FARMERS' UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13108, 23 April 1903, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

NORTH CANTERBURY DISTRICT. The executive of the Farmers' Union for the*:North Canterbury .district'met yesterday morning, at the rooms of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.. Mr H. F. Reece was in the chair, and there were twelve members present. In reply to a question, the Secretary stated that nothing had been done in connection with the suggestion from the, Ashburton Branch that the Government should be asked to make arrangements for weighing produce carried on the railway. The committee appointed to deal with this matter, and with the suggestion to reduce the rates on frozL-n meat, would probably meet the Minister of Railways at no distant date. Mr J. Lanrbie was appointed a member of the committee. It was'decided-to write to'the President, of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association asking that the Union should be allowed to'be represented at the conference, to be held on Saturday for the discussion of railway matters. Messrs. W. F. ; Paunett, J. O'Hallorah, R. Rainey and D. ; M'Millan were appointed to represent the Unioii in the event of the request being granted. '. j A letter- was received from, the General ! Organising Secretary, who stated that he ' was "stirring up" the branches in.Tar-i----naki, and that 'attempts were'being-'made to ' establish a branch in New Plymouth. The number of memb-ers of the Union was now about 20,000. ' ' The draft annual report prepared by the Secretary was considered, and Mr G. W. Leadley and the Secretary were appointed a sub-committee to make the report fit for publication. j A letter was read from the' Employers' Association, objecting to the, proposed compulsory preference clause to Unionist!', and suggesting that the Union should draw up a list of objections to the proposal. After- much discussion, a committee, consisting of'the president, the secretary, and [Messrs Lambie and Studholme, was appointed to draw up-reasons, for submission

to the annual meeting, why the Union, objected to the compulsory preference. Mr O'Halloran said that he considered that the president and vice-president of the Farmers' Union should be members of the Chamber of Commerce, and that the Union should also be represented' on the various co-operative associations that dealt with questions affecting the farmers. He moved in this direction. lie said that he did not know what were- the qualifications necessary for a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Lambic said that the Chamber of Commerce was formed of merchants, who, like the rest of the community, lived on the labours of the farmers. Mr Studholme said that tie interests of the Chamber and of the Union were pretty sure..to clq.sh, and he did not -favour ■-■ Mr O'Hallcran's .proposal. The Chamber represented merchants and the Union faxniers, and their interests were diverse. The Union should rather be made stir en j enough to stand up for its-own rights. The Chairman opposed Mr O'Halloran's motion. He said that the Union would only make itself ridiculous, and tihe Chamber of Commerce had always treated lb very fairly. Mr Re-id agreed with th© Chairman. The motion was withdrawn, Mr O'Halloran heiing asked to collect information on the questions' he had raised. Is was decided that the annual Conference should be beld on May 28 and'29, the order of business to be as at, the previous Conference.

A meeting of the Greenpark branch of the New Zealand Fanners' Union was held on Friday evening ; present —Messrs F. Hubbard, J. A. Pannett, T. Quayle,' G. M'Lean and. G. Neill. It was? decided to hold the annual meeting on May 8. It was resolved that the question of a proposed Mutual Insurance Company, on the lines of-the Ontario Act, should be dif<csssed at the annual meeting, which would be .recommended to raise the subscription to 5s per member. .','.:.:::