The Huron Expositor, 1977-04-07, Page 26Olt
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Letters ace appcec.ated by Elob Trotter EWQee, Elmna Ont Nati 2C7
NFU death a shame
N. 4
IIII rIvIA\NI 11
:7
It is probably too early to start the grave-digging but
reports indicate that the National Farmers Union is all
but dead
I, for one, think it is a shame,
Blake Sanford of Kingsville, a regional co-ordinator for
the NFU, sounded the warning at the recent district con-
vention in Walkerton.
"The union faces a dilenirria,- he told the membership.
"It can close up the national offices and go bankrupt' or
it can cut its services to the bone.. The other answer is
to pump mare money into it through memberships,
Therein is the problem. Although the union has for
many years refused to reveal to the press its actual
membership, it was learned at the convention that the
union now represents, country-wide. about 8,200 farm
families. Which...isA,Jar cry from the rival organization
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The OFA boasted
an individual 'membership last year of more than 25.000
in Ontario 'alone.
Without active members, any organization will die.
Back in .the 1960s, the old Ontario Farmers Union was
a power to be ,reckoned with in Ontario agricultural cir-
cles. When Mel. Tebbut of Markdale and John Dolmer of
'Corbetton and Walter Miller of Tara were presidents.
people listened to them..
In .1.966:_the_union....kiasted .360 locals_in
Ontario although individual membership was not reveal-
ed. I was fortunate enough to attend a. few provincial con-
ventions of the OFU in those days and I never met a
friendlier, more concerned group of people fighting for
farmers.
Another personal note The mistake was made at the
provincial convention in the 1960s when the OFU mem-
bership decided to -go national,- that is, amalgamate
with the' sister organizations_in other provinces and dis-
pense with -the title Ontario Farmers Union and become
the National Farmers Union.
From that time until today, the, union slowly lost credi-
bility. Walter Miller. although he ran strong campaigns,
ended up second fiddle to Roy, Atkinson of the -Prairies
and the union voice in Ontario became a stifled whimper
oNt..•••146,.1` t
Next time you're in town, call on.',
the Commerce manager.
Ask him about the Commerce
Farm' Services he has for cash crop ,
farmers, He'll be pleased to explain
,how shOrt term credit works at the
Commerce to covert your need for seed,
fuel, fertilizer and herbicides.
5-
when he was defeated last year in an attempt to retain'
his vice-presidency.
Probably the greatest single difference between the
union and the federation of agriculture is in the attitude
of militancy. The union has always taken the position that,
farm policy should be decided by dues-paying mei:fibers,
Until Gordon Hill, a4ormer president of the union — 1957 to
1960 — took over as president of the federation, the OFA
was considered a sort of toothless organization. He learn-
ed his lesson about membership while in the union and
changed the structure of the federation so that individual
service members paid dues to the OFA.
It was in 1965 that 2.000 farmers union delegates march-
ed on the Parliament Buildings demanding better farm
prices. In April of the following year. 1500 members par-
aded from the: auditorium of Ryerson Polytechnical Insti-
tute to Queen's Park. In June and July of that same Year,
union members organized tractor parades to the legisla-
tive buildings to protest farm prices. -
' Probably the biggest single mass march was in 1967
when the union organized a mammoth tractor parade
from all across the province to march on Ottawa in anger
and frustration.
What the union lacked in diplomacy was counterbalanced
by aggressiveness.
I was -out there on the highways covering. those tractor
parades and .was amazed at the spirit and .drive shown
by the farmers union in those days. Men like Sam Bow-
'man of Elora, Frank Gamble of ChatsWorth, Ed Morden
of Elmira, Walter Miller of Tara, Mel Tebbut of Markdale
and John Dolmer of Corbetton were young and eager to
see justice done for farmers.
If the union in Ontario does die for lack of-membership,
it will be a tearful funeral.'
I was .not always in complete agreement with union
policies. At. the same. time, I have been .disgusted now
and again at the wishy-washy attitude of the federation.
It seems a shame that the zest and the enthusiasm en-
gendered in the early days cannot be re-kindled. Farmers
need every 'voice they can get to tell their story and the
National Farmers Union was always a strident voice for
farmers until recently,
x usitor
;#' 2 •
- - -
.
(
CANADIAN U" PEI
CiP • COMM eoce RtAL
And While youfre at it,. ask hiin ib
explain to you the other Commerce
Farm Services he has.
„ After all, that's why the Commerce
, has Commerce Farm Service--to help
you with the business of farming.
To Plan Your Planting
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