FARMERS' UNION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 8 May 1911, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

b ANNUAL MEETING OF HAWERA BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Hawera branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday arternoon, when there were present—Messrs Alex' Hunter (president), D. J. Willis, J. W. Batten, H. E. Batten, F. Livingston, Jas. Grant, J. Davidson, and J, Hicks. The annual report stated that during the year several papers were read by members, and proved to be very interesting and instructive. Mr Taylor submitted a paper on bee-keeping and Mr Johnston a paper on dairying. The work of establishing a depot at Patea for the classing of wool was put through under the guidance of this branch, Mr McGregor, wool instructor, attending the meetings to explain the scheme. It is a matter of regret that the farmers of the district do not support and take more interest in the work of the Union. That the Union is doing good work throughout the Dominion no one can deny, and it is often appealed to for advice on questions that interest the farming community; and now that we have reached this stage it behoves us to stand together and strengthen our Union so that if any important questions should arise affecting our interests we will then be prepared to meet them and adjudicate as we think necessary. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to be £33 3s 9d, including a balance of £4 13s 9d carried forward from last year, and the expenditure was £27 19s, leaving a credit balance of £5 4s 9d. There were no liabilities, and the assets amounted to £9. The latter consisted of outstanding subscriptions of members. The President moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which j was carried. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year:—President, Mr D. J. Willis; vice-president, Mr Jas. Grant; executive committee, Messrs H. E. Batten, F. Livingston, John Hicks, Jas. Davidson, G. Taylor, J. R. Corrigan, A. Hunter and J. Blair; delegate to the annual conference, Mr Hunter; auditor, Mr R. F . Page; secretary and treasurer, Mr Treweek. The following communication was read from the provincial secretary of the Farmers' Union: "Sir, —I am directed by my executive to forward you the following resolution for the consideration of your branch, viz., 'That branches be asked to consider the advisability of raising the annual subscription to £1, as this executive realises that to carry out the work of the union properly it will be necessary for both the Dominion and Provincial Executives to considerably increase their levies." The President pointed out the levies now were: Provincial Executive 4s, Dominion Executive 2s 6d. There were 60 members of the Hawera branch, of whom only forty had paid their subscription. The present subscription was 10s per year. Mr Willis moved and Mr Blair seconded _ that the annual subscription be £1. This was carried. Messrs Grant and Livingston opposed the increase, pointing put that it would probably have a detrimental effect on the membership. Mr Blair suggested that some scheme njiight be arranged so that the subscription, or annual contribution of members, would be based on the value of the members landed property. At the present time a man whose land was valued at £5000 only paid the same amount as a man who only had land to the value of £500. Mr Davidson pointed out that this question had been raised on several occasions at the conferences, but no satisfactory solution had yet been arrived at. j The order paper of the Taranaki Provincial Conference was laid before the meeting by the president, and it was agreed to endorse the^ several motions i which had been forwarded for discussion by the various branches. The conference I I°. to meet at Ingle wood on May 18 and 1 19.