WEST COAST FARMERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1934, Page 3

WEST COAST FARMERS

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE. , The quarterly conference of the West Coast branch of the New Zealand Provincial Farmers’ Union was held at Greymouth, to-day, the ActingPresident, Mr A. Bradley (Grey Valley) presiding ovei’ an attendance of the following delegates: H. G. Carter, J. Mulcare, W. Fisher (Ngahere), D. Shannahan (Greymouth), F. C. Watts (Cronadun), T. O’Neil (Kokatahi).

Prior to commencing the ordinary business of the meeting, the Chairman referred to the death, since last meeting, of Mr Alex Doig, who, he said, had been a member of the executive, and a prominent worker in the interests of farmers, since the inception of the Union. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased was passed. The Secretary of the Grey Electric Power Board wrote stating that the Board had now vacated the old steam station at Dobson, and that the ferroconcrete power house was for sale. There was no doubt that the building would be cheap and ideal, were it found advisable to centralise the dairy factories dr establish a bacon factory. It was stated that the railway siding into the building was still intact. Mr Mulcare, a member of the Power Board, said the Dobson power-house was now in disuse, and he had suggested to a sub-committee of the Board, to write the letter received. The building alone had cost well over £4OOO, and was earthquake-proof. There was an abundance of water, and a railway siding ran into the building. He also understood there were six or seven feet of concrete underneath the building. He felt sure that the Power Board would ratify the letter, though they had not yet considered it. So far as he could see, the building had everything to recommend it as a central factory, and the view expressed by one member of the Power Board committee, was that the offer might mean giving a wonderful help to the industry. So far as the bacon proposal was concerned, he thought the site was ideal, and was close to Greymouth, the local market. When the meeting of farmers was held some time ago to consider the establishment of a bacon factory, building costs were one of the big obstacles, and it seemed to the speaker that the Power Board building would overcome this obstacle. There had been overtures from the Coal By-Products Coy., but he understood that that had now been dropped. The building was still open, of course, for purchase by anyone.

Mr Carter agreed that the building would be ideal for the purpose suggested. So far as he could see it would not take a great deal to alter the building to suit requirements of a bacon or dairy factory. The time would come when a central dairy factory would be necessary on the West Coast, and the question was whether the present was an opportune time, for such a factory. Regarding a bacon factory, it was the speaker’s opinion that such organisations should be on a national basis. The best thing that could be done was to set up a committee to go into the matter. Mr Fisher said the West Coast would soon have to go in for baconcuring on an organised basis, and he thought the situation of the building suggested was ideal. The farmers should seriously consider the matter, for the curing of all West Coast pigs on the Coast, and the selling of the

bacon in the local market, would mean a great deal to the bacon industry. Mr O’Neil thought it would be a step in the right direction to establish a bacon factory on the Coast. Some time ago a friend of the speaker’s wrote him, and said he was prepared to put £5OO into a factory on the West Coast, provided he was appointed manager. That man was competent, and was now managing a large factory in Southland. The speaker did not know if that offer was still available, but he would get in touch with his friend. There was at present more discontent in the pig industry than ever he remembered, and the establishment of a central bacon factory would be a boon to West Coast pig farmers. He would do all he could for the proposal in his district. Mr O’Neil referred to the assistance given by the Mayor (Mr Greenslade) to the pig industry on the Coast.

It was decided that the executive inspect the building this afternoon, and that members present constitute a committee to go into the matter thoroughly. The Dominion Executive advised that the next meeting would be held on May 2, at Wellington. On the motion of Messrs Clayton and Mulcare, it was decided to recommend that all remits to the Dominion Executive close two months before the quarterly meeting, and that remits be sent to the provincial branches for discussion. Mr Clayton said that the adoption of the recommendation by the executive would not prevent them discussing any matters of an urgent nature, which were not advised early.

ORGANISATION QUESTION. The Grey Valley Branch wrote suggesting that the £3O received from the Dominion Executive be used in securing an outside organiser, preferably from Canterbury, to carry out organising among the Coast branches. Mr Clayton said there was ao doubt that organising was necessary, for the Union was drifting, and members were dropping out. Local organising had been a comparative failure, and there were districts that required a great, deal of organising. Some immediate action was imperative if the organisation was not to be allowed to drift altogether. His district was all right, and did not need much organising.

