N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 18 June 1915, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI EXECUTIVE MEETING;

The following is the continuation of a report, of which the first part was published yesterday. The subject under discussion was provision for wounded soldiera.

Lhe opinion was expressed that where there were no committees formed, the branches of the Farmers' Union should be invited 'to take the matter up.

' Mr Swmdlehurst moved, that in districts where there are no committees for collecting funds for the relief of wounded soldiers and their dependents, branc-nes be asked to form committees for the purpose. Mr Barrow seconded the motion, which w~as carried. It was mentioned that the executive was the first to start a fund for the relief of the wounded aad soldiers' dependents. The Question of the distribution of the fund was discussed. • The Vice-President said there appeared to be a difference of opinion" with regard to the administration of the fund. Some favored the fund being [ controlled by a national committee, and others, again, considered that each district should administer its own fund. Mr Maxwell said that while there might be strong arguments in favor of a National Committee, personally he thought there were stronger arguments in favor of the funds being controlled by the local committees. In discussing the question of funds previously, he had stated that there were certain matters which should lie attended to by the Government —for instance, the ' equip- ' ment of forces, the payment of- pensions to the widows and dependents of those killed, but with regard to relief j funds, h e thought a great deal of as-1 sisitance could be given by private sub-) scriptions and local committees to! manage the funds. A big central com-j mittee could not know the immediate; cases of distress which must arise, j What might be an ample sum for a ■ widow in the country, might be starva-1 tion for one in the city. Each district:' should have some benevolent funds: handy to deal with cases of urgent dis- j tress which might crop up. He was! sure a great deal of Jiarm would bei done if all the funds were centralised. There had been, he understood, a conference in Wellington to discuss the' question of the control and administration of the relief funds, but, as far asj he could see, no definite course of action had been agreed to. Mr Swindlehurst favored the funds being administered by local district committtees. It was pointed out th-"it there was a probability of a Taranaki conference be-' ing held to consider the administration of the fund, and the vice-president gave notice of motion, "That in the event of |. a Taranaki fund being formed, the monies now in the hands of the Executive, be put into the fund." It was then decided that further consideration of the question should bei deferred for one month. I

It was decided, on the proposition of the vice-president, and Mr Orr, that the Executive extend to the members of the Union who havg lost relatives through the war, their sincsrest sympathy. Special references were made to the loss sustained by Mr Looney, of Opunake in the death of his.son, who £ad been killed at the Dardanelles.

Mr 0. Young attended the meeting in the afternoon, and leave was granted to all absent members.