N.Z. Fareers' Union.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 61, 11 August 1919, Page 5

N.Z. Fareers' Union.

MILTON BIUNOH. ANNUAL RUPOET. Following is a copy of the annurl report and balanoe«sheefc, to bo presented at the annual meeting, to be held in the Coronation Chambers to moerow (Tuesday) afternoon. " In reporting on the work done during the year ended March 31st, your committee hss to express fploasare thit the increase notrd last JJyear in tie number of financial members has baen maintained, although there is still room for considerable improvement in this re • spect. In all the branch has 61 financial members, but, considering the size and importance of the distric'-, this num ber could easily be doubled, Levies paid to the Provincial Treasurer amount to £2l 9s. and after the payment' of these and other expenses, there remains 'a credit balance of *g22 163 4d, as against £2O lis Id at the end of the previous year. The Branch is again in debted to. the chairman (Mr Jasper Clark) and Mr Wm. Grey for their energetic cauvass, which had such Euccosrful results. . ' During the year the committee has

been called together as business arose for Six meetings were held, with a satisfactory attendance .en each occasion. A good deal of attention was devoted to the beßt means of com bating the rabbit pest, the matter having been brought prominently forward owing f .o an uncalled-for amendment to the Rabbit Act, which apparently gives a Magistrate no option but to convict when a prosecution under the Act is mdae by an inspector. Your committee supported other branches in demanding the repeal of this obnoxious clause, and as a means of dealing with the pest urged that every facility and assistance should be given by the Government for the erection of rabbit-netted fences.

11 Coiup'aiula of delay in paying for wheat purchased through the Govern ment were investigated by your coaiinit» tee. Details of specific cases ware forwarded to the wheat controller, and th 6 reply received indicated that the fault lay with the selling agents. It is be* lioved that there is still room for improvement in this matter. *' An effort was made to have the prices of manues brought within reasonable limit?. This was considered un« gently necessary seeing that the price of wheat had been fixed. The sympathy and help of the Government was afked for in this matter, but so far nothing has rerulted.

" Another matter in which your Committee was unable to do anything was with reference to the price of binder twioc. Owiog either to combination manufacturers, or to some other causes the price of twine has of late years been higher than the price of the raw material would seem to warrant. Nothing could be done during the past season, however, but another effort will bo made" to obtain bettor terms f r the coming season, '• The maintenance of country roads and their protection from damage by motor traffic were matters discusced at a special meeting. It was decided that a tax through the Customs on motor tyres would bo the most equitable way of ensuring thai car owners should pay a certain proposition of the cost of main taining the roads in good condition. The resolutions passed were forwarded to a conference of local bodies held in Milton to discusi the matter, when they re ceived sympathetic consideration and formed the basis of the conference's decisions. The equalization of Customs duties as between Australia and New Zealand has been urged by this Branch on previous occaions and the question was again brought forward this year. But, althcugfc it is believed that the Now Zealand Gov ernment is favourable, it has a difficulty apparently in gettiug the Government to see matters in the same llight and our producers still have to dabour under what is to them an unfoi disadvantage in the way of Customs uties when exporting thoir produce tor Austrailia, A proposal put fowardby Mr W- J" McCulloch, Fields Inspectar at Livercargill, to establist an experimental area in this district has been held in abeyance owing to Mr McCulloch's transfer to another district. His successor, however Mr \V. Alexander, intends to meet the members of this Branch shortly to diEcusa the matter with them, During the yaar, Mr W; T. Brabyn, one of our most useful members, thnder* od his resignation on acdount of his leaving the district. Mr Brabyn had done good work on the Committee and a motion appreciative of his services was minuteo.