future. It is somewhat Inexplicable that such a movement was not inaugurated long since, for it has been patent that through lack of efficient defensive organisation the interests of the producers have not received that consideration to which they were justly entitled —in fact, they have in the past frequently been treated unjustly; whereas had the fanners been banded in a federation, the executive of which could have spoken with the assurance that it had a solid phalanx of producers behind it, its dictum would have been received with respect and the powers forced to pay due heed thereto. If such a producers' federation existed throughout the Dominion it would be a most important factor in forming public opinion, while at the same time there can be no question that it would work upon safe and sane lines. The present Farmers' Union has done excellent work, but it lias been minus a "bile," and therefore impotent in certain directions. II lias been somewhat of an invertebrate tiling and, having no recognised political policy for the conservation of the interests of its members, those interests have formed the battledore and shuttlecock of those more active and better organised to attain their ends. Farmers, like any other class in the community, will only receive consideration when they are in a position to back up their demands by concerted action. It is no use bewailing and grousing, and there are no points in sitting down under an injustice or slight: that will not bring relief. The only argument a Government can understand is voting power, and if the producers were as efficiently organised' as are the majority of trades unionists (who know what they want and set out to get it) there can be little doubt but that their representations and demands would receive considerably more consideration than is the case at present, for the producers comprise by far the largest section of the community, though hitherto their strength has been dissipated and largely lost through lack of direction. The federation movement which has, been so successfully inaugurated in Te Awamutu, and which will no doubt* eventually extend throughout the Dominion, should be instrumental in securing that concentration upon a. common purpose which is essential to success. It is the theory of-constitu-tional government that Parliament shall faithfully represent the opinions and sentiments of the country: it is set up at the will of the people, and it needs must look to the people to set the course for its actions. Government and politicians are prone to gauge public opinion by the volume of noise raised by interested organised cliques; and the interests of' the farmer, which under the present regime are not effectively championed, are allowed to go by the board at the behest of the more clamorous section of the community. There is no need to quote instances in Which this has been done: they will force themselves upon the mind of those interested. It is satisfactory, therefore, to know that the farmers' federation movement is being enthusiastically taken up, and we are sure that every producer will not be slow to recognise the wisdom of associating himself with a scheme the sole object of which is to conserve the interests of himself and fellows. The movement is too big and important to be damned by that spirit of petty parochialism which an effort has unfortunately been made to infuse into it, and we are sure that the farmers will not allow themselves to be led away by such paltry considerations. There are momentous times ahead, and in order to be able to maintain their position it is imperative for the producers to effectively organise their forces.