FARMERS' UNION.

Mataura Ensign, 14 May 1912, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

BALFOUR BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Farmers' Union was held in the hall on Saturday night, bad weather having necessitated its postponement twice (writes our Balfour correspondent). A good number of members attended. The secretary (Mr A. Rasmussen) submitted the report and balance-sheet for the year ended March 31. There had been six meetings of the branch and some of the matters dealt with had j been of much importance to the farm-' ers. There are 51 members on the roll and all but a very few have paid their subscriptions. The balance-sheet, which had been audited, showed a credit of about £B, after having donated a guinea towards a testimonial to Mr J. McQueen for his zeal in the interest of the. un ; on as a whole. The retiring president (Mr H. P.! Henricksen), in moving the adoption of, the report and balance-sheet, said that! the branch was in a healthy state and; that the members had cause to be satisfied. The secretary had fulfilled his duty faithfully, and as the branch could J afford it he thought that it should vote him a small remuneration for his work. He suggested that a guinea be voted. This sum, however, it Avas unanimously agreed should be doubled. Mr Henricksen then vacated the chair and Mr Chapman, of Ardlussa, was voted chairman. The election of office-bearers was proceeded, with. Mr Chapman was nominated as president but. refused the honor; indeed, the modesty of other gentlemen proposed made it quite difficult to fill the vacancy. Subsequently Mr R. Roy accepted the position of president and Mr Mc-Phee that of vice-president. Mr A. Rasmussen accepted the" secretaryship for a second term. Matters in connection with the conference to be held at Invercargill on May 24 were dealt with, and Mr H. P. Henricksen and Mr D. McLean were deputed to represent the branch on this occasion. It was resolved: "That the branch should hold its annual social," but on account of last year's experience of over-crowding it was decided that the social this year should be for members and their families and friends only. A strong committee was appointed to carry out details. Mr Donald McTaggart, of the Black Swamp, then brought forward a matter which he thought the union should take in hand—to induce the Southland County Council to procure and open up a road along the railway line from Kingston Crossing to Balfour and from St. Patrick's on to Lintley. At presentthere is a roadline for a considerable distance along the railway line from Lintley towards St. Patrick's, and by meeting this roadline from the St. Patrick's side the settlers of the Black Swamp and also the travelling public generally would save miles of roundabout travelling to get to either Lintley or Lumsden. This matter was considered to be one of public interest and the union agreed to support the undertaking. A committee was appointed to ascertain the cost of the land necessary and to draft a petition to the County Council.