ASHBURTON FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17259, 24 September 1921, Page 3

ASHBURTON FARMERS' UNION.

MONTHLY MEETING. The - monthly meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Farmers' Union was held yesterday afternoon, Mr H. Wills in the chair. The chairman drew attention to the Technical School shearing olassas, and aeltsd members to do what they oou.d to eqpport these classes. The ordinary shearers were inclined to give trouble, and in view of this fact it was highly imperative that the farmers' sons should learn, blade-shearing. Mr C. Reid, who is also chairman of the Technical School .Board, explained the conditions under which these Classes wore conducted. Xhey .had a good man as instructor, and the pupils soon learnt shearing. At present machines were used, but it was intended to start blade-shearing. He had had sheep shorn at the Technical School caeses, and the sheep were weil shorn. Mr (i. W. .ucadley said that the Technical School .Board of Governors were to be commended for what they had done in teaching shearing. The farmers had not given, aa much support to these classes as the; should have done. He certainly should send his own boy to learn shearing at these classes. Mr W- T. Lill remarked that really wonderful work had been done at these classes, and in about a. fortnight pupils had learnt sufficient to be able to go out and earn good money in ordinary sheds. On the motion of Mr Leadley, it was decided: "That the branch records its high appreciation of the good work done at these classes, and that farmers be urged to send their sons to tiie Technical School classes, and that a grant of £3 3s ba made to the Technical School Board." It was reported that the president of the Fanners' Union was now south, and on his return he would make a stop as Ashburton and give an address on co-operation and self-help in regard to the farmers marketing their products. Mr Beid thought that the farmers should endeavour to get a conference with the mercantile firms to discuss the whole position. Mr Leadley said there was a crying seed

'■•'■'■ '';'. ••" ;<Vi'£-' ■/''■■■ > ■- I at the present time for ..farmers combining I to protect their own interests. The farmers were being exploited to en enormous extent. : H«; mentioned an instance in whioh a farmer I had sent him a line of lambs about April last. The most he could have got for them in New Zealand was 17a a carcase, but they netted him 25s at Home, but the money was cabled to him. He had not even to wait for the money.