FARMERS' ONION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 24 May 1919, Page 5

FARMERS' ONION

♦ ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (From Our Special Reporters.) The Farmers' Uaion annual conference in i\e\v Plymouth, was continued yesterday. Prior to the annual conference, the executive met, when the following reports were approved:— EXECUTIVE'S REPORT. The executive's report mentioned that during the year there have been. twelve meetings of the executive, and! a very large number of subjects were dealt with, amongst which mention may be made of the following: Blackberry nuisance, operations of Meat Trust in New Zealand., legal charges on land , transfers, purchase of land, by allies, land agent's charges, meat purchases contraec, wool and meat commandeer, elective executive, universal subscriptions on a sliding scale according, to valuation, Farmers' Fertiliser Company, land for returned soldiers, embargo on export of hides, soldiers' repatriation, etc.. Your executive took steps to ensure "that the Industries Commission should hold sessions in Taranaki, and arranged speakers to present recommendations ?s to how production might be increased. A conference was also arranged between the executive and the directors of the Farmers' Co-op. Organisation Socity for the purpose of endeavoring to come to an arrangement by which the Union and the Co-op, could wqf-k* together in the sale of land and farmers' requirements, and as a re-salt proposals will be submitted at an ea^ly date to the branches which it is -hoped will prove of benefit to all concerned. The work of the secretary and organiser has been considerably interfered with : during the year, owinjr to attacks rSof illness to himself and the prevalence of the recent ep-'demie, but notwithstanding these disabilities there has been a satisfactory increase in the number of branches and membership in the district, and the finances of the Union are in a very healthy condition. The Union during the year has lost the valuable help to the producing community of the late Mr Okey, M.P., whose valuable assistance was at all times willingly placed at the disposal of the Union, and your executive desires to place upon record its high appreciation of his services and its deep sense of regret at his death. The epidemic, too, was the cause of a severe loss to the Hawera branch in the death of the secretary, Mr Eric Wills, whose parly demise has removed a very" valued worker from the Union, and to whose relatives the Union has extended their deep sympathy in their bereavement. SECRETARY'S REPORT. Mr G. H. Buckeridge, in his report, mentioned that, notwithstanding many i adverse factors interfering with organising work during the year, membership in the various branches in "the district had increased to nearly double last j year's figures,. He had recently started o»t again to visit the various centres, and so far five new branches have been • formed, bringing the total to 24. The Union was now taking a new lease of life, and it will soon be able to establish permanent headquarters, with a reference library attached. He looked forward to the time when there would be a sufficiency of branches in North Taranaki to warrant the establishment .of sub-provincial districts. He recommended', the advisability of-:some> more suitable form of certificate of member-j-ship more in keeping with its importance than the present inadequate small j receipt for -subscription. He also suggested that members be provided with i small books of receipts for membership i fees, and that each branch appoint ! canvassers on each road in their ~dis- ; trict, whose duty it will be to canvass . every farmer on the road. By this means the membership would be greatly ' increased. The present was an important and serious crisis in the history of the Dominion; it hald to equip it-self ■to carry the burden of the war, and it 1 was incumbent upon /every farmer to stand firmly behind the only organisaj tion that can provide the protection his interests demand. He, therefore, confidently expected every farmer to do his duty and help to build up the strength of the Union by securing his friends and neighbors as members. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr Collis. in rthe unavoidable absence of the Mayor, briefly welcomed members of the x conference to New Plymouth. ROLL CALL. The following delegates answered the roll call:—Executive: Messrs R. Dunn (president), A. E. Washer (vice-presi-dent), J. Swindlehurst (hon. treasurer) E. Maxwell, R. Lambie, F. Mills, T W Owen, H. Hodge, B.Dawes, D L. A Astbury. J. Cleaver. B. Ori\*H A | Sutherland. Branches: F. E. Silver j (Eltham), D. Perry (Mangatoki), M. F. i Voullaire (Riverlea), G. Looney T Sinclair (Opunake), T. Luxton (Wai- | tara), A. J. Luxton (Omata), Hodge, i Sutherland (Patea), G. H. Buckeridge ' j (Hawera), T. Davidson (Kaimata), J. Bentlev (Kaponga\ T. Julian, Cald- . well, H. A. Chapman (Warea). Lyndon (Otakeho). W. Ogle, H. C. Sampson (Bell Block).. ' president moved the adoption of the executive's report and balancesheet. Mr Hodge seconded. Mr Maxwell said it was gratifying to know from the report that 'the Union was progressing in Taranaki. This was very largely due to the energy of the organiser, Mr Buckeridge. It must also be gratifying to know that although the branch meetings were not always largely attended that the executive meetings had been exceedingly well attended, and that the meiiibers had given their best in the interests of the welfare of the Union.*'He asked delegates to go from this conference with a determination to do all they possibly could to advance the affairs of the' Union, to increase its membership, and aim at the combination of the whole of the producers of this province. Mr Owen also congratulated the president upon his excellent reoort, which disclosed a healthy state of affairs. There was no doubt that the Union was doing its best to promote the welfare of the farmers, who as primary producers were deserving of every encouragement. There were other unions in the Dominion whose object was mainly to further their own particular interests, but the Farmers' Union were out to benefit the whole of the community, and not to imuose any undue conditions upon the rest of the community. He Hoped it would £o forth from this conference that the Union was working; on high principles, dome; its best for the community as a mi' farmers in particular. The report was adopted. STANDARDISED BOOKS. Kaponga Branch—That the executive issue a standardised boo.*- to branch secretaries for keeping minutes, accounts, e tc., the branches to buy the copies. Mr Bentley, in moving this remit said when thus question wag first discussed by his branch he thought it was

