N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 355, 15 February 1917, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

HASTINGS BRANCH. The Hastings branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was heli yesterday afternoon. Mr. H. M. Campbell (president) presided. DELEGATES. Messrs J. A. Macfarlane and G. Priest were appointed delegates to attend the conference in connection with agricultural experiments on Fridav. SUPERVISION OF SOLDIERS’ FARMS. Mr. G. Ebbett moved, “That the Hastings branch of the Farmers’ Union take into consideration the question of the oversight and supervision of the farms of those called up for military service.’’ He said it was becoming the opinion throughout the country that something of the kind he was proposing would have to be done when the second division was called up. Four-fifths of the bungles of the war were due to the fact that in every case of difficulty they had become actually faced with it before taking action to meet it. He suggested the appointment of a committee, and thought there might possibly he a board of about three to refer to in case of difficulty. The union was supposed to be in toueu with the farmers, and any fa: who was called up for military service could feel assured that in his absence his interests would he wen looked after. The motion was carried unanimously, and Messrs. Van Asch. u. Priest. J. A. Macfarlane, Goulter. r>. Chambers, H. DI. Campbell and -t. Ebbett were appointed a commit e with power to give effect to the proposal and to add to their nut I if they thought fit.

GENERAL. The following were elected members of the union:—Messrs. H. 1,. Shield, G. Field. W. Barber, AV. n. Maxwell, AX’ McKenzie. A.,A. Smail. W. J. Stratton, O. Nelson, N. McKinnon (Wairoa). J. 11. Jefferd ami W. Brideman. The Dominion .Secretary wrote stat ng tit l n o of the iJominion larmers Institute to be erected in A ellmston wn n frontages to I eatuerston. Ballance, and Masrmnitv streets would be laid next month. Tne institute was lirnntt erected bv a coinnanv with a nominal capital or *,.->ll.OOO. or whicn £3o,u 1 I e I ! ami the contract price was Uiu.uuu. The question or tne hum puce ~1 thresn " -i ( t He h man said ne sympathised witn tne men n eek n se j r Id such increase was not outraceous. Mr. Goulter said tnere was a teelimr in Hawke s Bav mat the rates were higle 1 e tha (an e T chairman said the work was more spasmodic here than in Canterbury, and the roads were worse. The opinion of the meeting was that th • rates were not exorbitant.

Mr. AV. A. Macfariane complained of the present method of taxing farmers as being) inequitable, and spoke in favour of an export tax. ,’t was decided to defer consideration of the matter till next meeting, when Mr. Macfarlane will bring forward a motion on the subject. Consideration of a proposal from the Clive branch to review the auctioneers’ commission on the sale cl stock was also deferred till no .t meeting. It appeared that owing io the greatly increased values of stock the auctioneers were charging proportionately increased commission "although the rates had not been raised. Sir. Priest did not think the farmers should complain, seemg that the auctioneers did not cm iplain when stock values were lou. The meeting then terminated.