BUTTER AND EGGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 101, 30 April 1889, Page 2

BUTTER AND EGGS.

MEETING OF FARMERS AH

PUKEKOHE.

A large and influential meeting of farmers was held at Pukekohe yesterday, for the purpose of hearing the report of the gentlemen who had attended the meeting called by the Auckland Grocers' Association, and taking action thereon.

Mr J. Saunderson was called to the chair, and having read the notice convening the meeting, called upon the gentlemen who had interviewed the grocers to address the meeting.

.Mr Thos. Wilkinson said that at the meeting referred to the Auckland Grocers' Association appeared, to him to be only too ready to agree to the resolution which he had proposed, and which he would now read to them, as ib had not been correctly reported in the New Zealand " Herald : " " That in the opinion of this meeting a committee should be appointed consisting of three members elected by the Auckland grocers and dairymen, and three members elected by the farmers (the members to elect their own chairman), to fix the price of butter and eggs weekly." Hs thought that a committee should bo appointed at this meeting to elect some person to act as a delegate on the Price Committee, and represent the farmers of this district. The first duty of such a Committee would be to correspond with similar Committes which might be appointed brother districts, and if other districts should be dilatory in taking the matter up, it might be necessary for this Committee to appoint two delegates, as Pukekohe had takon the first step in tho movement. MJ r. 11. Wright said that it seemed to him to be the duty of the farmers in their own interests to fight the Auckland Grocers' Association honestly, fairly, and above board so long as they maintained their, right to have the whole say as to what should be the price of farmers' produce, or rather fcheir butter and eggs. There were two ways of doing this : one was to support the creameries, the proprietors of which were in a position to insist upon having a fair price for butter,.which would enable them to give a fair price to the fanners for tho milk ; the second way was to be determined in refusing to supply the members of the Grocers' Association so long as the farmers wore not i'airiy represented on the Committee which fixed the price of the butter, and, if necessary, to open, an establishment of their own in Auckland, and place it in charge of otio of their own number so as to deal direct with the consumer.

Mr Chadwick said that the more he saw and heard of bho Auckland Grocers Association, the more he was convinced that the farmers would never receivo justice from them if the farmers were to havo rio voice in fixing the price of their produce, as, under the- present system, the lower the price was, the greater percentage was the profit of tho grocer. Since ho hud taken action in this he had communicated personally, and by correspondence, with a very lartre number of farmers in many districts, both far and near, in the province, and he thought that there had never been a question raised in this province which had met so much with the approval of the farmers as this. Some ot them seemed to be of the opinion that whilst the evil complained of was a very great one, yet there would bo a diiliculty iti finding a remedy for it. Seeing, howover, what a strong hold of the country the creameries were getting, he thought that now was the time for tho farmers to rouse themselves and pet the matter in some degree into their own hands. He had heard it stated that there were grocers in Auckland who did nob approve of the resolution agreed to at the meeting of the Grocera' Aasociation and the farmers. Tho Chairman of that meeting had certainly stated that tho resolution was not binding upon the Association, but it had received his support then, and no doubt would still do so when brought before the whole Association, so that probably the majority of the Auckland grocers wouldagree toit; atanyrate,itwasthcdutyof thefarmers to elect their representatives and show the grocers that they were prepared to act upon the resolution then agreed to. To do this it would not be necessary (hat their representative should be a resident of Pukekohe : it would be more convenient that ho should reside near Auckland, so that it would be an easy matter for him to attend every meeting of the Price Committee. Mr Saundereon suggested th»t the farmers around Pukekoho should form a farmers' association for mutual benefit, with acommittee appointed annually to look after their interests. A small subscription would be sufficient to meet any expenses in connection with it, such as payment of the hali for purposes of meeting, etc. By having occasional meetings they could in a measure supervise tho action of their Committee, and take into consideration as a body many tilings affecting their interests which at present only a few of them thought of individually ; until they took some such step as this they must never expect to receive full justice as regards the returns for their produce on their labour. Mr Chadwick thought that this would be a fit subject for the consideration ot the Committee which was proposed, and who might take the necessary steps to have another meeting called at some future tims for the purpose of forming euch an association. The Franklin Agricultural Society might also take some steps in thia direction in addition to their work of providing for an annual show. If a Farmers' Association were formed, and monthly meetings held for essays on subjects connected with farming, to be read and discussed, it would be of immense benefit to the farmers of the district.

Messrs H. Criape, James Finlr»y, James RouJ-tcn, W. H. Madill and others spoke strongly in favour of the. suggestions, and eventually Messrs Jno. Allen, J. Chadwick, J. Roulston, J. Saunderson, T. Wilkinson, and J. H. Wrightwerc appointed as

committee, with full power toaet in carrying out the wishes of the meeting, and appoint a delegate to act as the representative of the Fukekohe farmers on the Committee to be elected in accordance with the resolution carried at the meeting of the Auckland Grocers' Association and farmers. A vote of thanks to the Chairman broughb the meeting to a close. A meeting of the Committee was held immediately afterwards, at which Mr Chadwick was elected Chairman and Mr J. IT, Wright Secretary, who was then instructed by the Committee to write to gentlemen in other districts with the view of securing their hearty co-operation in the present movement.