Assembly vote may prompt union merger
Assembly vote may prompt union merger
MANY farmers expect the referendum vote in favour of a Welsh Assembly to trigger a new attempt to unify the principalitys two farming unions.
The last, and most promising, of numerous official merger negotiations foundered at the Welsh Office in London in December 1989, and an "honest broker" peace bid by a Caernarfonshire farmer in 1991, was rejected by both organisations.
But an independent straw poll at the 1992 Welsh Winter Fair suggested 72.4% of farmers felt the two unions should settle their differences through arbitration, and that 84% of them would join the organisation that emerged.
Since then the number of Welsh farmers has declined, and many believe their influence at Westminster and Brussels has diminished because they do not speak with a single voice. And it is high time, some claim, to stem the haemorrhaging of subscription and insurance income caused by unnecessary duplication.
The main principle that separates the two sides remains the same as it was in 1955 when a small group broke away from the NFU to form the Farmers Union of Wales. The Aberystwyth-based union says the interests of farmers west of Offas Dyke can be adequately represented only by an autonomous Welsh organisation.
This principle was reinforced by official government recognition in April 1978, which gave the FUW a seat at negotiations. And when he was Welsh Secretary Peter Walker said: "I do wonder whether the Welsh message would be stronger if it were being delivered with one voice."
In recent years the FUW has mellowed and been prepared to accept the idea of a close federation of four UK farming unions, but continues to reject the idea of being part of a set-up where policy is "dictated by English arable farmers".
Confidential papers relating to the 1989 merger talks obtained by farmers weekly show that the then NFU president, Sir Simon Gourlay, was prepared to consider establishing a "separate Welsh organisation with federal links with NFU headquarters".
Both unions claim to be increasing membership in Wales, and to be financially secure. The NFUs Welsh headquarters says it has 14,500 members and an annual income of £1.5m. The FUW does not publish accounts, but claims 14,000 genuine farming members.
The leaders of the two unions have shared many platforms during the beef crisis. Hugh Richards, who becomes NFU Welsh chairman in February, says he is prepared to take part in talks. But he argues that Welsh members gain much from links with England and access to the full range of NFU services.
FUW president Bob Parry admits many members of both unions have urged him to initiate moves to create a single organisation for Wales. "Our position remains the same. We will not accept anything less than an independent Welsh union, just as there is in Scotland." *
Hugh Richards, NFU Welsh chairman designate, is prepared to take parts in union merger talks.