FARMERS’ UNION

Evening Star, Issue 22576, 18 February 1937, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION

MONTHLY MEETING Tho monthly mooting of the Otago Provincial Council of tho New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held this morning. Mr R. J. E. Smith (president) was in the chair, and the following members were present:—Messrs R. H. Michelle, M. A. Kinney, J. C. Gall, A. T. Harris, G. P. Howell, A. Grant, C. W. Hallum, C. J. Indcr, W. Lee, A Renton, C. R. Sheat, A. Spoor, T. Stockdill, S. Sim, R. S. Thompson, James Begg, A. C. Cameron, and the Hon. F. Waite. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The matter of the suppression of noxious weeds was discussed at length. Mr T Stockdill said that privatelyowned land was not only affected, but irt many places Crown lands were overrun with ragwort. In many cases the land was so poor that the cost of clearing it would bo more than tiio land was worth. .' It was finally resolved that a subcommittee, consisting of the chairman. Messrs Stockdill, Thompson, W. Lee, and A.JJ." Cameron, should discuss the matter “and report later the same day. FARMERS’ TOUR. Mr A. C. Cameron reported that he had completed arrangements for a party of farmers from Central and South Otago districts to tour North Otago, South and Mid-Canterbury. Visits would be made to prominent breeders' and to show places of interest. A day would be spent at Lincoln College. The party would be-the guests of the North Otago, South, Mid, and North Canterbury execu-tives-of .the Farmers’ Union, and preparations were in train to give the party an enjoyable time. The party would assemble in Oamaru on April 5, and the programme would be completed in Christchurch on April 10. Those joining the party would travel by private cars, but it might be possible to arrange for motor buses for those who had not cars. The tour would be open to all financial members of the Farmers’ Union, Women s Division, N.Z.F.U., or young farmer* clubs. ORGANISING COMMITTEE. On behalf of the Organising Committee Mr S. Sim reported that the committee had gone very fully into Mr Wilkins’s report of the results of the organising to date. During tho past few months, Mr Wilkins’s programme was to some extent upset by the infantile paralysis epidemic, but he had covered a good deal of ground and has met branches and district committes in various parts of the following distnets:— Waitati, Mount Cargill, Green Island, Brighton, Taieri, South Otago, Owaka, Hawea Flat, Dunstan, Roxburgh-Mi - lers Flat, and Macraes. Mr Wilkins s report indicated that the committees set up by him were working. Just at the moment it was difficult to say what the measure of success would be, but Mr Wilkins was very confident that after the series of meetings arranged by Colonel Closey, the membership of the' union would be very appreciably increased. During the next* few weeks an effort would be made, to , finalise the work of the district committees, and collect outstanding subscriptions. STOCK’ROAD TO BURNSIDE. The South Taieri branch forwarded the following remit, the adoption of which was moved by Mr Begg: I hat a stock road from the Taieri to Burnside is considered a great necessity, and that-this council obtain the support or the Taieri County, tho Green Kami Borough, and the Otago Motor Club, and any other body that may be interested.” —Adopted. THE BASIC WAGE. Criticism of the basic wage in its relation to youths of 21 and over was made by Mr Cameron, who favoured a system under which workers were paid acccording to their experience and not according to their ages. After several speakers had expressed similar sentiments, and the opinion that the age proviso would drive employers to replace male office workers with female workers, it was decided that the council would co-operate with the Chambers of Commerce m their attempt to secure an alteration. HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENCES. The Milton branch forwarded the following remit, the adoption of was moved by Mr C. R. Sheat : That farmers owning tractors fitted with pneumatic tyres be aljowed to have trailers with pneumatic tyres for use between the nearest railway station and their farms, without a heavy traffic license.” —Adopted. ■ ' The meeting then adjourned until this afternoon. -