FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 May 1928, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

THE MANGATOKI BRANCH

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual.meeting of tfie Mangatoki branch of the New Zealand Farmers’. Union was held in the Mangatoki hall last night. There was a fair attendance.

The secretary (Mr._J. P. Marx) apologised for the absence of the branch president, Mr. W. E. Carter, who, like several other members of the branch who- intended being tiresent, wa® laid aside with influpenza. Mr. B. H. Parker was appointed chairman of the meeting. " y. The annual report, which appeared in yesterday’s issue of “The Hawera Star,” was read and adopted without discussion. ' - THE BALANCE SHEIET.

The balance-sheet showed a loss of £3 4s sd, as, commencing -the year with a credit balance of £l4 1.4® 4d brought forward, it had closed with a credrit of £ll 9s lid. Receipts for the period totalled £33 16s 6d, of which proceeds of euchre parties £l2 15s and social and dance (£9 11s) contributed the .major share. Expenditure amounted to £37 11s. It was pointed out that owing to wet mights and the prevalence of influenza during the period when euchre parties were held, the expenditure in connection therewith (£8 12s lOd) appeared heavy in comparison with receipts. The secretary also-stated that there had been a falling off in membership, which had dropped from 20 to 12 during hi® twelve months’, term of office. Expenditure had been unduly increased in consequence of the death of the- branch vice-president, and all arrangements for the annual ball had to' be cancelled at practically the eleventh hour. This entailed considerable pecuniary loss. The balance-sheer was adopted. ELEOTTON OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr. W. If. Carter (re-elected); vicepresidents, Messrs B. H. Paker, O. H. Nicholas,' and Schmid; secretary, Mr. J. P. Marx (re-elected); executive, O. Marx, K. Schmid and J. W. Cleaver; Messrs B. H. Parker, C. H. Nicholas, social committee, Messrs.W- E. Carter, B. H. Parker, O. H. Nicholas, K. Schmid, and V. Marx, with power to add; auditor, Mr. R. D. Douglass (reelected). , - In urging upon Mr. Marx the acceptance of the office of secretary for a second term, the chairman passed a high compliment upon bis fitness for the c position and the manner in which he had carried out his duties. The speaker requested members present to render every possible assistance to the secretary, particularly in the direction of increasing membership. Mr. Marx said the branch was unfortunate in losing a number of very active members, but ■ there was every hope of securing an increase of. membership among the young farmers of the neighbourhood with persistent and judicious canvassing.. He wished it understood that the greater proportion of loss was due to members leaving the district. ROOT CROP COMPETITIONS. It was resolved. that the scale of nomination fees for the annual mangel, carrot, and swede crops competitions would be the same as those ruling last year (os for the first nomination in each competition, and Is for each additional nomination in that competition), and that entries would be received until the day before the crops were judged in June. A number of those present made entries in mangels, carrots and swedes, and, judging by the enthusiasm displayed and the remarks passed, there was reason to assume that the total entry would be a record for the branch and that competition would be very keen.

Messrs Parker and J. P. Marx, as delegates to the Farmers’ Union conference held at Hawera during the day, reported favourably : on the business transacted, briefly explaining thet manner in which the various remits presented had been dealt with. The delegates were accorded a. vote of thanks. • • : '- - The secretary made an earnest appeal to those present to each secure the election of at least one member during the routing year. There was, he said, no reason why the Farmers’ Union should not be the strongest organisa- - tion in the Dominion, and cited the effects of combination in almost every other trade, occupation or profession in the country. In • those organisations membership was compulsory—a provision which should not be necessary so far as the farming community was concerned. The benefits of unionism in. other walks of life were so apparent that farmers generally should not need compulsion or even more than ordinary solicitation to join up with their union, which had for years striven to improve farming conditions. Much could be done in advancing community interests by doubling the membership of the branches, which end would naturally accrue if every member brought about the election of another member; . Votes of thanks were accorded the outgoing officials, the chairman and the perss. - v: u ; ‘