FARMERS’ UNION.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 89, 1 August 1932, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

FRANKLIN SUB-PROVINCE. UARTE RLY MEETING. ' The quarterly meeting of the Franklin . sub-province of the Farmers’ Union was held at Pukekohe on Friday, Mr G. Campbell (Clevedon) presiding. Delegates present were: Messrs A.. Woolsey (Mauku), D. Renton (Gievewon), A. H. Gaskell (Opuatia), W. N. Hunter( Bombay), J. W. (Hunua), H. Dyer, W. J. Older (Onewhero), Hull (Waiuku), together with Messrs A. E. Robinson (secretary) and N. F. Taylor (area officer).

After a discussion on the question of unemployment, the following resolution was carried: ‘‘That this branch considers the small farm scheme is not a practical solution to our present unemployed problem. As an alternative, it urges the reoccupation of abandoned farms, working from these to Crown lands.”

All delegates were opposed to the present scheme.

Mr Woolsey claimed that inexperienced men would be unable to handle abandoned farms.

Mr Hunter was of the opinion that gangs of men should bring farms in and be under the control of experienced men.

The consensus of opinion was that there was plenty of labour available in most cases, and that at the best one man here and there could only be employed by farmers, most of the labour being for seasonal work.. In connection with unemployed men being engaged on farming operations, it was claimed that there was an enormous waste of effort. Stumping was being carried out by manual labour and without horses, a gang, of men taking weeks to complete what a few men with a team could do in as many days. Protest was entered against the disparity in the wholesale charges for electric power, as between the Auckland and Franklin boards. It was agreed to co-operate with local bodies in an endeavour to secure a reduction in the charge to Franklin, failing which the question of the advisability of amalgamation of the two boards be referred to branches to ascertain the opinion of consumers in their districts. Delegates appointed to assist local bodies were Messrs D. A. Bingley, Woolsey and Robinson. Telephone Rentals.

It was decided to request that reductions be made in telephone rentals. The sub-province also agreed to enter a protest against the Government exacting duties on wheat recently landed, and also the loading of freight from Lyttleton to Auckland. A discussion on the havoc caused by the grass-grub -resulted in the following resolution being carried: “That the executive considers that the destruction of grass-grub has become a national necessity, thousands of acres being infested in various areas, and calls on the Government to institute every possible investigation ; with the view of discovering a remedy.” It was' stated that large areas were affected in the Karaka and Waiau districts. "■ . ......

•Hie policy of “hush hush” was deprecated. It was stated an idea was prevalent, that publicity as to the prevalence of the pest would ruin the credit of the district. The secretary stated a similar idea had been responsible in saving the credit of the King Country by ruining all the settlers therein.

A resolution in regard to Crown and Native land stated that it was not impossible for the Crown to deal with noxious weeds on such lands where they adjoined settled lands, and the Government should make funds available to destroy weeds on Grown land, where such weeds were a danger to settlers’ lands

The operations of the Mortgagors’ Relief Act, with amendments, was criticised on the grounds that recommendations by the commissioners to delete arrears of interest were being rejected wholesale by magistrates, who held that the terms of the act limiting assistance to five years, showed that the scheme was intended to be temporary only, and would not, therefore. authorise assistance of a permanent nature. It was felt that there was not sufficient information before the executive to justify drastic action. '