New Zealand Farmers Union.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 5, 20 January 1905, Page 3

New Zealand Farmers Union.

"■' ■ 'V A ..-• .'.I MILTON BRANCH. The ordinary meeting of the above was held oh Tuesday evening, but, owing to the extremely 'inclement state of the weather, there was only a sparse attendance of members. Mr W. Grey (President) occupied the chair. . A letter was received from the secre-. tary to the Otago Executive, stating theresolution of the local branch re payment for sacks d had been considered 1 by the , executive, and sorae^ action ■ would be adopted.— Notice had been sent to the Stock and Station. Agents' Association re reduction of commission on sale of horses, and a reply asked for before, March ist.— The mutual in-., surance business looked very promising. —The letter was received. x Mr J. G. Wilson, President of the Union, forwarded,_a circular letter noti-. fying that' a Royal Commission would shortly be. set up to enquire into the land question, and it may be utilised by anti-freeholders to place their views - before the ■ public, while single taxers may also seek to bring forward their views. It was therefore advisable that .each branch . should appoint one or more to give evidence before the Commission ' when it sat in the neighborhood, and also report any points which might be of advantage to other branches. Land owners and producers had need for a united front, as a new.party had been formed and a platform, put forward which , was opposed to the Union and a menace to the farming community. — Members considered that the Commission would not sit at Milton, as there were no Crown tenants in jthe district, until Greenfield Estate I became cut up ; they also considered that the system rof deferred payments was of greatest advantage to struggling settlers. However, in the event of the Commission taking evidence here, members could be appointed at a future meeting to. give evidence. The President remarked that he had attended the first meeting of the newlyformed Mutual Fire- Insurance. Association. There was a very large and enthusiastic meeting, directors had been appointed, and "there was every indication that "the scheme would go ahead. I Mr T. Scott brought up the question Of the reduction in 'thq .weight of b&gs of wheat, which' would come into force next month. . fie said he' "understood that Sir Joseph Ward had promised to .make enquires into the matter as to the number of bags in stock, with a view to- making arrangements to allow of getting rid of the surplus bags/ but apparently nothing further had been heard of the matter. — Conversational discussion ensued, members expressing the opinion that the new size of bags for wheat would be very awkward to stack ■or" load on a dray. The matter was then allowed to drop.