Kyneton Guardian (Vic. : 1870 - 1881; 1914 - 1918), Thursday 11 June 1914, page 2


VICTORIAN FARMERS' UNION.

THE SCENE OF ITS BIRTH-A

NEWHAM GATHERING.

^ (Contributed.)

' The first, public meeting of farmers under the auspices of the recently inaugurated Victorian Farmers' Union was held at Ncwham on Friday evening, 5th inst. The most striking and pleasing feature of the gathering was the opinion unanimously expressed that .thorough organisation amongst, the farmers is of vital necessity/ and must be accomplished irrespective of a few contentious, details.... So many, concerns purporting to be to th e farmers^'interests have been started only to .fail, that it is not surprising any fresh venture in this direction should be viewed with more or less suspicion, nor is it to be expected that the platform and rules of the present organisation have already attained to perfection, or that the pet theories of every'individual producer qan be ombodied therein. These things can onljv come as the result of practical experience along the ..lines indicated by the union. To be successful each.must be prepared to give and take to a ccrtain extent for the gopd of the whole. Organise first, and then let " -the best, brains of 'the. movement for

mulate a definite forward policy. It is exceedinglj' gratifjnng to state that this is exactly the spirit as shown by the mebting. Thorough organisation will immediately put the farmer in ? a position to dictate his terms, and what more: is required?

Cr Adams presided, and after a few explanatory remarks, introduced Mr. Hart .the organising secretary, who explained the platform and rules, arid in a forceful -manner, which j speedily convinced"all' present of his earnest and unbounded enthusiasm in the cause, laid before the meeting the advantages of combination as against the defenceless and desolatory position which the farmers occupied today. Our industrial rivals, he said, >vcrc, through unity, getting their own yvay al} along the line, while the farmer, instead of combining and thereby putting himself in a position to effectually combat his opponents, was wasting his time in ' useless tirades against what he himself would feel inclined to do were he in their position. ' The farriier could not altogether blame his political representatives for not getting what.,he wanted, for he did not even1 make his . wants known, and Parliament had to guess at his needs. By unity the farmer could make his tremendous(power felt, and, not only for his own. good, but the lasting benefit of the State, the general prosperity of, which entirely depended on the man on the land. The speaker also instanced the benefits which might immediately accrue to districts organised by attention to municipal rating reform, telephones, buying in bulk of manures, bags and twine, etc;, and closed his address by an earnest, appeal to the farmers to. put themselves in the best-position to effectually resist any unfair demands or unreasonable 'conditions being -imposed upon them.- and to rid ' themselves of the many impositions under

which they are at present labouring.

A -c r ? r-ti . . .

/V aeai or discussion followed as to

the political aspirations of the- union. Rule No. 4 is plain on this matter, and reads "By electing to Parliament and other bodies candidates pledged to the platform of this organisation." Mr. S. Johnson also gave a short address full of sound advice to the farmers on this question and methods of combination, ami moved that a branch of the organisation be formed at Newham. which was seconded by Cr. Kenny and carried unanimously. The following were appointed branch officers :-Cr. Adams, president ; Crs. Anderson and Kenny, vice-presidents; W. Adams, secretary and press., correspondent ; Jas. Sijelton, treasiffet! : Messrs. J. A. Jones, and S. Johnson, auditors. In reply to a vote of thanks Mr. Ilart said that Xewham should feel honored in forming the first branch ' of an "organisation which would yet reach to the four boundaries of the State. j ?

Extension Lectures.-Miss Mitchell. M..-V. lectures-on \Virulsor Castle on June 19. Harrison Ainsworth's novel Windsor Castle now obtainable Armstrong- Bros'. Piree 6d.

For Chronic Chest Complaints.

Woods'Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6. The Federal Election.-There is .1 general opinion (writes the Melbourne correspondent of the "Bendigo Advertiser") that it is impossible to forecast what will happen in Victoria. Both Mr. Cook and Mr. Fisher say that the chances are that Victoria may go cither way. The chief attack by the Ministerialists will be in Bendigo, Ballarat and Fawkner. The Opposition attack will he in Gippslaud, Corio and Corangamite. Both sides are agreed that the chances are in the Senate that either side may get six scats or none. None of them expects anything other than a strict party vote, in which there will-be but little discrimination ap between the candi* dates belonging to the two parties,

An Old Nurse for Children.-"Mr& Winslow's Soothing Syrup" for Children Teething. It Soothes the Child. Soften (lie Gum, Allays all Pain, Cures Wind, Colic, and is the Best Remedy for Diarrhoea. Directions for using "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup":-For a child under a month old, 6 to 10 drops; three months old, Ijalf a-|ga:mponlul; six months old ajrvtfe teaspoonful three or four times a day. For Diarrhoea, repeat the above doses every two hours until the character of the discharges is changed for the better. Sola everywhere.