FARMERS’ UNION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 50, Issue 3056, 31 March 1941, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION

MEETING AT NETHERTON

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED

OFFICERS FOR YEAR ELECTED i’he annual meeting of the Netherton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in the Netherton Hall on Thursday night the president, Mr W. H. Cheale, presiding over a fair attendance of members. The president in reviewing the work of the past year said that the branch had been fully alive to the needs of the district and had'attended to many important problems which had faced the community.

A sack and bag drive had been organised and had resulted in a large quantity being collected. When the question of increased supply of cheese for England had arisen the branch had in conjunction with, the dairy company organised a meeting of farmers which had been well attended. Another matter which the branch had moved in was the organisation of a committee with headquarters at Ngatea to guard the interests of farmers affected by the PaeroaPokeno railway line. When the question of petrol restriction arose a member of the branch had been appointed to the Oil Fuel Committee in Paeroa to watch the interests of •farmers. -

When the Income x Tax Department proposed to force farmers to write up their stock values 'from standards adopted years ago to current market values the branch had for-, warded a strong remit to the New Zealand Executive of the Farmers’ Union with the result that the matter was dropped. This had meant a saving of £lOO to the farmers of New Zealand,

Several other matters of importance had been taken up and throughout the year the branch had proved its usefulness. A canvass of the district had recently been made and 22 new members had signed up, bringing the* membership of the branch up to 68. . In conclusion he emphasised the need for co-operation in the future in view of the difficult days ahead.

The election of officers fpr the ensuing year resulted as under: — President, Mr W. H. Cheale; secretary and treasurer, Mr Chas. Townshend; auditor, Mr W. Hayes; delegates to sub-provincial conference, president and secretary, Messrs J. A. Reid and. W. Hayes; executive committee, president and secretary and Messrs R. J. Wilson, J. C. Epps and R. Locke.

Mr F. E. Carter, district organiser, was in attendance and addressed the meeting on union matters generally. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Auckland Provincial Executive for their efforts. over the year.