FARMERS' UNION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 12 July 1923, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

« TARANAKI EXECUTIVE. The ordinary meeting was held to-day in the secretary's office. There were present: Messrs. F. Mills (president) in .the chair, R. Dunn, J. Cleaver, H. E. Batten, A. R. B. Pierce J. D. Bashford, A. J. Haseltine, P. W.' Tong, W. T. Seed, and G. H. Buckeridge (secretary). An aoology was received from Mr. F. S. Tan-ant (Kakaramea). It was resolved that the day of meeting be the first Thursday in the month, the previous decision to hold it on the second Thursday being rescinded. A letter was "received from Mr. F. ! L. Boys, Uruti, stating that as a result of the canvass made by Mr. Buxton ai branch will be formed at Uruti, a satisfactory number of members having joined up. j The secretary of the Urenui branch, Mr. P. R. Spurr, wrote l stating that they had held their first meeting and I had elected officers. Mr. P. R. Spurr had been appointed secretary. Mr. Dunn said that all , the ne\r branches should be urged to endeavour to get matters discussed of local interest. This was necessary to. maintain interest in the work. I The Ommake branch also forwarded information on their work. ! Mr. Dunn said that there was a good opportunity at Opunake and also at Urenui to hold a satisfactory show, which was a very useful adjunct and great assistance to every branch. i The question of representation at the conference of executive secretaries to be held at Wellington on July 31 was considered, and it was resolved that Mr. Buckeridge make arrangements to go if he was able to do so. Mr. Okey, New Plymouth, wrote asking for the prize money due by the northern Boys' and Girls' Clubs.—The chairman said that this was arranged, and would be fixed up at once. He considered that it was time the northern end looked after this matter on their own behalf. , Advice was received from the Dominion Secretary giving information on the following subjects: National debt, dehorning of commercial cattle, inflammation of the udder, and basic slag.— The chairman explained that the Dominion Secretary" got all the information he can, and sent this to branches. The chairman said it could not but do good, for it would be of interest_^nd jvalue to members, and probably would open up discussion. The chairman reported on the results of the canvass in the north, where he went in conjunction with Mr. T. L. Buxton, the official organiser. It was a fairly busy and difficult time. He had epent more time than intended, because^Mr. Buxton had had difficulty in getting about for his organisation work. The trouble was principally from the indifference of the farmers. There ' was great difficulty also in getting anyone to put a car at the disposal of the organiser and to introduce him to the farmers. He was thus likely to be treated as a book fiend or some such canvasser. This was the reason he himself had been obliged to give much more time than he intended to the work, and found it essential to take him in his r own car. Whatever they did or how they tried their plans seemed to go agley. But they came across some exceptions to the*rule, and he would like to specially mention the assistance of i Mr. W. Hoskin (Bell Block) and Mr. Maben (Urenui).' They had helped in every way possible, "and their assistance was much appreciated. The. success met with did not seem so great as they could have wished and as was expected. When they left a branch the plans seemed to fall to the ground. In a few cases they got a, friend. In addition to this trouble they were met j with the fact that North Taranaki was I solidly up against the Dairy Control Bill, and this was put up against them. However, they could not see why it . should make any difference in their attitude to the union nor why they j should not join. They had succeeded ) in enrolling nearly 300 members and 1 in forming new branches or reviving j old ones. One reason he believed why { the north was not doing so well was j that they were so far away and that they had ijo interests in common. He j suggested that the north should call a . meeting of branches and decide either 1' to form a sub-executive or an executive of their own. He would be pleased to see either course taken, and would do all in his power to help . them. ■ I It was decided to write to Mr. I' Viekers and ask him to call the meeting at some convenient time and place and come to a decision.