FARMERS' UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1467, 30 May 1905, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

J|POTM&I4>BAY executive. S’ PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. Tlio annual meeting of the Provincial ''Sferenco of the Farmers’ Union was 13 yesterday morning. There were proit : Messrs Win. McLean (Uukauroa), B. Watt (Hangarou), F. J. Lvsnar ipicoto), W. F. Somerville (Tolago Bay), is®. Watson (Waimata), T. Elliott UMj D- Shaw (Nubalta), W.K- Chamrs (a a tutahi), W. D. Lysnnr (Gisborne), { Bicftiios (East Cape), A. H. Wallis bkomsru Bay), W. Lissant ClaytOD, Avinoial Secretary, T. Holden and ht'chinson. _ (Messrs Somerville and W-D. Lvsnar anted out that' a number of resolutions Tied had bcou ignored and lost sight o l§ae minuses were confirmed as read. Thd President, Mr A. H. Wallis, read a porfi on tho work undertaken b> J 9 aioa during the year. In concluding,,he lid a high tribute to Mr W. Aoland Hoodoccupied the position ot vice-president (the Provincial Conference since its miguration. , ~ Mr W. D. Lysnar said it was one of the Inoiplos of the Union to go to the fouuhead, aud not act through mterodiate bodies. His branch had lost much Ith in the Provincial Conference, -they id sent a number of resolutions to inference Sand had them referred ha , they were perfectly plain, A Jft also the question of the politics of the Union. These wore vital Vacations, and if they adopted the Frssijdb’s report they would be pledged themI’ves to ihesa things. JCho report was adopted. : election of officers. :Mr W. K Chambers was elooted Fresibqt, and Mr Watson vice-president. M /aliis was re-elected treasurer. Exeeu-n immittee : Delegates to branches, Miessr 7. L. Clayton. P. T. Kenway. T. Holden ad H. H. Wall. Mr W. L. Clayton was delegate to the Colonial Conire nee. j DELEGATE’S EXPENSES. ■ Mr Watson proposed that tho Provincial Jxecutitfo pay tho expenses of their deie§9 to the Colonial Conference. Mr Lysnar opposed the motion. Be aid that their delegate should have sufqient interest in the Union to pay is ifen excuses. He thought the subject hould have been introduced before the ppointment was made. The Chairman spoke m favor of the aotion. . It was decided to pay tho steamer and ;afe expenses and 8s a day for hotel S Mr cfayton said he did not intend to iOeepi anything from tho Farmers Union iiwards his expenses.

