FARMERS’ UNION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2670, 15 September 1937, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION

WAITAKARURU BRANCH RATES OF TRANSPORT PIGS FOR BACONER MARKET. The Waitakaruru branch of the farmers’ union met in the Waitakaruru Hall on Monday afternoon. Mr J. S. McClune presided over a fair attendance.

A circular was received from the Auckland executive inviting discussion on the subject of the transport of live-stock. Regarding the conference held by the union in Auckland recently with representatives of the dairy companies and county councils, the executive secretary notified that a strong protest had been made against the arbitrary fixation of transport rates. It was the opinion of the meeting that any such fixation of prices cutting out competition would be detrimental to the interests of the farmers. The committee formed in Auckland to consider this and other matters was composed of Messrs Garland and Waters for the county councils, Hawke and Appleton for the dairy companies, and Mellsop and Robinson for the farmers’ union.

Appeal For Members.

The secretary of the Northern Thames sub-province sent out a strong appeal to all union secretaries for a more intense canvassing system. The letter cited Matatoki as an example of 100 per cent, of the farmers of the union.

Mr McClune reported on the recent meeting at Paeroa thoroughly, giving the members all the information they desired. Regarding the proposed levy on all pigs sold not of the baconer class, Mr C. Adams said that the subsidy would benefit only the breeders of pigs specially for the baconer market. The dairy-fed animal, said Mr Adams, could not compete in quality with the pig fed on grain and hotel refuse. The farmers would only then be able to raise porkers. Mr Norton moved that the meeting should pass a resolution strongly opposing the levy. A committee comprising Messrs McClune, C, W, Parfitt and G, A. Findlay was set up to get in touch with the carriers association with a view to furthering the interests of the farmers in transport matters. Several members quoted instances of insufficient service.

Meeting Days.

It was resolved on Mr Findlay’s motion that meetings should in future be held every second month.

Mr J. Huddleston drew attention to the proposed bill for assuming that in cases of motor accident the motorist is taken to be guilty of negligence until he can prove his innocence. It was decided that the secretary should write to the Automobile Association (Auckland) to find out what was being done in the matter, and to urge that any such bill should be strongly opposed.