AKAROA COUNTY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2057, 2 June 1896, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

A matting of this Association wan beld on Saturday ot Duvtiuehelle'p. PresentMessrs Bru;e (President),'?. Hunt, Vogan, W. Wright; Stewart. Morgr.n, Henderson, Spurr. T/zz'ird. Jar. Brown, Geo. M>Kiy R'chfie.ld. Eli Scott. Aneon, H.. Piper, Hoy. Wm. McKay and Quo. Mason. The minutps of last meeting were read and confirmed. The President explained tho objects of tlie meet'ng, which were to secure, if possible, the securer transit of dairy pro dtice from tho Peninsula to Lyt*llon. and of sending delogrt-s to represent tho Peninsula at tbe South Island Dairy Asseociation Conference which'takes place ot Dunedin on the 9 h June* Tha Secrr-tiry of that Association had assured him tbat if de'egates were appointed they would be received, and ft 3 the Association proposed to discuss such questions as tho*-e of freight to Europe, ar.d the appointment of Homnagent", it was as well the Peninsula should know what was going on and sh.tr' 1 any advantages'to'be gained. Ho bad poinded out to tbe Secretary th&t th*> A*6ocittion had objected to admitting the Farmers' but he had said that no doubt a delegate would ke allowed t> take part in the proceeding?.

Mr Wm. McKay moved That two delegates bo appointed to represent tbe factories and farmers respectively, end work jointly at the meeting for (heir bunefif. Seconded by Mr Wm Wright. Mr Stswr.rt aupported the resolution. Mr Spun* reported the Okain's and L't'le Akaloa Factories were favorable to lbs election of delegates. Mr Eli Sct-tt asked if the delegates would have power to afiTiute tbo Akaroa Com ty Farmers' Association with the South Island Association.

Mr Wm. McKay said that the Association was dyinft. and if it was not better supported it wonld be unwise to join .

Mr Bruce said it wan not neceseiry to pledge the Association to join. Let that mutter be left in abeyance. Tho conference proposed to consider such vital questions- as got'ing all their produce placed in one firms-hands aud having it soM on its merit- a . The resolution was then carried. Mr R ; f*hfi«ld moved That Mr Bruce be one of ih ■delegate-''.' ' Seconded by Mr Scott. Mr W. McKay naid Mr Bruce would represent the factories, and a bona tide representative should bo electfid to work with bim., The necessity for special repreuent-iion was shown by the competition at the Winter Show,- when the farmers had been classed out, and a fair competition rendered impoaeible by their not being allowed tit-how against factories. Ac thny were obliged -to compateuh'tha rnarljfts of the world wuhth" factories, nnd-held their own there, surely j they might be allowed to show nfrainet them. Tho man sent to Dunedin. therefore, should look ont for the farmers. Aa to saying those within reach of a factory should supply it, it doss not suit oil to do so, and there were many who were too far from a factory t-i be sb'e to send. Mr Eli Scott said both delegates; mud fight both for the farmers and the fac tories. Aa Mr McKay eaid there were many farmers anxious to send to factories unable to do so, and represented an important put of Ihe Peninsula dairy industry. After further discussion Meser.*? Wm. McKay and Eli Scott wore nominated nthe and lots beir<_> drawn. Mr W. McKay was suceoßsfn . Tbe delegates appointed were therefoe' Meters Bruce and, Wm. McKay. ' 1 Witb regard to expenses of delegate?, i\ i waa resolved t'kt-lhey bo jointly defrayed by the factories and dairy farmers. The Chairman said that if the South Island Aseookmon appointed an agest io

"■«■■ "■» ■■■in i« in ■■•■*«m!ta!*i*aAX*aQ Lyitslton, be would take charge of Peninsula Nhipmer.ts on arrival there, aod see l bey were propr-rly cured for, Tbe Chairman said th-t.Mr S»wers had left the Governmett employment, and as be had token a very prominent part in tbo ettabUshou-nt of dairy factories on the Peninsula, be thought they might pass a resolu'ioo regarding the services he bad rendered them- It might help hitn a little, and would do them no hsrui. Mr Scot then moved. '* That the Aksroa County Farmers' Aneoointion' and reprn. Rent t'vea of dairy factories on Banks Peninanln, learning tbat Mr Sawers ia leaving tbo Government service, wish to record their appreciation of the painstaking bard-working manner in which he carried out bis duties as instructor, and the great benefit bis advent has been to tbo farmers of the Peinsula."' Seconded by Mr Spurr. In moving the resolution, Mr Eli Scott snid that Mr Sawers had done Peninsula farmers a lot of good. They had learnt much from him, and those who had followed, bis method and advice had got good prices for the cheese they had sent to England. Mr Wm. McKay said Mr Sawera had done more good to him than all tha rett of the Dairy f Instructors, He waa full of knowledge and practical experience and had not only shown him how to make cheese of vastly better quality, but also how to make it with far less work. He waa sorry to bear he had left the service but gj.ad to understand he would be still connected with the dairying industry of New Zealand.

