FARMERS' UNION.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 170, 27 July 1907, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

. Kimbolton Branch;. Annual Dinner. The ual dinner was held in the» Comr Hotel, and the host, Mr W. ; oole, put on a*first rate repa? were about 55 present. Orabb, who presided, welcomed the members of . other branches in proposing the toast of the visiting delegates. He said the last time the memberß had met in that room the Bill had just been brought before the House, and the Union had commenced to protest against the measure. Now he would ask, had the Union any justification for its existence? He thought they would all agree with him thatin. bringing before the country the? views of the fanning community on this question, and forcing one of the: strongest Governments that we had had in the colony to reconsider its policy it had proved its influence ami justified its existence. Then there was the abolition of the sheep tax: and the lowering, of the fire insurance from 18s to* 10s, and even to 9s, for members of the Farmers* Union. These were also advantages that had been gained by unity oft action. In regard to the future; action of the branch, it had been: decided to recommence the agitation in favour of a railway to Kimbolton. The through railway to Auckland was drawing to a close, and unless. action was taken other districts would forestall them. He contended, thaffc for fertility and other mean* for rendering a railway payable the district had every right to call upoiL the- Government to construct a finebetween Feilding and Kimbolton. The' speaker referred to the agitation amongst the farm labourers, which,, he said', had been brought about'.by the- agitators of the towns,* when; the farmers and their labourers; were working under amicable arrangements. But as the matter had been forced upon them it v waß: necessary to appoint efficient representatives on the Arbitration Court. In conclusion, he asked for the support of all farmers to title Union.. The Chairman read apologies for absence from Mr J. G.. Wilson, the President of the Union-, Mr Carman, Chairman of theWaituna branch, and Mr Jackson. Mr W. G. Pearce, a representative of the Feilding branch, in replying; to the toast, said in connection withi insurance that it was time th& farmers were giving united support to the Farmers' Mutual Society, the formation of which had been the principal cause of the lowering Of the rates. At present its rates somewhat higher than that of other companies but if it had sufficient business from the farmers the rates' would be quickly lowered. Mr Morrison, Chairman* of the Halcombe branch, said he waft pleased to see by the. gathering that evening that great interest ..was. taken in the Union at Kimbolton. He was sure that they had a good man as chairman, who was both a good worker and one who oould ably express his views. Mr F. F. Pemberton, representing the Bangiwahia branch, said -Mr Guthrie, their chairman, had been unable to attend. Referring to the Land Bill/ Mr Pemberton : said the farmers should not be oontent with its present form. He showed htw'it would affect a leaseholder iirsef>«« petuity as compared to a holder of a section with, right of purchase.' The latter, when he desired t? purchase at the end of 15 years, haa to pay 1 per cent on the upset price of the land, but in the case of the leaseholder in perpetuity, according to the Land Bill, he would .have to pay the improved value on his section in addition to the upset price; yet he might have been just as good a settler as the other, and had done as much to improve the district and bring; about the added value of the land. He claimed that his branch had been, the first to move for the abolitionof . the sheep tax. Mr* A. H. Atkinson, proposed "The New Zealand Parliament, '* ooupled with Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.R., whose Parliamentary career he spoke bfjin very laudatory terms. Referring to the Land Bill, he said there was still much that wasvioious. in the measure,- especially in the proposal to allocate nine million, acres to the support of the old-age pension fund and of education. Supposing it was cut up in one thousand acre blooks and leased for 66 years it would have the effect of creating nine thousand dependents, liable to be rack rented. He quoted Thomas Jefferson, one time President of America, who said that the possession in freehold of a piece of land was really a bond for the good behaviour of the holder. The> speaker condemned the proposed auction system for the purchase of* land, and gave great credit to Farmers' Advocate for advocating the repeal of the eheep tax. He jocularly suggested that there< should be a refund of the paid since the country was declared free of scab, and he for one would hand over what he was entitled to to the Union to help oreate an assured finance. The toast was drunk with musical; honours. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, in reply, said the Parliament was what the people made it, and in the case of the present Parliament, with a fewexceptions, the people had made a. good one. He referred to one exception in the House, and expressed surprise that he was ever sent there. In the House it was also evident; that the Union had become a power in the land, even from the jibes, that were heard from a section of the members of the House when it was. mentioned in the course of debate. Commenting on the proposed limitation of area, the speaker said it was . not the actual limitation that was--so objectionable as the principle <of making it apply to one scetion of the people—those of the country only—while the enterprising men of the towns had no limit placed to the extension of their business. Then, too, there was the fact that a limitation of £40,000 to-day might be reduced to £30,000 to-morrow, and so on, until the restriction became so extreme as to drive energetic men from farming pursuits. Mr C. Dick proposed "The Agricultural Department," coupled with the name of Mr Lethbridge, MIH.R. ' Mr Lethbridge, in responding, spnke highly of the services of Mr Gilruth as an officer, and the Hoiu Mr McNab as an administrator of the Department. Mr W. Morton proposed the health of the Chairman of the Kimbolton Branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr Crabb, whose services he spoke veryhighly of. Mr Morton also made a

I few remarks in favour of the limitation area of first class land. >Mr E. Crabb, in responding, said it was better to meet the feeling of the country in favour of limitation by approval of a reasonable measure. Mr Letiibridge, M.H.R., in proposing "Tho Agricultural and -Pastoral Societies," coupled with it sthe names of Mr G. Wheeler and Mr H. Booth, two gentlemen to whom the early success of the Manawatu and the West Ooast A. and P. Society was lar7 nl -7 due. He was sure the Feilidng .'ociety would benefit greatly from their connection with it. Mr G. Wheeler, in responding, pointed out that the Manawatu A. and P. Society had been intentionally ut the outset made representative of the West Coast, and not of* "the Palmerston district alone. The operation of the Feilding A. and P. Association would in no way interfere with it, for the Feilding show lield as it was in the autumn filled a want. Mr Booth also in his remarks » pointed out in what manner the Feilding'Association could do good work without, in any way coming in xjonflict with the M. and W.G.A. and P. Association. Mr H. Henderson proposed "Local Bodies," and Messrs G. Wheeler (chairman of the Oroua County Council) and Mr H. Fowler (member of the Kiwitea County Council) replied. Mr H. Booth proposed "Commercial Interests," and Messrs A. H. Atkinson and Hensen responded. Mr P. Nesdale proposed "Local Industries,'' and Mr Astbury replied. » The other toasts were "The Ladies,'' proposed by Mr J. Rentoul, replied to by Messrs Bailey and Evans; "The Press," proposed by Mr R. Mcßeth and replied to by Messrs Andrew and Fitzpatrick; and "The Host," proposed by th 6 chairman. During the evening songs w§re given by Messrs Bayne, Potts, Capper and Crabb, and Mr Barlow gave a flute solo.