FARMERS’ UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15924, 9 May 1912, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

annual MEETING, WAIKARI ■ BRANCH. . .

The annual meeting of the Waikari branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in the Hawarden Hall on Saturday, Mr H. M. Anderson presiding. The balance sheet, showing a credit balance of £25 15s 7d, was adopted, subject to audit, and all the officers were re-elected. The secretary of the Slaughtermen’s Union wrote rfegarding tho (lagging of sheep. Members stated that they were entirely in sympathy with tho butchers’ complaints, and urged that farmers, in their own interests, should have their sheep properly crutched. The director of the Christ- . church Technical College wrote regarding the wool class, and it was decided, provided a sufficient number of students was enrolled before May 20, to continue the class this year. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr W. Neave (Allendale), who last winter placed his shed at the disposal of the committee to hold the class in. A deputation, consisting of Messrs J. Douglas Br.vers, Tomlinson and G. Gardiner, and the secretary, was appointed to interview the 3>istrict Traffic Manager of Railways with reference to improvements required at the sheep-trucking yards at Hawarden, and the provision of a verandah for the goods shed. It was also decided to ask that some means should be adopted of warning people of the approach of trains at the two crossings at Waikari. The same deputation was appointed to interview the officer in charge of the Telegraph Department and ask that the telegraph svstem should he extended to Hawarden, aud improvements made in the telephone system. The following remits were ordered to he sent to the provincial secretary for consideration at the annual conference: —(1) That tho annual conference should again .be urged to approach the Railway Department with k view to having the extra rate on imported timber and coal abolished, because the users of these. articles in most towns and sea ports escape the tax. which should be collected through the Customs, so as to place-all users on. the same level. (2) That,Bower should he given to County Councils and Road Boards to strike a rate to raise funds to subsidise a local doctor, and that such local body should he exempted from a certain proportion of its con- I tribution to tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board’s rates. (3) That the Government should he urged to offer greater inducements to farm labourers and domestic servants to emigrate to' New Zealand. *(4) That this branch urges the Provincial' Conference to use its influence to have the deferred payment system put into force in preference to anv leasehold tenure. (5) That this branch protests against the military 'training camp being held in the autumn, and considers October the most suitable month. (6) That this branch protests against the continued shortage of railway trucks and covers, esneeially the latter, as large quantities of grain had to he forwarded this year uncovered. (7) That the Government, should be urged to exempt from inspection all oil engines in use on farms and the_ fee charged is ivn-'warranted^-i, seeing-, that there is less danger in' 'Connection with the working of these machines than with manv other imnlements ‘used on the farm during the year; and further. ; few oil engines exceed ten days’ work m . the year. Moreover, farmers are.suffi- , cientl.v hurdened with accident insur. ■ anoe without, having to bear an addi- J tional impost of inspection fees. <