AWATUNA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 May 1925, Page 5

AWATUNA.

FARMERS’ UNION.

(From Our Own* Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Awatuna branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the hall on Saturday evening. Although it was a perfect evening as far as the climatic conditions were concerned, the attendance . was much smaller than the importance of the * meeting merited; yet what it lacked in numbers was certainly counterbalanced by the enthusiasm and interest displayed by those present. Mr H. Davison, .president of the branch, was in the chair.

The secretary (Mr H. L. Street) read * the balance-sheet on the year’s working, and it disclosed the fact .that after paying very heavy expenses, such as levies to the Taranaki executive, 3s 4d, to headquarters 7s 6d, and to organiser 7s per member, there was'still a. credit balance of £9 10s, which was considered highly satisfactory for the first year’s working. The president’s . report. covered the whole of the year’s activities, and he mentioned that the local branches were not getting full value for their money expended in levies to higher authorities of the union. There ( were many''lnembers of the Awatuna branch who were resident in or near Te Kiri; and they were, as far as interest and advantages went, outside the advantages and benefits of the union; but it would be; keen 4 that some practical effort would be made to awaken these members in the near future. In conclusion, the president said that he hoped that with the unfolding of' the many - and varied schemes of usefulness of the union in the coming year, the apathy or disinterestedness of 'the farmers of the district would pass and the future be bright for the branch. • ' N ■' Before calling for nominations for the-position of president for the ensuing year, Mr Davison said that he thought the position should go round and that each president should hold the position for a term. Before-vacating the chair he moved that the report and balance-sheet be adopted. ,1 .... Mr P. Hughes, in seconding the motion, spoke highly of the work of the president and secretary; and said that v the financial aspect of the. branch, was most gratifying. The report and; jfbjil-ance-sheet were adopted. * Some discussion arose on the secretary calling for nominations for president, but it was all eulogistic of thp services of Mr Davison, and the unaiiimous wish was that he; should again accept the position, and, no other, member being agreeable, he was unanimously elected. ;

The very ardiious post of secretary was offered' to several, but it was. again quite apparent that the meeting would not have, nor desired, any other but Mr Street, and: as the vote was so overwhelmingly in his favour "he had to accede to the, request. ~ , ~• _. Mr L. Brown was appointed vicepresident, and the executive committee appointed was: Messrs L. .Corbett, J. . Phillips, H. Korte and S. Agnew. It was decided to ask Mr M. Barker •to become the branch delegate- to the Taranaki executive. « The work of supervising the local work of the Boys’ and Girls’ Gluts fell to Messrs L. Street' and' L. Corbett. At the termination of i the annual meeting the ordinary mouthy meeting was held. It was decided to visit Te Kiri, "the date finally fixed being Thursday, the 21st inst., when Messrs R. Dunn (president of the Thranaki executive), W. Lyndon. C. Burke,'arid E. Burke will he present to arouse interest and forward tftr movement . amongst oidy semi-interested. Tt was decided that, owing, to the lateness of the season, the cattle com- , petition lie abandoned this season. With regard to the root crops/.it was resolved to ask Messrs Deem and .Glasson to judge the crops on a date suitable to them between the 18th and 24th of this month, and that Messrs H. Korte and L. Brown lie supervisors.

THE LATE PRIME MINISTER. At the monthly meeting of the directors of the Awatuna Dairy Company, held on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr E. A. Collins), after referring- to the death of Mr Massey, moved: “That this hoard of Awatuna Dairy Company directors record its deep regret- on hearing of the death of the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, andgfexpresses its deepest symaptfiy with Mrs Massey and her family in their sad bereavenfent.”. , - The motion was passed, the members of the board' standing in silence.: