SHEEPOWNERS' UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9291, 12 August 1920, Page 6

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION

LAST YEAR'S ACTIVITIES.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The eighteenth annual • meeting of the Canterbury Sheepowners' ' Union was held at Ghvistchurch on Wednesday, Mr L. A.. Rutherford presiding. There was an attendance of from 30 to 40. • ■ ■"■ ■' '• •. ;" ' - ' '

The annual report, which was ' adopted, stated that the committee considered the financial position to be sound. The financial membership had increased by 130: since th© new secretary had been appointed, and the roll of financial members now stood at 966. The total membership was 1536. To obviate the necessity for excessive travelling and waste of time, it was proposed that,local committees be set tip at distant centres, and that remits on any subject, of interest to the industry be sent by such committee to the head office, and that representatives from them- be eligible to attend meetings of thecommittee at the head office; During the past year Mr L. C. Gardiner;one of the past presidents, who had been honorary treasurer for the past three years, had, had to resigh owing to ill-healthy and Mr i. E. Hay had taken -his place. The executive had dealt with a large number of important questions affecting the industry, the first of these being shearers' and shed hands demands. As a result of representations made by the committee, the Minister .had authorised a comprehensive campaign of destruction of the kea. The allocation, of wool profits had also been gone into, and it was felt that a prompt payment on account of these profits should be made to enable sheep* owners to meet the very heavy taxation imposed on land, etc., since the war ended. The new taxation, in some cases, more than equalled, the amount or -tue extra turnover, (borne drastic alterations m regard to the affairs of tne union had been made during the year. The union had now taken offices, on its own account, and had its own secretary and oiiice staff. The. secretary had been authorised to indent supplies on behalf of members. There was established a y room available' for the use of members while they were visiting Christchurch. The committee" had petitioned Parliament with a view of securing free competition, for New Zealand's exportable produce, especially frozen meat. The affairs of the union's labour exchange had been gone into carefully, and as its finances showed no improvement it was decided to close it from July 31. The cost of the exchange to the union was approximately £750. Only 170 out of 1000 financial members used it..

The balance-sheet, which showed a balance carried forward on the profit and loss account of £1049 lls lid, was i adopted. ■ >• ■In reviewing the union's affairs the chairman said it now only remained for sheepowners to co-operate with Government officials in warring against the kea pest. ' Mr Studbolme said he very_ much regretted the committee's action in having closed the labour exchange. He thought such a drastic step should not have been taken by the committee on its own initiative. The .chairman said the union never had n legal right to run the exchange. Money which had been spent on the exchange had been spent illegally.' A lengthy discussion ended in motions moved by Mr Studholme being carried: —(1) That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that immediate steps be taken to ascertain whether sufficient support would be available to ensure the labour exchange becoming a strong and financially selfsupporting institution. (2) That if the response be in the affirmative the exchange be carried on for the present financial year. The following: were elected to office: —President, Mr L. A. Rutherford; vice-president, Mr M. Bethell; honorary treasurer, Mr E. Hay; auditor, Mr A. McKellar; committee, Messrs E. Hay, R. M. D. Morten, L. R. C. Macfariane, D.-W. Westenra, B. SethSmith, G. Fulton. H. Ensor, George Muri-ay. H. Acton-Adams, N. D. Campbell, W. Hanmer Atkinson, T. Masefield, A. J. Murray, L. C. Latter, G. O. Rutherford, G. N. McLean, H. Elworthy, j. D. McCracken, S. E. Rutherford, and W. Macintosh.