FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 May 1927, Page 10

FARMERS’ UNION.

MANGATOKI BRANCH. There was rather a sparse attendance at the annual meeting of the Mangatoki branch of the Farmers’ Union, held last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Carter, president of the branch. The report and balance-sheet (already published), which showed an advance in the financial position of the branch of £8 on the previous year’s working, was adopted, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. T. J. Hall. Commenting generally on the operations of the Farmers’ Union, the chairman considered there was a great future ahead o.f the organisation if handled properly. Every other branch of industry in the Dominion wa,s, well catered for and nursed in the matter of unionism, and there Avas no reason why the farmers should not fall into Line. Since lie had first accepted the presidency of the' branch he had recognised the possibilities of the union and •had been satisfied AA'ith the position. He thanked members for his re-election and said he Avould continue to do his best for hi® branch. He emphasised the very undesirable- position of the fanner of to-day. With the ruling prices of farm produce there Anas really little Avouder that the young men. growing up in rural lareas turned their attention to other avenues of earning a livelihood. Among dairy farmers the Control Board wa® the burning topic of the day, and he 1 considered that the hurried operations of the board AA’ere mainly responsible for the diversity of opinion on the question of its effectiveness. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year AA-ere elected as follows: President, Mr. W. Carter (re-elected) : vice-president, Mr. T. J. Hall; secretary, Mr. J. P. Marx (re-elected); auditor, Mr. R. D. Douglas (re-elected); executive, Messrs E. H. Ousy, T. J. Hail, T. Preece, A. J. Prestidge, and E. J. Sulzberger; delegates to- provincial! conference, Messrs W. Garter, J. P. Marx, and C. E. MeGuinness; social committee, Messrs G. L. Nicholas, J. Carter, V. Marx, and T. Preece. The chairman and secretary AA-ere authorised to sign cheques. REMIT TO' CONFERENCE. Mr. iVlcGuinnesis Drought forward the remit which had been throAvn out twelve months ago by the Dominion coiueieiice. The question of lialf-cham roads might be considered in 'another iorm. lie referred to the figures quoted at their meetings of returns of nutter-lac per acre off different farm areas, ranging from 2211 b per acre lor laimis up to 50 acres do-Avn to lffolb per acre for farms or 150 acres upwards. This meant a difference of B*ib m favour of the small areas in this district, and tiffs Avould no doubt apply ah over NeAV Zeaiond. A great number of lads had been brought here rrom overseas x to learn farming, and the day wias not far distant Aviien New Zealand farm lands would have to be worked in much smaller areas, and prolusion should be made for indmduai. or joint oAvnems of land to do so with the minimum loss of land .and length or loading in the process, and every encouragement should be given by the Gomnment to- allow this to he done. He suggested that the provincial executive should consider whether the i emit should be altered' to ensure discussion at the Dominion conference. He pointed out that anything done in subdivision in the future would probably be for all time, and every chain of road less and every acre of land saved would be a benefit to the whole of the Dominion. He then moved the folloiving .remit, which was adopted for forwarding to the comerence: (1) That ivhere individual landholders desire to subdivide into smaller areas, a Government public Avorks engineer' should be asked to inspect, free of cost to those concerned, and report to the Local Bodies’ Loans Board Avhether the area, is suitable for subdivisum and Avhethe.r half-chain roads would provide suitable access to the same; (2) that AA'hen reports on any area inspected -are satisfactory and monies are required to provide -land, fencing, forming, and metalling of access . roads to same, the Government makes every endeavour to provide same under the Loans -to- Local Bodies Act on the- very best, terms possible. GENERAL. It was decided to extend the closing date of entries lor the root crop competition to the 20th in.st. The secretary urged members to make an effort to- further increase the toll of membership, pointing out that the branch gains 7s Gd capitation Avith every new member elected. it was resolved to .renew weekly euchre parties during the Avinter, the •date of the opening function to be dee.'ded by the social committee. An endeavour is to lie made to induce the two. candidates for the Taranaki ward of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board (Messrs H. D. Forsyth -and J. Hine) to address the farmers of the district on the same eA'euing. Mr. T. J. Ha.ll mentioned that the LoAvgarth Dairy Company had also decided to ask the two candidates to .speak at Lowgarth on the same afternoon, land it Avas decided to request them, to speak .at Manga toki on the evening of the same day.