technical education. The following resolutions were re--13 From the Provincial Executive : “ That jffatta be made to support the aotion oi iho Provincial Executive in endeavoring ;o start classes for rural technical oduca- * °Mr Clayton, in moving the resolution, aaid it was intended to get a lecturer tr&cipally upon dairying and its_ adjuncts. I'he Government would give * for i subsidy. Capitation at the rate of 4*d per olass per hour would be given to those ittamding classes three milos from town and Bd to those in town. With the Government subsidy and small grants from looaL bodies they should be able to institute clasa.es for tecfhuical education. The resolution was carried. ! SUBSCRIPTION TO UNION. From Provincial Exective, Waimata, and Tolago Bay: “ That the Colonial Conference be asked to so amend the rules cf the Union as to give the Colonial Executive authority to definitely fix the subscription of members to the Union, and to apportion the amouut3 payable to the Ookinial and Provincial Executives and the branches.” , . Mr Watson said the resolution originated from the Waimata branch, and was now beiDg disoussed all over the colony. Ho thought tho' present system or the brrnches fixing their own subscription was exceedingly cumbersome. While the branches were all workmg on their own behalf they lacked unity. The unity of depended on their loyalty to She Union as a whole. The guestion of a sliding scale was only a detail which might be found to work very well. ll&Mr W. D. Lysnar said his branch was in favor of a sliding scale, but they wanted nothing done to make the small farmers 3ay, “ This is only a squatter’s concern. He thought tho subscription should be divided amongst the Colonial and Pro vincial Executive and the branch. Mr Hutchinson eaid the matter had come up in his branch ; half jthe members were in favor of doubling the subscriptions, vswhile tho other half stated that if that were done they would be unable to retain membership. The motion wa3 lost. ... . From Patutuhi :—“ That this branch /favors the Colonial Executive fixing « ' sliding scale of subscription to the Union. Mr Clayton said that it a sliding scale were adopted, with a uniform levy to the Provincial and Colonial Executive, it r 'ou°ht to meet ail their views. Sic Watson said the branches could strike a sliding scale, irrespective of what lew the Colonial Executive imposed. Mr Lyeuar proposed an amendment : “Thut tbiß Executive is in favor of the Colonial Executive fixing a sliding scale of members’ subscriptions no the Union, and also to definitely fix the proportion the Colonial Conference and Provincial B ecufive requires out of this sliding scale, and to fix its total annual subscriptions. Thß amendment waajearnea. BBPKESENTATION in PARLIAMENT. From the Provincial Executive—“ That the Union as a whole, or at least in this a; .. Hhail take a strong political attitude and strenuously oppose those candi “ n “f’ \ tho general election who areopdates at the g P dilates who will endorse it, irrespective Turtles Waimata and Tioiroto also parties. Provincial Executive < 6le -S^°°-the Gisborne branch-“Tbat while recognised that the Union was oAanisation it was not advlsable at praseut to enter into party polities. L , "^ 0 D mThe a 'Tiniroto branch-** That the rr b V h Ci tho^ame3 ,V o a f cLd^T“for the • .. Chambers e saia a 'tbat tr Th; Patutuhi ’ ‘ members wanted *jme *o th^orit should rulffi minority in the matter of 80^flfys a n C arsaM a tt Union should supL q w ho would carry out their views? either be a live body ( ' ° E Mr a c a ay°on said that if they wanted to V y .i nv would have to toko a V. any S“° od h hQ y n a candidate goes up for firm stand- a ou6 w hother ho election they bould find jf SenTbe'y should vote for him irrespective t i oonidnot support a member of the Sadden ; h- Government candidate

bi M\.T,v3aQr said that when they drifted ±4 &Ir Xjy nnltt'cg i« would mean dis !Dto party p m hey aid Dot know what the organisation, x _ J regard to the Governmont tQ oct 1 i freehold. It q nt proclaimed thomwhon tbe WV freehold He would i . ia

„ !nw Thoy would lose members over the VI0 7; „„„ asuDDortor of the Government »“* ““ motion carriocl. STOCK. SALES. ITrom tho Tiniroto brauoh—“ That tho local auctioneers bo askod to oowalogue their stock sales and soil by catalogue. Mr Lvsnae said that selling by catalogue oxoodited tho salo o£ stock, and would be' better for both tho buyer and SS Mr'\Vnl!is said he did not think it was a metier for them to point out how the auctioneers should oontcol their own busi

nC j[ r Watson said he thought that if tho stock wore classified it would save much time. Ho thought that sellmg by catalogue would bo against tho interests of tho *Mr W. D. Lysnar said ho thought tho idoa an excellent one.—Carried. ( From tbD Haugaroa branoh— That th Exooutive bo requested to bnugbofoto th etook agents holding sales of stock at Matawhoro tho advisability of holdmg cattle and sboop sales on alternative weeks, as owing to increased entries it is impossible to get through both lots one day in a mannor satisfactory to buyer ana seller. Mr Watt said ths two sales going on at ono time did not give farmers a chance, ns tho four auctioneers were selling a. once. —Carried. COOK'S COYE. From Tolago Buy-“ To urge the conforenoo to accelerate tho taking of Cock s Covo and Poutowa Island in view of tbo Scenery Protection Committee having decided, as empowered by law, that thoso places should bo acquired by tho GovernLU< Mr W. F. Somervillo asked that pressure should be brought to bear upon the Tourist Departmout, that those plaoos should have pramineuce.—Carried.

