DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14538, 9 December 1920, Page 7

DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

(To the Editor). Sir. —The gross misstatement referred to by Mr Duxfield in his condescending reply to my last letter were published in the papers for all to see who cared to. Regarding my ignorance of. Farmers’ Union accomplishments. If by that Mr Duxfield means that fiis union lias accomplished all that a union could reasonably be expected to do; for example, by keeping 'pace with passing events, by exercising that parental care so as, to safe-guard its members from exploitation, and at the same time perform the original obligation for which it was created —then I certainly confess to ignorance, because the general impression is that the F.U. in organisation, in the pursuit of its original objective, in keeping pice with the trend of general events, is further behind Ilian it was 20 years ago, mainly because its executive has gone commercial venture mad. The New Zealand sheep farmer could be compelled to swell the profits of Britain’s fat men to the tune of many millions. The beef-grower could be exploited for so many more, lopsided contracts could be secured by the prostitution of patriotism and loyalty for New Zealand’s primary products, engineering the dairy farmer amongst others into making a gift of £11,000,000 to the already bursting coffers of the British profiteers. The Beef Trust could lay its plans in New Zealand for a general meat squeeze, the land sharks and speculators could manipulate land values to their own benefit and the detriment of the general farmer, pork can drop 40 per cent, etc., etc., but the F.U. goes merrily on As way, creating co-operative company concerns, neglecting the substance for the shadow. Link up your scattered farmers’ societies under one head, enabling them to act unitedly as the need arises, while retaining the power to work out their own destiny, extend the hand of friendsiiip to all workers, recognising tlie necessity for their existence in the general scheme of things if you expect an industrial peace to arrive and endure. How can the country, or a section of it respect the F.U. while it lacks the respect and support of its own industry. The working farmer is shrewd enough to know the practical value of a protective organisation, yet he refuses witli marked emphasis to have anything to do with I Ins union of insufficient accomplishments to secure adherence and confidence. Forget for a while, if you can, your list of faded glory accomplishments, and strive to formulate a policy of meeting (as soon as they appear) the activities of that army of parasites, cormorants and exploiters, who batten on the farmer and his industry. Surely you have a more ambitious use for the name of your union than that it should swing above the door of a dry goods store. Is this Hie end of the high ideals and aspirations set by its founders to bring peace and prosperity to the farming community, to lighten the burden of the pioneers and their heroic women; to set a lofty standard of unity, fraternity and equality, thereby enlisting the support, not only of your own important industry, but of every right-think-ing man and woman of God’s Own Country. Then, and not till then, will the time be ripe for a Farmers’ Political Parly.—l am etc., FEDERATE.