FARMERS’ UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 68, 2 January 1936, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

BRANCH FORMED AT RAKAIA. MEMBERSHIP OF 111 ALREADY. A meeting of farmers to discuss the forming of a branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Rakaia was held in St. Mark’s Schoolroom. Mr L. O. Oakley presided over a good attendance from Rakaia and surrounding districts. Mr G. C. Watt (organiser for Canterbury) and Mr Raymond l Oakley (provincial president) gave addresses. Mr Watt reported that he had canvassed the district and that 111 members had already joined, which showed that Rakaia branch should be a strong one. Mr Oakley pointed out that a branch in Rakaia would be of great use to the community, and spoke of some of the work that the Mayfield branch had done in its district. Mr Oakley road details of some of the work that the union had already done, and of the experiments that it had carried out, which had been of great advantage to the farmers. He also spoke of the interesting lectures that had been arranged by the union. It was decided to call the branch the Rakaia branch. The following officers were elected : President, Mr L. 0. Oakley; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. G. McLachlan; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. C. Nelson; auditor, Mr H. Hollis; committee, Messrs C. Dolan, A. Breading (Te Pirita), S. Gardiner, B. Kingsbury (Dorie), W. H. Wilkinson, J. Burrows (Chertsey), W. F. Magson, R. H. Magsou (Rokeby), H. Hurst, A. Oakjey, L. Oakley, and JG. McLachlan (“Rakaia). The following were appointed delegates to the executive meetings to be held in Ashburton:—Messrs L. 0. Oakley, J. G. McLachlan, J. Burrows, W. F. Magson and G. Dolan. It. was decided to h(*d the first meeting on the third Monday in March.