N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 March 1928, Page 10

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

THE WOMEN’S BRANCH. . INTERESTING WORK. That the work of the women of South Taranaki was progressing fast was shown by the continued increase ifi membership, the expanding scone of work, and the generallv added interest taken by members. This was /»»,■.-r0.0~i.-~by the good attend'”*-- '•'* members present at t i: monthly meeting held yesterday at the i.iwera County Council Chambers, when Mrs W.* E. Carter (president) was in the chair, and there were present Mcs. dames Smitheram, .Cocker, iSoed, Thrush Cameron, Barker, Oldfield, and Misses O’Sullivan and Carter (scertary). Mrs Gillies, wife of the organiser, was also present. It was resolved that the remit passed at the last meeting re dental clinic be carried to the conference. A letter Was received from the McCarthy Trust approving the application for a subsidy towards the Bush Housekeeper and Nurse scheme for the Wellington province. Ln regard to the Summer Time Act an emphatic protest was agreed upon and a motion carried asking that the measure be repealed, as it was not in the best interests of the women and children on the land. A motion was carried unanimously that in cases where a vice-president had been appointed to take the place of a president at the Dominion Executive Conference, that she slrould be allowed to have the power to vote for her branch on matters arising at such a conference. Tt wa s agreed that no woman should I be appointed as bush housekeeper under the age of 35 years and no young girl be allowed to go to wayback in conn trv districts as nurse. 'it was reported by Mrs Barker that there were now enough memoers in her district to justify the formation of a branch. In regard to a suggested shop day in Tlawera, the feeling was that there were enough drains on the funds of the people of the town, and that therefore no such day should be held. Instead thereof a proposal was carried to hold a cake and vegetable day, in the belief that the townspeople would approve of such a day. Some members said they would rather give a straightout donation instead of the shop (lav. The secretary reported that there vvere sixtv-one members to date, a number which was considered very satisfactory.

NEW ORIfJANTSETb FOR TARANAKI

GOOD' WORK BEING DONE. At the executive meeting of the Farmers’ Union yesterday a cordial welcome was given to Mr. Gillies, the newly-appointed organiser. The secretary said Mr. Gillies had tackled the work very effectively and his only complaint was Uiat there was not enough. He felt sure they would hold all members secured by him. ' Mr. Gillies, in his first report, said he had met nothing but kindness all round, and this he appreciated very much. In the South lie was not satisfied unless he got SO per cent, of the farmers, but here so far, he had only got 58 per cent. He had visited 1-K) farmers, found 21 away and enrolled 60. He said that it was necessary with many i'armens to show absolutely direct benefits and ifi the South the union was out all the time to secure concessions in supplies used by farmers. He instanced a savings in horse and cow covers of 2s 6d, and added that insurance down there was 5s against 6s 8d in Taranaki. They were 35 per cent, below the outside companies. Co-oppra-tive marketing in the buying and selling ends were stressed by him as •essential, and he was amazed at the priees paid by Taranaki fanners as compared with the South island. Down there they went in to every question as it arose. They got good savings on twine, posts, wool bales. He referred to the big price paid here for bran and pollard, the former being inly £6 10s at Timaru and costing 17s 9d a sack in Taranaki, while pollard could be bought -at £8 down South. Fowl wheat and flour, he added, were on a similar basis. They had been fighting for years tQ' get reductions and if they got them, that would be true unionism. It was resolved to set up a committee consisting of the president, Messrs. Garter, D. M. Cameron and 11. E. Johnson, with the secretary to go thoroughly into the matter and see what could be done in the matter of securing concessions.