FARMERS’ UNION

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1934, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION

West Coast Executive QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Executive of the West Coast branch of the New Zealand Provincial Farmers’ Union was held in the Grey County Chambers yesterday, there being pre sent Messrs. F. Mulcare (President, Ngahere), D. Shannahan (Greymouth). W. Fisher (Ngahere), J. Ryan (Rotomanu), and F. W. Baillie (Secretary). Apologies for absence were received, from Messrs P. J. O’Regan, T. O’Neil, IT. G. Carter, and W, Clayton.

The Prime Minister advised that the Executive’s representations against the imposition of dairy quotas had been noted for future consideration. It was decided that the President, as delegate to the Dominion Conference on October 9, in Wellington, should support the representations of the County Councils for an investigation into motor taxation. The Dominion Executive wrote requesting the opinion of the Branch on the question of supplying free milk to school children. Mr Fisher said that it seemed to be a very good thing, but it was just a question of whether it would operate over the whole of the schools, and whether it would fall a charge on the Education Department or the Consolidated Fund. However, there was no doubt that it would knock the quota on the head. It was a question that had to be gone into further than they could carry it.

Mr Shannahan said it was just another matter of £ s. d. The milk was there and the children needed it, but their parents could not afford to pay for it.

Mr Fisher moved that the delegate to the Dominion Conference support any scheme that might be devised to bring milk into the schools. The motion was seconded by Mr Ryan and carried. The President said that he strongly supported the idea, and they should look at it from the humane side. He considered that the food value of milk should be given greater stress. Tn response to an inquiry from the Dominion Headquarters, it was decided that it be left in the hands of the President to support whichever he might think was the best scheme brought forward at the conference for levying hospital taxation over th-* whole adult population, instead of one section, as is the ease at the present t ime. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Canterbury Provincial Secretary, expressing the appreciation of the Executive of the Young Farmers’ Week, held recently in Christ church.

The Secretary reported that the number of members of the Branch at the end of June last had been 136. Following on the visit or the organiser, Mr E. Lewer, the number in August had risen to 262, and all the expenses sent down from Headquarters for his visit had been £ll 8s 6d. It had been suggested that it might be a good idea to have an organiser sent down every six months. Mr Ryan said that the organiser had put new life into the Rotomanu Branch.

The Secretary: We would have to pay his expenses from the North Island, but branches could then pay their own expenses in connection with his visit.

It was decided that the question of having an organiser pay a regular visit be held over until next meeting, and that a letter of appreciation of Mr Lewer’s work be forwarded to the Dominion Headquarters. Mr Ryan said that the railway accommodation on the Otira line, both on the train down in the morning, and the one back in the afternoon, was very poor. The carriages were out of date, and it was miserable to travel in them, in fact it was no wonder that people took to motors, and that it was mooted that a motor service was likely to start on the run. He moved that the Railway Department be written to, asking them to improve the local services on the Otira line. Mr Fisher said that the service on the Reefton line had been improved, the carriages being quite good, but still he would second Mr Ryan’s motion. The motion was carried. Three remits were received from the Kokatahi-Koiterangi branch, but owing to the absence of their delegate, they were adopted without discussion and the delegate was instructed to bring them before the Dominion Conference. The remits were as follows:— (1) That the Executive urge the Department concerned, the need for a vigorous campaign to cope with the deer menace; (2) that the Executive continue to urge the revision of the present Transport Regulations, with a view to removing present anomalies therefrom; (3) that, in view of the precarious state of the industry, farmers in rabbit infested areas be supplied with poison free of charge. •

Mr Ryan said that it was only fair to give credit where credit was due, and he would like to see the Executive congratulate the Ross Lime Co. on the progress they had made, and on reducing the cost of lime. It was an important company, and of great interest to the farmers on the Coast. Mr. Shannanhan, in seconding the motion, said that the Company deserved every credit for the manner in which they had surmounted their obstacles and reduced the price of lime, when a reduction could hardly be expected. 'l’he motion was carried. The President said, that, as a director of the Company, he would like to thank the members for their motion, i All the directors were farmers and such words of thanks were valuable, and were sincerely appreciated. They were very proud of the results. Only four or five years ago they had been bankrupt, but now they had written off all their debts, except one, the balance sheet showed the true position, and the price of lime had been reduced.

Mr Ryan said that there was a bu 4 ■ > ;er war going on in Christchurch at □he present time, butter being down to I

Sd a lb, and it was not long before the West Coast would be .similarly affected. The farmers could not live on such prices. It was derided that nothing could be done pending the bringing down of the Dairy Commission’s report, but that the President should bring the local position before the Dominion Conference.

Mr Ryan said that he would like to take the opportunity of congratulating the President on his appointment as farmers’ representative to visit Australia. He was undoubtedly the right man in the right place, and he wished to extend to him and Mrs Mulcare the best wishes of the Union for a happy time and a safe return. .Mr. Shannahan said that he consid ered the appointment was only a due recognition of Mr Mulcare’s services to farmers over a long period of years. Mr. Fisher said that he had been associated with Mr. Mulcare since the inception of the Ngahere Branch, and he also had much pleasure in adding his good wishes. Tn reply, Mr. Mulcare said that he sincerely appreciated the remarks that had been made. The Farmers’ Union had been the means of bringing him into public life, and farmers’ interests and those of the Union were dear to his heart. He was proud to represent the New Zealand farmers in his home town, Melbourne.

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