MATAPU.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 July 1927, Page 4

MATAPU.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FARMERS’ UNION RALLY. A rally meeting held under the aus-. pices of the NeiV Zealand Farmers’ Union took place at Matapu last night, when interesting addresses were given. In opening the meeting, at winch there was present a- very good gathering of farmers, including quite a number of ladies, Mr. F. Hoskin, chairman of the local branch, introduced Mr. E. Iv, Cameron, provincial secretary, and Mr. H. L. Spratt, and extended to these gentlemen . a ' very hearty welcome. Mr. Hoskin stated how grateful the members of the branch were for Mr. Spratt to come along and give an address on securities and their payments, the matter of which concerned almost every person.

Mr. Cameron, who was the first speaker, dealt with the work of the union. He referred briefly to the matters to be discussed at the Dominion Conference on the 26th inst. Among other things there were no less than 225 remits to be brought forward. lie went on to say how the newspapers were giving a great deal of consideration to the unions in their reports and how the townspeople were awaking to tlieir interests in assisting the farmers at. every possible opportunity. He appreciated the help and assistance given to the Girls’ and Boys’ Clubs, in which he thought the Matapu people were doing a great deal. He noticed that the second reading of the Daylight Saving Bill had been passed, and humorously remarked that farmers ' would have to rise at 3 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. He urged the necessity of interchange of branch visitations, and lie wished to impress on all farmers the need to inlnduce everyone to become members of their several branches so as to strengthen tlieir hand, always remembering that unity was strength. Mr. Cameron then called upon Mr. Spratt to give his address, which as advertised was on “Securities and tlieir repayment.” t Mr. Spratt kept those present intensely interested throughout his one and a half hours’ talk. Among other mysterious figures he quoted to show what Britain’s war debt meant was that £IOO,OOO per day had to come out of her coffers to pay the United States ; that this daily' payment would have to go on for 62 years. Mr. Spratt said the address was one step further than liis previous remarks at Tokaora and Auroa. He said that finance was the most important economic question before the people of today in New Zealand, as it was also in the Empire. He sketched the development of the idea- of property and its security among the nations of the old and the modem world. He quoted striking figures, showing the enormous amount of national and private debts in the Dominion, with its attendant interest bill, and showed how the power was in the hands of the people who had the money. He then dealt with the nature and different types of securities, marking the difference between investments and speculations. He then detailed a large number of kinds of securities — land and stock mortgages, debentures, bonds, liens, bank deposits, Government and local body loans, and stressed the need of considering, when valuing a security (1) safety of the principal, (2) nature and amount of income, and (3) its marketability. Then he went on to deal with amortisation of loans. its methods, terms, and various methods of repaymetn and various conditions and circumstances surrounding them, giving very valuable suggestions to farmers in dealing with their properties. He specially dealt with questions of production from farm lands and many 6ther features that had special application to farmers and farm lands. The address was full of very interesting and valuable information, and should serve to make all who were present think and consider on the present state of the country and the people. Mr. Hoskin thanked Mr. Spratt and Mr. Cameron for their very interesting and educative addresses, a motion which was received with applause. Supper was served by the ladies, and full justice was clone. Mr. W. E. Carter proposed a vote of thanks, which was heartily accorded with acclamation, and a very pleasant meeting concluded.