FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1422, 24 April 1912, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

HASTINGS BRANCH AFFAIRS. During the course of the annual meeting of the Hastings branch of the Farmers'. Union, the chairman, Mr. T. Talbot, expressed regret that greater interest had not been shown by fanners during the year in the affairs of the union. However, lie added, fanners generally had experienced a successful season, and he attributed the lack of interest taken in the union to the fact that the farmers were doing well, nnd were not hampered by competition. He thought that the "Department of Agriculture should be asked to examine more stringently all seeds put on the market, so as to check the spread of Califorriian thistle and other weeds. He also referred to the matter of thatching stacks. A large number of farmers did not seem to understand how to build a stack and thatcli it properly to keep out the rain, and lie thought that the union might endeavour to have something dons to help the farmers in that direction. , Tho balance-sheet showed that the year had commenced with a credit balance of 12s. 10d., and concluded with a crcdit balance of ,414 10s. fid.

Mr. ,1. Beaison expressed the opinion that the farmers had experienced an exceptionally good run of twelve to fourteen very successful seasons, and to his mind that was the principal reason why farmers did not worry very much about the union. However, tlipre were certain monitors who attended the meetings regularly, and the thank's of farmers generally were due to these. The question of whether the branch should be wound up had entered his mind, and after considering the matter lio had come to the conclusion that f.h» branch certainly did no harm, and he would rather see it continued, so as to look after tho farmers' interests when occasion arose. Mr. Eustace Lane differed from Mr. Beatson, and drew attention to the fact that there was only an attendance of five members at the annual meeting. It was obvious that farmers were not interested, and personally ho was getting tired of attending meetings so poorly attended, and in which snch little interest was shown. He thought that the branch should lie wound np. Closer settlement was badly wanted in Hawke's Bay, and if the farmers would combine they would have creat weight with the Government in getting tli" land cut up. Mr- Beatson considered that the farmers would not combine for such a purpose. The present farmers had their land, and therefore would not trouble. Mr. Lane: That is a very selfish way to look at it. Mr. Beatson: It is a very selfish world we live in. Mr. A. Masters considered there was something in what both Mr. Beatson ninl Mr. Lane had said, and ho was of the opinion that there were many farmers who would like to see more laml subdivided. The discussion concluded without any resolution being put to the meeting. The election of officers for the ensuing vear resulted as follows:—Chairman, Mr. T. Talbot (re-elected); rice-chairman, Mr. A. Masters; secretarv and treasurer.-Mr. •Tolin A. Fra«er; auditor, Mr. F. C. Hartshorn; executive, Mo«.vs. J. F. Taylor. S. Chambers, and A. Millar: delejpte to the Provincial Conference, Mr. T. Talbot.