NATIVE LANDS. From Tolago Bay—“ That as tho owners of native lands in this district appear desirous of utilising the Native Land Council and Native Land Court for the purpose of | leasing their lands, but are prevented from doiDg so by the protracted absence of these Courts, tho Conference is urged to take the I necessary Bteps to have sittings hold expeditiously and benoeforth regularly. _ Mr Somervillo said this was a very lm- -I portact question for his distnot. The I nativos wero more disposed to take advantage of the Land Council to lease their lands, but the land was locked up through the Laud Court or tho Land Council never sitting there. . , Mr Lysnar said the Native Land Policy J was to block settlement. A motion should be brought forward,asking the Government for more practiosl legislation. Mr Biddolls moved an amendment “that in view of the unworkable state of the Maori Land Council Act the Government bo asked to introduce a more practical method of dealing with tho native Mr’Somerville’s motion was carried. Mr Lysnar’s motion, re-affirming tho Union’s motion in dealing with native lands, was carried. _ . ' From Patutahi—“ That is is desirable that all native lands should be equally rated with those of European occupation. FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD. From Hangaroa : “ That all holders of land on lease iu perpetuity or gperpetual lease or small grazing runs have the right to purchase the freeholds any time after tho improvement) conditions huve i been complied with, either by immediate cash payment or payments extending over an indefinite time, reduction of rent to be made in proportion to such payments. No transfer to bo registered unless such transfer has attached a declaration by the purchaser in terms of the Land Act or Lands for Setilement Aot.” Mr Watt spoke in favor of the motion. It was one of the planks of the Union, and only required o-affirming. Tho motion was confirmed. ASSESSMENT COURTS. Provincial Executive : “ That this Conferonce re-affirms its previous resolution, ‘That at least one assessor should, be elected to the Assessment Court by the rstepayers'or local bodies.’ ” —Motion reaffirmed.

GISBORNE RAILWAY. From the Provincial Executive : “ That the Conierenca obtain the co-operation o the local bodies to get at least £50,000 spent on the Gisborne railway line per annum.” . The motion was carried. INTEREST IN UNION

From Tolago Bay: “ That the Conference consider the best means of increasing interest in the Union. Mr Bissaut Clayton said that aB a pro viocial district they could do little to reawaken interest in the Union. That could be done by the colonial body making the Union a political one. They c ould by getting up a monster Farmers Union picnic 2 do much good by interesting the ladies in their movements. There was also the question of literature, i Mr liysnar said that all matters that come before the Executive * r °“ the branches should bo reported back with results The Executive had done nothing in the way of circulating literature amongst farmers. The balance sheet showed that £4c had been spent in printiog, while in ms branch they had spent £lB 10a in pnntmgThe Executive wanted to keep in better touch with the branches, and to do more thought the best way to im

crease the interest fn the Union was to in. crease the subscription. The Executive did not initiate any business at all. J-n other districts they had a veterinarian su geon who acted os organiser. Something Light be done in that way. An organiser m i|ht be the most practical way oi increasing interest in the Union. Mr F. J. Lysnar ashed it they could not follow in the footsteps of the Hawke s Bay Farmers’ Union and appoint a veterinarian surgeon who was both organiser and secretMrWatson moved that it be an tion to the incoming executive to *° r * n u late a seheme under which they could have a veterinarian surgeon as secretary an ° r 'Mroily ton suggested that if »e™bera paid periodical visits to outlying districts and gayo lectures it would increase the in tC Mr Somerville said it would be worth while to make an attempt to secure a veterinary surgeon. In regard to tion of increasing the interest m the Union be thought much rested with the man of the branch. He should keep touch with tho farmers and keep their in Merest awakened. The motion was carried. GENERAL ITEMS.

Mr XiVSQar proposed that the resolutions passed that day be printed and sont to tha branchos for eireulotion amount I the members. This was agrood to. , Mr Lvsnar asltcd if the farmers would movo in the matter of the settlers m tho Bukatura Valley securing thirds for maK ion their roads, which were merely pig tracks. The matter came up at the meeting of the Tiniroto braoeh, aud ho was asked to bring the matter up at ohe Pro vincial Conference. , _ Mr Clayton suggested that tho Provincial Executive write to tho Wairoa County Council and Commissioner of Lands. Tho meeting terminated with a vote oi thanks to the rßtiripg president.