N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 May 1926, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

SOUTH TARANAKI EXECUTIVE

ORDINARY MEETING

Members of the South Taranaki Executive of the New Zealand Fax iners’ Union present at the ordinary meeting held to-day were: Messrs EJ. Betts (chairman), W. E. Lyndon, [1 F. Wood, 11. Hodge, ,T. C. Duff, W T Seed, W. E. Carter A. Cameron, I, Babington, A. J. Hascltme, HDavison, J. Dakers and the secretary (Mr E. K. Cameron). A G BICULTUE A L INSTRUCTOR S. Advice was received from the head office of the union that if any branch required the services of any of the instructional staff of the Agricultural Department they could communicate direct to the director of the division, to whom- the instructor is attached, and that in case, of securing any such men an itinerary should be arranged; The district instructors on the . list were Messrs J. W. Deem, D. Sidey P HouMi, H. E. Frost (Wanganui), A. J. Glasson.’ W. Grant (Hawera), Cj Stevenson (New Plymouth), E. C. Wood (Patea), R. B. Wood (Waitara). WRONGFUL RETAILING.

A communique from the Meat Producers’ Board dealing with a report from the London manager referred to a- case he was investigating where meat was wrongfully retailed as New Zealand. In this case a store advertised Canterbury lamb—legs lOd, shoulders 9d, loins 8d —below wholesale cost. An officer was sent, and secured bv purchase Argentine lamb, branded with indelible "ink, as Canterbury lamb. The legal advisers of the Government, after taking the opinion of eminent counsel, stated that it would be useless going on with the case, because it was inecessary under, the Act to have an invoice or description in writing. It was arranged to ask Sir •Tames Allen to write to the president of the Board of Trade, urging that an amendment of the Act should he obtained, and it was hoped that, as foreshadowed in the King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament, a new Bill would be brought in by the Government throwing on retailers the onus of marking their goods clearly with the name of country of origin. Since that time a case has been reported where a housewife prosecuted a butcher for supplying Argentine chilled beef for English home-killed. Under the Pure Foods and- Drugs Act it was not. necessary to ask for a- certificate, but merelv to make a- sale andi take delivery. ‘ This case should make the question of further action much easier. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The chairman reported on the conference held in Eltham, at which Messrs Carter and D. Cameron and he were delegates, that it was one of the best he had ever attended, and had gone very thoroughly into the matter of noxious weeds. Air D. Cameron had been appointed one of a sub-com-mittee to go into the question of .a report, and he said he had a copy of the report, which went very minutely into the question, and was to be submitted to local bodies befor© being made public. MEMBERS’ SUBSCRIPTIONS.

The matter of collection of members’ subscriptions was discussed, and it was agreed that the question presented many difficulties. Air Carter said it was disheartening to any secretary, and they needed some other system. Air Dakers stressed the need of an organiser to get in subscriptions. lie referred to some of the obstacles met in Alanaia district and the number of farmers not members who should belong to the union. He said that a few members were doing all the work and the majority doing nothing. Air Davison said lie would not like to see the system of paying through factories eliminated.

Mr Carter said that all branches had the same experience—a few willing ones doing all the work. He wondered why tanners did not all unite, and hoped that perhaps the success of the cull cow drive would help to work up interest generally. V Mr Cameron said each branch should try to do the organising and arrange for someone to call on farmers.

The matter, however, it. was understood; would he brought up by remit at- the conference.