The Chairman said that the result of the competition at tho late Shove bad been proof positive of Mr Sewers' ability as a cheeßetnaker, most of the winning cheeses having been made-by Mr Sawers* brother according to his system.

The resolution was then put and carried unnnimous'y.

The President said tbatMr Wm. Wright bad handed him a list of gentlemen who were willing to give special prizes for certain elapses of horses at the next horse parade. The idea waa to extend tha parade ao as to make it to some extent a Show also. As the parade, however, did not take place till after the eypirstion of tbe present financial year Bnd the Association, or might die out, perhaps too mattst bad better t-e left over. Mr Jacobson said Mr H. D. Buchanan had informed him he was also willing to give prizns for certain classes of horees to bo shown at the annual parade. Mr H. W. Piper said that either the Association Bhould take the matter up or a committee shouid be appointed to make arrangement*. A? the financial year of ihe Association did; not end t"l Sapteuiber, it would never do to leave the matter ovi-r till then to see what would become of tho Association. Mr Win. Wrigl t and others said they had no fear for tlio futura of tbe Association. Mr Wm. McKay Iben moved— •* That Messrs Bruce. H W. Piper, B. Barker, E. Scott, Wm. Wright and Goo. McKay be appointed a committee to arrange for the giving of ptiz»B at the next Horse Parade at Duvauchelle's.' 1

Seconded by Mr Tizzard and carried

In reference to a qutry as tc tha fiiiiincial state of the Assoc? tion, tha Bon. Sac. (Mr I>(-te.) said that there was a sum of £4 to the credit of he Association, and *;:me outstanding subccriptious wero dae.

Mr Eli Scott, the Vice-President, said it wonld be 8 doleful thing indeed if ibn Association were to fall through, as it was the only means by wbich the formers of the Peninsula could be call.td together to consider matters for the genial good. F'trmors would soon mips the Association if it oaased to ovist, and be and others were willing to work hard for its continn., ance. He had done biß best for it in the p>f>t (applause) and should be sorry to see it fall through. It by means of the Association they could only get freight reduced from gross to net,it would be & matter of great iiu porta no*-, for they Should have to ship or be content with twopence per pound for their cheese. He hoped that instead of the Association decaying they would tt'ck together more firmly than before, and that both farmers aod factories would work together by its.meana for the general good of the whole dairying community. (Appiausp).

! Mr Anson said it was a mistake to ! think tbtt a deep interett waa not taken in the Association because the* attendances were not large; but he and others living at a distance did not come unless it was a matter of moment. Ia his case it meant travelling 40 miles or be would come oftener, but though absent, all hia sympathy was with them Nearly all Ptninsula farmers would, like Mr Scot', intensely regret the Association coaiing f> an end He suggetted the Hon. SBO Bhocld write reminding members when their next subscription was due. The Hon* Sec. explained that he had done so. Mr Jameß Hay said that 'Mr Menzies and bis son had said to bim what a good .thing -tho Aseocia-fc : on was, and that it was only the distance that prevented their constant attendance at the meetings, and no doubt, as Mr Anson bad eaid the small attendance" was due to that cause. He hoped th tit the Association would go on and prosper, a 6 he thoroughly believed in its grout usefulness, There were ether matters besides .dairying: the Association might take up. such as the reduction of freight, especially that on wool, the payment o£ freight on wool jpacksor cases for cheee«

Mr Hay was appointed an additional delegate of the Association in the event of his being in Dunedin during tbe Conference. Mr W. McKay moved a hearty vote of thanks to the President for the trouble he had taken in this matter both in Christ-* church and e'uewberp. Seconded by Mr S. Hunt and carried with applause* Tbe meeting then adjourned for a month.