IMPORTANT DISCUSSION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14798, 11 November 1921, Page 6

IMPORTANT DISCUSSION

FARMERS AND DAIRY FARMERS. THE UNIONS MEET. Following upon an invitation extended to them, the officials of the Dairy Farmers' Union met the representatives of the Waikato Sub-Provincial branch of the N.Z. Fanners' Union at the tetter's rooms in Hamilton yesterday. Messrs Parker (chairman), Fear (organiser), Foreman and Thomas represented the Dairy Farmers' Urtinn, while the Farmers' Union executive was acted for by Messrs Fisher, Lye, Porter (organiser), and Mackie. Mr Fisher Ivas elected to the chair. After welcoming the Dairy Farmers' Union deelgates, Mr Fisher explained that the meeting and discussion could be but informal, and that nothing definite could'be done, as no action might be taken by the Waikato sub-provin-cial without the consent of the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union. Desire to Bridge the Gulf. Mr Lye said that he did not see why some amicable agreement should not be come to between the two parties whereby both could use the Farmers' Union rooms, instead of the Dairy Farmers' Union going off and building other rooms.. The time was opportune when all farmers should work as one body to maintain their rights in relation lo the tradesmen and against vested interests. He urged the Dairy Farmers' Union delegates to lay their grievances out before the union so that an understanding could be reached and the gulf between the two bodies bridged. A Branch, Not a Separate Union. Mr A. E. Fear, organiser of the Dairy Farmers' Union, said his union had never been hostile to the Farmers' Union. It was merely out to improve the Farmers' Union and with the object of moulding the dairy farmers into a strong branch of the Farmers' Union. The speaker felt, that the support the Dairy Farmers' Union was getting would improve the position o.f the Farmers' Uniou. The desire of dairymen to join the new union was unmistakable. There were i 6,000 farmers in New Zealand, and 40.000 of them were dairy farmers. The speaker recognised that the Farmers' Union was a good body, but it had never received the .ncoe'ssary assistance. - (Hear, hear.) The Dairy Farmers Union was obtaining phenomenal support everywhere. Was it not possible, asked Mr Fear, for all to work together, with the Farmers' Union as the federated head? The Farmers' Union couid then receive from the Dairy Farmers' Union a certain amount for each member of the latter union. Mr Fisher suggested that the qualifications of the officials of the Dairy Farmers' Union should be that they were financial members of the Farmers' Union. The members of the Auckland Provincial executive of the Farmers' Union were almost all dairymen. The •object of the Dairy Farmers' Union of securing good marketing conditions was praiseworthy, but he did not consider it a good idea to compel dairy farmers to join the new union. It was true that the town workers could be forced to join their various unions, but these unions couhD . regulate wages. VVas it possible for the Dairy Farmers' Union to regulate I tic price of butter? Compulsory Clause Not Needed. Mr Fear remarked that dairymen were joining so freely thai no question of compulsion need be considered, at least af the present lime. Mr Lye staled that if members of the Dairy Farmers' Union were willing to come along to Ihe meetings of the Farmers' Union he would carry a recommendation forward that the present executive of his union resign and a fresh election be held. Then it would be for the Dairy Farmers' Union to see that the dairy industry was well represented on the Fanners' Union executive. Nothing, however, was done in the matter. Mr Foreman opined that the compulsory clause was the blood and sinew of the Dairy Fav-mcrs' Union. The Farmers' Union had done splendid work up till the present time, but they had been handicapped through lack of linance. Mr Thomas endorsed the last speaker's remarks. When he had been on the Farmers' Union executive farmers had come lo him complaining why was more not done for the farming community; yet these very people would not even pay their subscriptions, let alone come to Ihe meetings. The Curse of Division. '< Mr Porter, organiser for Ihe Waikato Sub-Provincial branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union, said that every advantage the farmer of .New Zealand possessed had been obtained through the efforts of the Farmers' Union. Division had been the curse of the farming community long enough, The speaker went on to say that sometimes he would be working a district for his union at practically* the same time Mr . Fear was there on behalf or the Dairy Farmers' Union. Mr Porter compared Ihe labourer with the farmer. The labourer finished for the day when his eight hours had j ■ elapsed. Not so with the farmer, He had lo watch with ever-arixious eyes the passage ,if his produce far beyond tin' >~eas In a disl.au! European market. . Following a remark at this stage- bv <me rif the. Farmers' Union members. Mr Fear gave it as his opinion that the affairs of the dairy industry should be handled by a body composed entirely of dairymen. Mr Lye then moved, "That the Waikato Sub-Provincial branch of Ihe N.Z. Farmers' Union be prepared to support the compulsory system of subscriptions." A great amount, of desultory discussion followed, but the Dairy Farmers' Union delegates would not agree to the 'resolution, and il was consequently . lost. Conference with Auckland Executive. It was finally decided thai Ihe Waikato Sub-Provincial branch of Ihe N.Z. Fanners' Union recommend to the Auckland provincial executive that a conference be held between that body and delegates from the Dairy Farmers' Union at the meeting of the Auckland provincial executive on December 13It was also resolved that the Waikato Sub-Provincial and I tie DairyFarmers' Union executive should meet individually and then together before proceeding lo Auckland The meeting passed off most amicably, a tone of good fellowship prevailing.