FARMERS’ UNIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17485, 20 August 1928, Page 11

FARMERS’ UNIONS.

FEDERATION OF BODIES. TENTATIVE PROPOSALS APPROVED Tentative proposals regarding the proposed federation of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the New Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union were placed before a meeting of the latter body at Palmerston North, and after full discussion were approved, one slight alteration being made. The points that had been agreed upon in the case of amalgamation were as follows; — (1) The Dairy’ Farmers’ Union would pay the Farmers’ Union 7s 6d in the £i on all levies collected from members of the Dairy Farmers’ Union. (2) The organiser of the Farmers’ Union would organise for both unions. Members would be . enrolled with whichever union they desired, and the organiser would carry two enrolment books. (3) The Dairy Farmers’ Union would have one representative on the Dominion executive and one on the Advisory Board —a total of two on the whole executive. (4) Representation at the annual conference would be on the same basis as that for the provincial conferences of the Farmers’ Union—one delegate for every 500 members or part thereof. (5) Adequate representation would be allowed the Dairy Farmers’ Union on the Manawatu Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Desirable to Link Up. Mr J. D. Balmer, one of the deputation from the Dairy, Farmers’ Unionwhich xvaited on the annual conference of the Farmers’ Union regarding the matter, stated that the president of the latter body (Mr W. J. Poison) had said that the Farmers’ Union wanted the Dairy Farmers’ Union to join .up, for if the former body went into Parliament it would be said that they did not represent the farmers of New Zealand. It was most desirable that the two bodies should link up. The chairman (Mr N. Campbell) stated that-it had been agreed that the basis of contribution be fixed at 7sGd, though at first this amount seemed to be rather heavy. The Farmers’ Union had left no doubt that they wanted the dairy farmers to link up, and thus have all the farmers of the country in one body, and he thought that this was necessary if success -was going to be met with.

Mr J. Boyce, another member of the deputation, was strongly in favour of joining up, and stated that lie considered the arrangements proposed were very satisfactory', “ We must get into the one organisation,” ho said. "It’s no good dog eating dog. We can’t do • anything until we arc together." Members were unanimous that the two bodies should federate. Once the two bodies were linked up the interests of the dairy farmers would be looked after by the dairy farmers’ partof the organisation, and vice versa One member pointed out that twothirds of the remits at a conference of the Farmers’ Union dealt with matters affecting the dairy farmers. At the same time the opinion was expressed that the contribution of 7s 6d was heavy, and finally it was decided, on the motion of Mr P. J. Small, seconded by Mr J. Dawson, that arrangements be made, with the Farmers' Union, in the event of federation taking place, that levies be paid pro rata for the unexpired portion of this year, and the full levy for the subsequent years.