Mr Clayton agreed that the membership was drifting, and ne said it was beyond him why farmers severed their connection with the Union. The backing of an organisation such as the Farmers’ Union, was essential to the farmer, and he felt that the importation of an outside organiser would mean a good deal to the Union on the Coast. Mr Mulcare agreed that a man coming from Canterbury, or even from an outside branch, would do a tremendous amount more than a local man. The Chairman said it had been proved conclusively that the Union could not do its own organising. An outside man was essential, for something must be done, or the Union would go out. The Union had already received £3O from the Dominion Executive on the understanding that they were to do their own organising, and it was a question now whether that £3O, which had not yet been spent,/ would be available when an outside organiser was to be employed. j It was decided to leave the matter of organising to the Acting-President.

Mr Shannahan briefly reported on the last Dominion Executive meeting, which he attended. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Shannahan for his work at the meeting, and for his report. REMITS The Grey Valley Branch forwarded the following remit: —That the Counties Act be amended so that County Councils be empowered to register rates against properties by the consent of owners without obtaining judgment as at present.

I Mr. Clayton said all knew the diffiJculties being experienced by farmers in paying rates, and as. by law, a man could not owe more than three rates, the only thing for the Counties to do was to sue for the outstanding amounts. The result was that a lot of good people, who had paid their rates for years past, were now being sued, as they were totally unable to pay. The idea was to have judgment entered by confession, and so avoid the publicity usually given to such cases. There was a chance that the privilege might be abused by some, but that would be a matter for the discretion ,of the Counties. Other members agreed that the proposal was good and besides saving publicity for the unfortunate debtor, would save some expense to the County. It was decided on the motion of Messrs Clayton and Mulcare, that the remit be forwarded to headquarters. The following remit was also forwarded by the Grey Valley Branch: That while fully appreciating the fact that Head Offic- have missed no opportunities in furthering the question of derating of farm lands, that they still keep up a strong agitation towards that end. Mr Clayton, moving the remit, said it was long overdue, and the Conference should certainly pass it on to headquarters. The stage had been reached when the users of the roads should pay for them, and it was not a fair thing that the farmers, who did not use the roads should have to help maintain them. De-rating was one of the things that would help to cut down the cost of production. It was decided that the remit be forwarded to headquarters.

GREY VALLEY BRANCH

[ovic OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

A meeting Of the Grey Valley branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held at Ikamatua on Saturday evening, Mr W. Clayton (President) occupying the chair. Prior to the commencement of the business, the Chairman referred to the deaths since last meeting of Messrs L. A. Ditely (Provincial President), and A. Doig (Branch Treasurer and ex-secretary for many years) both worthy Union members. He moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives of each, which was carried in the usual manner.

With regard to organising West Coast branches, it was decided to forward the following recommendation to the ’Executive Council: That headquarters be requested to appoint an organiser (a Canterbury man for preference) and the £3O donated for branch organising be handed over to him to meet petrol and other expenses, it being the experience of branches that a local man is not a success. As .a large number of lambs and pigs are now conveyed to Ikamatua station by motor-lorries, the Railways

Department is to be asked to provide a small platform attached to the sheep race for the purpose of unloading out of lorries into the stock-yard. At present, the stock has either to be lifted or jumped out, a procedure which does not tend to improve the quality, on account of bruises, etc. The time-table on the GreymouthReefton run came in for strong comment by members. The present timetable is most unsuitable for country people wishing to do business in Greymouth, the Grey Valley train being the last to arrive in Greymouth, and the first to leave again in the afternoon, giving no time whatever for business, in fact by the time the train reaches Greymouth on Saturday, the banks have closed. Small wonder the traffic has been diverted to motors. A few years back the departure of the morning train from Reefton was delayed to suit Westport passengers for overland, the Department going to considerable expense extending the siding at Mawheraiti for crossing trains at that station, instead of at Ikamatua. A short time after the Coastal road was opened, and since then Westport cars to connect with the Christchurch mail use that route, but the Department still adheres to the old time-table. They certainly do not appear to be alive to the position, wilh the result that the morning down and afternoon up trains are running practically empty between Ngahere and Reefton.

It. was decided to request the Department to adopt either of the following alterations: Leave Reefton one hour earlier and Greymouth one hour later on Mondays and Fridays, and if not possible, to have the hour later on two days, then make Mondays extra late, leaving Greymouth at 5.30 p.m. This arrangement would not interfere in any way with the overland connections. It was agreed that the present fares were reasonable, and were inducing the public to use the trains more, but the time-table was off-setting the cheap rates.