WAIKARI FARMERS UNION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14661, 9 May 1913, Page 8

WAIKARI FARMERS UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING

Tho annual meeting of the Waikari Branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Wednesday, Air Anderson presiding.

Tho annual report and balance-sheet-were read, showing a membership of 48, and a credit, balance of £28 19s od, and wero passed subject to audit. it was decided to pay the annual levy of tho Provincial Executive on the full number of members on tho register, and the secretary was instructed to send the amount at once.

Air G. Gardiner, tho delegate of the branch to the Provincial Executive, gave a resume of work of the annual conference. On the motion of the chairman a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the delegate for the work he had done during the past year. The chairman announced that he proposed to give an evening's entertainment to the young peoplo of the district, and asked permission to give iv in the name of the union. Agreed to, with thanks.

The same office-bearers wero appointed as last year, with tho following committee: —Alessrs H. Anderson (chairman), H. Holland (treasurer), G. Arres (auditor), G. Gardiner (delegate), G. Newton (secretary), J. Spence, T. Shields, W. Earl, jun., J. Allen, J. Skurr, O. Evans, R. Wright, and T. Allen. It was decided to try and arrange for lectures on agricultural- and pastoral subjects to b© delivered during the year. A deputation was appointed to interview the Railway Traffic Alanager with a view to having the passenger train' servico between Christchurch and Waikari accelerated, and to have the train leave Waikari later in the morning and leave Christchurch earlier at night. Tho following remits were ordered to bo forwarded to the annual conference: — (1.) That power be given to County Councils or Road Boards to strike a rate to subsidise local doctors, and that such local body be exempted from that amount of its contribution to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rates, (a) That the Government be asked to take into consideration an alteration of tho present tariff as between Australia and New Zealand, in that flour milled in the former country 49 allowed to be dumped in New Zealand under circumstances unfair to New Zealand grain-growers and flourmillers. (3.) _hat tho present unsatisfactory system of taking railway weights as a medium of sal© between merchant and farmer be substituted for that of fair average weights from a specified number of bags from each truck. (4.) That the executiv© discuss tho advisability of recommending Wages Boards' in place of arbitration. (6.) That the Farmers' Union urge on tho incoming railway manager tho unjnstness of tho penal rate on flour, also on imported coal, timber, and fruit on our railways. (6.) That the Government bo urged to reorganise the Agent-General's office, Air Mackenzie to devote his time, and to have sole charge in Britain of the trade in frozen meat, dairy produce, and New Zealand primary products generally; the financial affairs in London to be managed by one of th© Cabinet. That the immigration department be galvanised into life by tho adoption of the Canadian system of agents to work tho British Isles and Denmark for the purpose of securing suitable farm labourers and domestics, also farmers with capital, no matter how small; that if Air and Airs David Jones can be induced to take charge of this department in tho Old Country, tho Government bo urged to secure their services for the position, as being the only practicable means of coping with a situation that is fast becoming unbearable for the farmers of INew Zealand.