N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 47, 21 January 1913, Page 5

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

f- ——— CLUTHA BRANCH. A meeting of the above was held on Friday afternoon in the County Chambers. Present-: Messrs Joseph Mosley (chairman), George Moffat, John Smith, John Kendall, K. Kenton, A. 11. Moffat, K. Houliston. WOOL SELLERS' COMMISSION. K. S. Wilson, secretary Stock Agents' Association, wrote re above, that the amended scale of charges on sales of wool was adopted as the minimum at a conference of the Woolbrokers 1 Associations of New Zealand, and was not fixed by the .Stock Agents' Association. The alterations .so far as .Dunedin is concerned are (1) The charge for offeringwool, which is not sold, will be 2s per bale in li en of Is per bale. This in- I crease is necessitated by the increased 1 cost of labbour in connection with the branding of wool. (2) Commission on sale has been altered from 12A per cent, on the first £2OO to per cent, on the first- £.300. It. is considered this increase affords only an adequate remuneration for the work and responsibility in connection with the sale of the wool, as is proved by the fact that nowhere else are the charges so low. Very few of the woolgroweis will be affected by the alteration. The letter was received.

| FARM LABOURERS. The Provincial Secretary wrote asking that a reply to the Dominion Secretary'» letter in regard to shortage of farm labour, etc., lie sent, in early, as the I'nion had for years been working to cope with the shortage of farm labour, ami information such as is asked will probably help in the Union's request-to the Government in connection with immigration of farm labourers ami domestics. Some conversation on the shortage of labour locally ensued. It was pointed out that it was very hard for farmers to get hands when the Government attracted all the labour by paving !>s a day, a wage which it would be quite impossible for farmers to pay. The secretary was instructed to write that there was a great shortage of labour in the district, but he could not furnish a list of the requirements. SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE, I'l <J. Jack, Dominion Secretary, wrote the Provincial President in regard to the above, a copy of the letter being sent to Clutha branch. The writer had been directed to express the hope that steps would be taken by the Union to confer with the companies with a view to concerted action.

A copy of another letter from the Dominion ,Secretary on the above was as follows:—The advisory" committee of the Fanners' Union hits considered the probability of a difference between the freezing companies and the workers, and the committee was of opinion: (I) That if any concession or increase in wages is agreed to the producer will have to bear (lie cost, therefore it is only right that the representative body, the Defence Committee of the Farmers' Union (in the Wellington province), should be a party in the discussion. (2) That there is an inclination to give way to the demands, and would seriously urge you to consider that this question will never be settled definitely without a fight. The only way that a proper light can be put ii)> is that the companies should have the support of the farmers anil those who could be relied on to (ill the places of the workers if a light takes place. (.'!) The Defence Committee could be called together easily and tlie Advisory Committee would urge them to take steps to have the list made out of those prepared to assist the companies. (4) The committe also thinks that the question ol' learners is a most important one, and the slaughtermen's demand should not be agreed to under any consideration.

The letters were received, it being mentioned that while farmers were in sympathy with the freezing companies, it was considered wiser to leave the companies to light it out, the fanners giving any help they rould. If a strike did occur it would be hardly possible for the fanners to take the slaughtermen 's places.

BINDER TWINE. Included in the excerpts of minutes from the provincial executive was that in connection with the "pooling" of orders through the provincial executive for binder twine, and it was decided to call for tenders up to 50 tons of- twine, so that the lowest price possible might be obtained for Union members, Might tenders were received, and the branch decided not to accept any tender for local requirements, as there was very little margin between the tenders and the price at which the stock agents supply the twine locally, EARMARKING SHEEP. The C'lutha branch's remit, "That the branch bring before the provincial executive the desirability of a law for the ear-marking of sheep, the males 011 one ear and the females on the other," had been considered by the provincial executive, and it was resolved: "That this resolution be forwarded to branches for suggestions ou the matter, as the executive feel that the ear-marking would hardly cover all that is necessary." GENERAL. The secretary 's account, amounting to £'2 19s 2d, was passed for payment. On the motion of Mr A. H. Moffat, seconded by Mr R, Houliston, it was decided that the provincial levy of £lB 6s, being 6.1 members at 6s each, be paid. Mr Mosley explained how the levies were expended.