FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 13 November 1930, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

BANKS PENINSULA BRANCH

A meeting of the Banks Peninsula branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the hall at Duvauchelle. Present: Messrs F. G. Armstrong (president, in the chair), I> E Moore, V. Craw, and A. Goodwin (vice-presid'-'nts), and the followmg delegatts:—Lo iion s Baj. 1 Barker, riymeo, and K. A. McPhail; I Juv»iuf:h('ll.-!, -J- ogan. .. It. Moore, P. Shadbolt J, Hayward, Jas. Mould, and W A. I- airweather; Aka. roa, R. Bruce, A. Helps, r. Ma&efield, •tnd W. H Moore; Okairis Bay >, Moore; Pigeon Bay, J. C. G. Heymsh and H! Blonquist. lhe following Little i»iver deics&i-Co attended. iVlessrs T Thompson (president), Jas. Chapman, T. Mould, J. Smith, and i>. PattCThe chairman reported having attended a function in C'nristchurch in connexion with raising lunds for the Women's Division ot the Farmers' I uion, He had explained that a branch of the division would not be 1 ormed on the Peninsula in the meantime. A letter had been sent from the ' branch in connexion with the Akaroa High School Board's funds. The chairman's actions wero approved , , . Mr T. Masefield moved a remit from the Akaroa branch: "That the Provincial Executive be written to, asking them to use every endeavour to see that the embargo on imported live stock is not removed." In doing so, Mr Masefield pointed out the great danger of introducing foot-and-mouth disease. He considered there were suificicnt new strains in Australia and New Zealand to keep up the standard of stock. , l'lie motion was seconded by Mr It. Goodwin, and carried. Mr Bruce moved a remit from the Akaroa branch: "That the Noxious Weeds Act be enforced, so that property owners must clear their property as well as their frontages." The motion was seconded by Mr I. Barker. Mr Helps said that this might be taken as a reflection on the inspector, and he thought that if he were approached he would act in the matter. Mr J. Mould said ho knew an instance where the inspector had been applied to in the case of Californian thistle, and nothing had been done. Mr Masefield suggested that the remit be sent to the Stock Department, and it was decided to do this. Mr Roynish moved the following remit from the Pigeon Bay sub branch. "That in view of the reduced cost of living and very much lower prices for stock, it be a recommendation to the bran-'.-h that the freezing works throughout the Dominion be atjproachel with a view to reducing the charges for freezing stock. He said that it mennt » great rlpjil to farmers in these hard times. The motion was seconded bv Mr Blonquist and carried.

The following remit was forwarded from the Duvauchelle sub-branch: "That the local bodies be approached requesting them to economise as much as possible, with a view to making a rebate in rates owing to the bad season and lower prices for products."

Mr Moore said Mr Mould had moved this remit and had stated that he considered the Akaroa County Council had levied £llOO more than was necessary. He had suggested that the Council should make a rebate of rates. He was not prepared to sponsor the remit, and he moved that it be held over. This was seconded by J. Mould and carried. The Provincial Executive wTote stating that the Taranaki Union had asked that quotations for cocksfoot be forwarded to them. It was decided the secretary should forward any quotations received. The Duvauchelle sub-branch forwarded the following remit, moved by Mr S. Rhodes, and seconded by Mr J. Hayward: "That the Peninsula branch be asked to discuss valuations with a view to having a revaluation of the Peninsula."

Mr Masefield said he thought tiiev should ask for a revaluation as the Department had not allowed sufficient for improvements in the past. It was decided to hold consideration of this remit over until next meeting. Mr Jordan. District Commissioner, wrote saking if anything had been done in connexion with forming an association on Banks Peninsula, under the Rural Intermediate Credit Act. Mr Bruce moved that the matter be held over for future consideration. This was seconded by Mr Hayward, and carried.

The chairman said that at the present time it was difficult to get advances, and an association would be quite useful. They really required some system whereby they could get over the hard times; it was difficult to get money even on good security. He had gone fully into the matter, and would place his views before the next meeting.