FARMERS’ UNION ACTIVITIES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION ACTIVITIES

SOUTH TARANAKI DISTRICT. PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE MEETS. Members present at the monthly meeting m Hawera to-day of the South Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union were Messrs H. Hodge, H. J. Finlay, M F. Voulfaire, T. J. Allan. J. Cocker, M. AV. Barker, AV. T. Seed, L. F. Bell, AV. I. Marsh, NV. P. Jenkins, A. E. AA’iUiams, C. R. Honeyfield, AA T . E. Taylor. AV. Parsons, L. Preeoe, S. J. Hollai-d, H. Hooper. AV. A. Sheat, G. Downey, E. J. Booth, D. Malone, K. Schmidt, A. D. Johnson, D. Muggeridge, AA’. E. Carter, J. A. Pettigrew and S. Buekrel-1. In the absence of. the provincial president (Mr E. J. Betts) on union business in AVellington, Mr Hodge (a. vice president) was voted to the chair. Apologies for absence were received from Mr Betts and M> P. Wards.

Mr Parsons addressed the meeting and announced that- a demonstration on pig {reading would be held at the Patea freezing works on May 10, when the speakers uxiuld be ’experts from Massey College, Palmerston North, and the Manawatu Pig Recording Club. A judging competition woold be held on live and dead-weight pigs. Mr Ooc-ker said that one of the greatest weaknesses in the industry was the lack of a proper system of grading. So many companies had a different grade that, it was impossible to secure uniformity in the quality of exports. Air Carter said that regulations had been introduced to govern exports >n this respect but the industry ivas being allowed a season or two in which to “clear out” undesirable stock. Th<e chairman reniarke'd that this demonstration would serve a very useful purppji in it's >illustration of wbat. was required on the London market. Mr Cocker said that a bacon enters’ conference was to be held shortly, when the principal business for discussion would be a remit designed to seeurei uniformity in grading. In reply to Mr Seed it was mentioned that the' demonstration would include baconers as -well as porkers. The executive resolved that it spon_ sor the demonstration. Mr Taylor drew attention to the frequent variation in the quality of pollard sold for pig feeding. Some of it, he said, was deficient in flour content-, and had the appearance of finely-ground bran.

No resolution was passed. Laxity in the method of distributing the union’s official journal, “Point Blank,” u;as alleged by several speakers, and it ivas decided to communicate with headquarters with a request that the mailing list be brought up to date.

The lack of sufficient staff at the Hawera office of the Department of Agriculture to cope with the- regular inspection of stock at sales, and the supervision of noxious weeds, was discussed, and it was resolved, that the department’s attention be drawn to the matter and a- request made for the appointment of an assistant. No action M'ns taken in the matter of arranging a Farmers’ Union distiict court at the South Taranaki winter shon\

It was decided to join with the Women’s Division at a solciat to be held at the Rewa tearooms in Hawera on Mav 8.

The matter of a week’s campaign in which to revive interest- in union activities and secure increased membershin was discussed and on the motion of Mr Booth it was resolved tbit a committee consisting of the president, and Messrs Finlay and Cameron be n anointed to arrange a suitable date for the commencement pf the campaign and also Speakers to give addresses.