FARMERS’ ONION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 7 December 1936, Page 9

FARMERS’ ONION

THE MANAWATU PROVINCE. GROWING MEMBERSHIP A meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the New Zealand Ear mem’ Union was held in Palmerston North, on Saturday, ALr N. Campbell presiding. There were also present Messrs E. 0. Bond, G. J. \\ilde, H. Bowling, H. J. McLeavoy, C. P. Jensen, L. i<. Ballinger, H. Sorenson, R. C. Burnett, A. G. Dear, G. G. Mitchell, W. G. Shannon, W. H. Giiublett, J. D. Buhner, B. Gower, A. N. Alorcom, J. T. Kent, and E. 0. Neiderer (area officer). The Dominion secretary (Mr A. P. O’Shea) forwarded a circular from the Dominion executive asking the provinces to take steps to provide periodically information as to all costs which had risen in their various districts. This was wanted more particularly in connection with the arrangements to fix next year’s guaranteed price, and would require collation and submission to tho committee appointed for that purpose. That committee would l>o well in touch with the increases in costs at tlie manufacturing end of the industry, but not on the farming.—Received. Attention to the proposed membership campaign was drawn by a circular from tlie executive. The Linton branch had moved a resolution and were of tlie opinion that the union should object to the Government taking control of meat and wool. Air Shannon was of tho opinion that a guaranteed price for wool was really desirable. In a recent season those wlio had sold early had secured Is 6d a Ih, but before the end of the season the prices had slumped to Gd. It was decided to refer the remit to the various branches. The Awahuri Dairy Coy. advised that they'were prepared to collect .subscriptions on a 2) per cent, basis. The Opiki branch forwarded a remit. “that, when the committee set up by head office to deal with union policy and political action brings down its report, this report be circulated to all the branches with a request for criticism, and that such branch criticism he given full consideration before the final adoption of the report.”— The committee unanimously resolved to support the remit. The Manawatu Live Stock Auctioneers’ Association is to be asked to erect safety rails above the stock pens at the Feilding yards. Air Shannon reported that there had been two accidents, and 6omo safeguard was urgently needed. Tlie area officer (Mr K. 0. Neiderer) reported that during the first half of the last month he had worked in the Longburn, Tiakitnhuna and Kairanga districts and in this block extending up to Bunnythorpe they now had 223 members. Tlie total effort in tlie Ro n - gotea. area raised the membership from 46 to 178. They hoped to hold meetings throughout these areas during tlie next two weeks and form several new branches. Ho had spent two weeks in the Otaki-Te H'.oro and Par apa rail mu districts and had signed lip 3“ new members. There were now just on 100 members in the Otaki-Pe Horn area, but work was still required in Paraparaumu. Since the last meeting 93 new members bad been signed up. Of these 74 were new members and 19 were transfers from the Dairy Farmers’ Union to the Farmers Union. To date. 356 new members bad been secured and 167 transfers made, increasing tlie membership by 523. There were now about 1100 members in the Manawatu branch, reported the secretary.