FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

RANGIORA BRANCH. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Rangiora branch of the Farmers' Union was held yesterday, Mr A. M. Carpenter presiding. Mr R Peach was elected a member of* the executive, as representing the i Ashley district. j Eleven new members were elected. The secretary, in submitting kis report, stated that £$ m suuscriptious had been received, since Mr YV. Smith mwed: that a clause be added in any future wheat agicement providing for an increment ot one penny per bushel per month fiom May Ist to October Ist mclusive. Die railage, storage, and cartage charges, he said, weie so + that tne farmer did not get very iiu-i for his wheat if it was not sold immediately. Twelve sacks of his wheat were rejected, and held m store for a short period. The charges ran up to The motion was seconded by Mr H. Dickhofi. t t i • Mr W Stalker said it would be m the interests of wheat-growers to have an open market. He would like to see Government control given up. Ihere was likely to be a big shortage of wheat next year. Since control there was delay in receiving payment, which was very annoying to the grower. The motion was carried. Mr W. Smith moved that a detailed account of the cost of growing wheat be obtained, and that Messrs VV. Stalker, W. Smith, T. Hanna, and H. Dickhoff be a sub-committee to procure the information. The motion was seconded by Mr T. Hanna and carried. * Mr W. Stalker moved: "That in the event of the question of the control of wheat b«ing again brought forward, our delegate be instructed to support a motion for an open market." ' The motion was seconded by Mr Brosnan, arid carried. Mr 11. Newel] was appointed delegate to the Council on the Dairy Committee. Mr "W. Smith, on behalf of a member, isked if the executive would gi'ant letters of credit to members, to allow them to procure their own sacks. The present arrangement was that members paid £1 on application for sacks and the balance when they came to hand, which was sometimes very inconvenient. The matter was referred to the Central Executive, the chairman remarking that the Farmers' Union should be represented at Calcutta. The chairman said he had been asked to procure particulars of individual losses by the flood, for the information of the Dominion Executive. The secretary said it was not generally known that forms for application for financial assistance for flood: sufferers, were to be obtained at all post offices. He had already sent forward four applications. This, however, took time, and he urged the committee to approach the Minister with a request that as the matter of relief to flood sufferers was urgent, the applications ■ should receive immediate attention, i The suggestion was adopted. I Mr Dickhoff brought up the question or the small bird nuisance, which, he said, was getting worse. The chairman said that poisoned wheat was supplied by .the Rangiora Cpunty Council free, and he advised all farmers to procure some.