Warepa

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2494, 18 July 1893, Page 3

Warepa

(From Oor Own Correspondent.) Tne Warep * Farmers' Club held its annual meeting lately at whioh there waa a oonBiderable attendance of members and a large amount of business was transacted. Correspondence waa read from the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, relating to the formation of a Farmers Union embraoing the counties of Tuapeka, Bruce, Taieri, and Clutha. Members were agreed that such a atep would be conducive to the welfare of the farming intereat and the secretary waa instruoted to communicate with the Waitahuna Club on the matter. The New Zealand Farmers, and Country Settlers League forwarded a list of aubjeota to be diaouseed at a meeting to be held in Chriatohuroh at an early date. After consideration it was agreed to close with the League's proposals and the aeoretary was inatructed to attend to the aame. The President then read the following resume of the proceedings etc. of tho the New Zealand Farmers' Union :— 11 In faoe of the manifeatoea iaaued by the New Zealand Branch of the Federated Seamen's Union whioh is being oiroulated in New Zealand, and Australia, and also that of the National Liberal Association of New Zealand, it is time the producera of Ofcago were stirring themaelves, I say Otago for already Canterbury has a Btrong and hard working Union, and a large number of Farmers' Clubs in Otago are affiliated with it and with time auoh a Union will show its power. What we want ia a Union to oooperate with the Northern one. It might be interesting to notice the rise progress and final collapse of the New Zealand Farm era Union. It is a matter of fact that the Tuapeka and Weat Waitahuna and Warepa Farmers' Clubs inaugurated that body at considerable . trouble and expenae. The promotera were complimented bythepreaa upon their aotion and for the ability displayed at the first meeting when a great number of aubjeotß were discussed. An exeoutive committee of five waa appointed to consider any matter during the Buooeeding year, consisting of President, VioePresident and three delegates representing Oamaru, Tuapeka Weat, and Warepa. Six meetings were held all being well attended. A great number of subjeota were reoeived for discussion fr m the different bodies affiliated. Some of them being of great importance were at once prooeeded with while others were , held over for disouasibn at the Annual Conference. Tue second meeting of delegates was held on 22nd October, 1890, but at first was only intended as an emergency meeting to consider aubjeots before Parliament met. Thie waa attended by about 36 delegates and icwae resolved that the future conferences were to be held in October, as most suitable for farmers. A f resh Exeoutive waa appointed but it never met and the conference was not held as ordered, but instead at the date of the Dunedin Show and then only a few. days notice was given. However, a large number of delegates were present but the Treasurer was absent, no balance-sheet was present, and no report save the one of the previous year. A large amount of business' was transacted and a fresh Exeoutive eleoted consisting of: 9 members. Tnis one was as dilatory as the last and exactly tue same procedure followed. They had no exouae foi their inaction, not even than of hot having a paid secretary aa two gentlemen offered themselves, one not only giving his sarvioea gratis but also to find a room for the meetings ; the other offered bis eervioaa for £10 per annum and for thia the Union had funds in plenty, and it iB to be presumed haa them Btill. . Suah is the rise and fall of the New, Zealand Farmers' Union. In conclusion it will be freah in the memory of every member that a short time ago the club reoeived a severe Blating from the editor of a paper not a hundred miles away, who bad a penohant for gentlemanly language and having exhausted hitnßelf in the attempt has eince discreetly kept in the back-grounds, thia action being oaused, I. have no doubt, by the bold and outspoken oritioiam of the same kind of platform by the Premier of the Colony, who expreased himseif in almost the exaot terms used by members of this olub. I now beg to move I that the time haß now arrived when a Union should be formed on different lines to those of the late New Zealand Farmers' Union ; every -farmer to be eligble as a member, fee to be 5a a year and delegates to be sent by dubs or communities of farmers,"