FARMERS’ UNION DINNER

Matamata Record, Volume XVII, Issue 1546, 26 July 1934, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION DINNER

FIRST ANNUAL EVENING Putaruru Branch Members Pronounced success and harmony attended the first annual dinner of the Putaruru Farmers’ Union on Monday evening. A moderate number of members was present and enjoyed the initial effort, which should be the forerunner of an important institution in the farmer’s social life.

Prominence was given to the efforts of the Department of Agriculture in assisting farmers in obtaining and spreading of knowledge to assist in the improvement of the soil of the district. Speeches expressing the farmers’ thanks to the department met with the vigorous approval of members. The president of the branch, Mr. J. J. Shine, was in the chair. Official guests were Mr. H. W. Lindsey ('Putaruru Town Board), Mr. G. V. Pearce (Putaruru Chamber of Commerce), Rev. William Sussex, Mr. A. L. Mason (East Waikato Rabbit .Board), Messrs. C. S. Dalgleish and H. Woody ear-Smith 4( Department of Agriculture), Mr. R. G. Hutton and Mr. F. G. Snedden. Apologies were received from Rev. P. .Cleary (vicar of Putaruru), Mr. J. Price//, (Thames Valley. Power* Board) and-Mr. L. E. A. Root (Putaruru Debating .Society). The following toast list was honoured: The King, Mr. J. J. Shine; “ The Ladies,” Mr. Shine —Mr. K. S. Cox; “ The Guests,” Mr. A. R. Vos,per__,Mrs. A. L. Mason; “ Local Bodies,” Mr. Vosper —Messrs. E. D. White, H. W. Lindsey and Mason; “The Clergy,” Mr, Cox—Rev. W, Sussex. Songs were rendered bj? MessrS. W. E. Clare and A. h. Masoit Messrs. R. W. Cook and Mason acted as accompanists. Community singing was led by Mr. G. V. Pearce.

Outlook of Fanners In welcoming the guests the chairman said they would meet fanners outside the business world and would learn what good fellows they were. The Farmers' Union took many weighty subjects up not from a single point of view, but from the whole. Farmers individually and as a union were not as narrow as their lives might let one think. Nature did not make a man’s view narrow. The job was conservative, but not the mind. Concluding, the speaker declared the farmer needed to be a keen business man because many keen business men also existed. Department of Agriculture The toast to “ The Guests,” taken by Mr. A. R. Vosper, was an opportunity for the proposer to refer to the work of the Department of Agriculture, represented by Messrs. Dalgleish and Woodyear-Smith. “The farmers owe a debt of gratitude to the department,” said Vosper. “ One of the finest things in New Zealand is the work being done by it for the farmer.” The farmer was next eulogised by the speaker. The last man able to protect himself, he nevertheless had good heart and by cheer force and doggedness battled his way along,

Field Competitions Prizewinning certificated in the 1933 fields competitions. were presented by Mr. Shine, who mentioned the mutual co-operation and help given to the farmers by the competitions. Much gratitude was due to the solid hard work put in by Messrs. Dalgleish and WoodyearSmith. No praise or thanks could show the union’s appreciation that the work, deserved. “They are pioneers of the first water,” the chairman added.; I “They are masters of the;school that will bring New Zealand ;to the top of the ladder. They r're.igoing to teach us how ..to farm.” (Applause). ' In response, Mr, I Dalgleish stated thatr-the work in the district had brought good points out, but it was <»till spade work. In a year or two much i irnore information would be known. -sMr. "Woodyear-Smith also replied, stressing the benefits of field competitions. “ Outside the Waikato, Putaruru and Tokoroa are thought to be plantations of pine trees, and lands of much bush-sick stock,” he said. “ They do not realise the value of the country, and in passing through it have been amazed at the stock. Publicity of the results of these competitions indicates to the public generally the growth of crops and helps place the district on the map.”