FARMERS' UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION

MID-CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE. OVER 200 NEW MEMBERS. TRANSPORT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. The Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union met this afternoon, the president (Mr Raymond Oakley) presiding. Mr W. R. Hammond acted as secretary in the absence of Mr W. H. Amos.

The organiser reported that 222 new members and 22 old members had been obtained during the past three months. This total was considered very satisfactory. A list of lecturers available from the Department of Agricultuhe arid the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, was read.. It was decided to forward the list to branch secretaries. A letter was received from the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) thanking the executive for its offer of co-operation. A remit from "the Methven branch of the Union, that the financial activities of all branches under the jurisdiction of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive be centralised and administered by a central executive until March, 1937, when the position should be reviewed, was received. "I am fully convinced that this arrangement would of definite benefit to the farming c'ommunity," said the Methven delegate (Mr C. C. Winn) moving the adoption of the remit. It was explained that the move would result in better co-operation between the branches, and narrow down responsibility. "I think this a step in the right direction," said the president. Discussion followed, the working of the proposal and. the position of the branches under it being explained in detail It was decided to refer. the matter to the branch executives, and to discuss it finally at the March meeting. A remit ivas moved by Mr W. R. Hammond, that a letter be sent to the Minister of Education, urging that country children be given the same fa* cilities as town children in obtaining secondary education, by being given free transport to schools, and asking that in the case of children in the Ashburton County who were unable to take advantage of free rail transport, free motor transport should bo provided. "Quite a number of children who have recently obtained proficiency certificates will be unable to take advantage of their certificates," said Mr Hammond. They were at a definite disadvantage in the matter of free conveyances. There was a peculiar disadvantage in the Ashburton County, where" i large number of children could not bo brought in by rail. Several members spoke in favour of the motion, one stating that the previous Prime Minister had said that something would be done. But nothing had been done, and the time was opportune to strike now. When the Mount Somers train was cut out it had affected about 40 children on that line. -The position, as I see it, m> rathei strange," said the president. We have children coming all the way from Dunsandel to Ashburton secondary schools. On the other hand we have children in the Mayfield district whose only way to attend is by bus, which is quite a costly business. The service is quite satisfactory, but it is too expensive tor parents to send their children to school. So perhaps some brilliant scholars may be lost to New Zealand." He said he understood that lists were being circulated in country districts for signatures to bring the matter before the Minister of Education, and a remit from the executive would help. The remit was carried unanimously, and it was decided to write to the Ashburton High and Technical School Boards offering co-operation in the matter. The president reported on a meeting to form a branch at Rakaia, stating that a strong working branch had been formed, with a membership of about 100. Chertsey and Rakaia would work in one branch, and members were enthusiastic in 'their support of the Union. "It seems to me to be bordering on the ridiculous," said Mr W. T. Lill, referring to the itinerary for the Englist farmers' visit, stating that no provision had bnee made for any stay of the party at Ashburton. "I fancy it has rather formed itself into a party of tourists, rather than a party of farmers," said the president. He added that a day could profitably be spent in Mid-Canterbury by any party oi tourists, and that it was a great pity the district should be skipped. "It is a continuation of a policy that has been in force for some years," said another member. This was that any visitors to the country spent most of their time in the North Island. So-called farmers' parties did not consist entirely of farmers, said Mr R. Wightman. The visits could 1 have farreaching effects. It was decided to set up a sub-com-mittee to write to the organisers of the English and Australian farmers' tours suggesting itineraries that might be taken to include the Ashburton Countv.