FARMERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 116, 12 April 1930, Page 10

FARMERS’ UNION

FEILDING BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. ' (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, April 12. Tho annual meeting of the Fcilding firanch of tho Farmer’s Union was hold yesterday afternoon, Mr W. L. Grice presiding. Also present wero Messrs G. Watt, J. G. Eliott, J. H. Mason, D. L. Younger, J. B. Bradley, A. Kidd, C. Stanley and ; W. McLennan. ANNUAL REPORT. Tho 'president’s report was adopted as tinder: —"Tho work during tho past year lias boon mainly in tho direction of assisting tho more production spirit of the ago. With this object in view, special consideration has been givon to place the Boys and Girls' Agricultural Clubs on a much better arrangement than hitherto. I have tho greatest plcasuro to report that the club, which is managed by this branch, is now an established organisation, recognisod by tho Agricultural Department and subsidised. Tho work of the club this past year has been of a very satisfactory nature indeed, and for numbers of competitors and quality of work has far exceeded any previous year. For tho adult members of our branch the usual root crop competitions havo been hold and keenly contested. One of the valuablo trophies was won outright in tho last competitions and I am assured that the donors of that particular trophy are arranging for an even more valuablo _ ono to roplace it for tho next competitions. Wo aro indood grateful to Mr E. H. Lange, of tho Education Department, for his able work in connection with the Boys and Girls Clubs and to Mr -T. W. Deem, Diroctor of tho Fields Division of tho Agricultural Department, for arrongoing the judges in the adult competitions. “A very ablo lecturo was given by Mr Connell, holds instructor of tho Agricultural Department at Cheltenham and much appreciated by farmers in and around that district, and it is intended to continue theso lecturos in other centres during tho coming year. I would refer to tho entertainment given by the provincial executive, ably assisted by tho local branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers Union and tho Foilding A. and P. Association to tho overseas farmers, and, although their stay was all too short, much benefit must accrue from getting into touch with brother fanners from various parts of tho Empire. * “Wcr havo entered into a period of very much reduced prices for our farm products, which will probably fall very heavily on many farmers, also increased taxation on farm lands, jujt at a time when it can least bo borne, so that it would require a confirmed optimist to say that everything in thq . garden is lovely. It therefore behoves tho union as a whole to stand firm against any further burden boing placed on the shoulders of tho farmer whethor by taxation or any'Other of the many indirect means. However, it is to bo hopod that tho present worldwido depression will soon lift and, given fair seasons and industrial peace, as in tho past we should, in tho main, weather tho storm, although tho pity is that in such times as those many good mon ofton go down. ■ ‘‘lt will bo remembered that; somo two years ago, under tho auspices of this branch, an Intermediate Rural Credits Association was formed in Foilding and I am glad to report that our businoss has boon most successful—in fact, at tho present I understand wo aro placed second only in the whole of tho Dominion so far as our volumo of business goes. So far by careful management wo have had no losses and none is in sight. The project has proved a great boon to many seeking financial aid, but should and could be very much more generally taken advantage of. “I fool I must take this opportunity of referring to tho Women's JDivision and its work in tho Foilding district. Although it camo into existence only comparatively recently, it has gone ahead wonderfully, and has filled a long felt need in giving assistance to farmers' wives and families, especially thoso living in _ isolated districts. I feel sure all will join with mo in wishing their members every success for their work in tho future and in thanking thorn for their good work so far; also in assuring them that wo would bo glad to assist them in any way in which wo can and would bo glad to join hands and work for the common good. “As rogards tho affairs of tho union as a whole, I am convinced thatit was never moro alivo than at present in watching tho interests of, tho farming community and it must romombored that tho welfare of tho farmers spells tho welfare of all tho rest of the community. I wish to. thank all members of tho executive for their ablo assistance givon during the past year and also Mr Ponny, our secretary, for his conscientious and painstaking work.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Tho following officers wore elected: — President, Mr W. L. Grice (re-elected); vice-president, Mr J. H. Mason (re-elect-ed) ; cominittoo, Messrs G. Watt, J. B. Bradloy, K. Carman, A. Campbell, J. G. Eliott, A. Kidd, A. Lawson, J. McFarland, O. McElroy, J. H. Perrott, B. N. Sandtfjiids, C. E. Lucas, H. J. Booth, W. McLennan, W. McKay, C. Stanley, D. L. Younger, and C. G. C. Dormer; delegates to provincial conference, Messrs J. G. Eliott, C. Stanley and B. N. Sandilands. NOXIOUS WEEDS. In suggesting that tho meeting forward a remit to tno conference bearing on noxious weed eradication, Mr Eliott said it was commonly thought that the control of noxious woods rested with the farmor alone, but it was not so. The speaker considered it timo that legislation was brought down to assist with tho situation, hut in tho meantime he thought tho bestmethod was for rabbit inspectors to bo appointed noxious weeds inspectors. Mr Stanley supported the previous speaker, but Mr Youqger thought that there wore already enough inspectors. Ho did not know of any case whero noxious weeds had forood a farmor off his land, but if there wero many more inspectors appointed they would. Ho instanced the case of barberry boing declared a noxious wood and wanted to know if a farmer would havo to cut down all tho hodges of this type ef plant which may bo on his property. Tho chairman could not agroo with Mr Younger’s views and stated that it was not intendod that barberry hedgos would havo to bo cut down. In any case, noxious weeds wero a serious menace and nothingwas 100 much that would bring about their eradication. A remit, moved, by Mr Eliott was carried as follows - :—“That it is dosirablo that the administration of the Noxious Weeds Act be placed in tho hands of Rabbit Boards in those districts whero such boards aro in existence.”