[\ ttt£h&r trivial, but going mor© into it r 'he believed the idea to Oe an excellent I one. It was perhaps isimple enough to. keep their books, but the trouble arose: 4 with the change in the secretaryship, j i: , which frequently occurred. A standard-] &. ised book would considerably sim-^ r the book-keeping. I . £.» Mr Cleaver seconded. .. L v -Mr Buckeridge said it would probably' * be-a difficult matter to get out a stand- ; 'ardised book. An exercise book was j k about as gocd a book as any ioi-j ' branches. The president said the executive p would go into the matter. The remit was passed. I RETURNED SOLDIER MEMBERS. f t Kaponga —That all returned sol-1 : diers on the land be allows! to be- i • come honorary members of the Union j r for two years, free. Mr Bentley, who also mov^d the fore- j going remit, said it would be a grace-; ful act to the returned Sfeldiers on the! land to admit them as ■members of the! Union free. There were soldier settle- j "\ ments in the district and the Union j did Hot want to neglect these boys, whoi perhaps might *iot foesxime members if j they had to p*,y a subscription. So the j Union should make it easy for returned! soldier f armeTß to become members. The j Union wanted all $he members possibly Cit was hard even to retain th© pa~e-| Qt membership in ifoe branches. There J appeared to be several "dry bones" I amongst tie farming community, and. ? no doubt it would be a good.tiling to get! new energy in the Union. I Me Maxwell suggested to the mover thaff;he amenS the remit to read "That it be a remit to th© Dominion Conference, 5' taking in thej original remit. i He thought the principle of admitting ' -/ soldiers to the Union free should l>e k general, and it would be as well to send F.-f the,-remit to the Dominion Conference \ -^for consideration. I '" Mr Mills suggested a further amendl- icent that th 9 word "honorary" be de- \ r leted. It had to be remembered that ; " honorary members had not the full . privileges of ordunaiy members, and he was sure the Kaponga branch did not intend that the soldiers should not enjoy the full privileges of membership. Mr Bentley said the branch desired , that the soldiers should have the full privileges of membership with a free ; „ • subscription. Mr Owen considered it would certam- '■: ly be a graceful act to admit soldier r farmers to the Union free, but he would L like to see them admitted, not only for ■ two years, but for life-. The returnefi) ■ men deserved the best after the many ■ hardshipg suffered by them, and he boo-W-i ed that the remit, which was an excel- | lent idea, would be carries into effect l The remit, with'the amendments em-] m, bodied, was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS President, Mr R. Dunn (re-ejected)';' vice-president, Mr A. E. Washer (re-, elected); tiseasurer, Mr J. Swindle-hurst;: ¥ executive, Messrs J. S. Barrow (on.ac-l r. .tive service) S. Vickers (Omata), D. L.I r A. Astbury (Mangatoki), H. C. Sampson! v. and J. S. Connett (Bell Block), E. Betts! (Manaia), G. H. Buckeridge (Hawera), R. Lambie (Opunake) F. Mills (Hafc wera), E. Maxwell (Rahotu), H Hodge Ws and H. A. Sutherland (Patea), T. W. Owen and F. E. Silver (Eltham), J Cleaver (Te Roti), M. Voullaire (Riverju lea), T. Davidson (Kaimata)j A. L. B i Pierce (Hawera), T. Julian (Warea), and B. On- (Ngaere.) '