Fanners’ Union

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 57, 9 March 1937, Page 2

Fanners’ Union

HASTINGS BRANCH ANNUAL GATHERING. From Our Own Correspondent. HASTINGS, March 8. ' The annual general meeting of the Hastings (Hawke’s Bay) branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held at Hastings on Saturday, the president, Mr. T, B. H. Priest, being in the chair.

The balance-sheet, showing a loss of £237 1/5, was adopted. The secretary, Mr. D. Balharry pointed out that the loss was accounted for by the writing off of a total of £261 9/10 owed to the branch by the provincial account. Otherwise there would have been a profit on the year’s working of some £24.

The report showed the total membership of the branch to be 202.

It was decided to write off an amount of £75 owing to the branch by the Hawke’s Bay provincial branch.

It was decided to write a letter of appreciation to Mr. J. S. Gardiner, until recently the Hawke’s Bay organiser for the Union. Mr. Priest said that Mr. Gardiner had done excellent work in the position. Mr. Priest emphasised the necessity of more members to be enrolled to strengthen the Union. Only in this way could the Union’s desires be given effect to. The election of officers resulted as follows;—Chairman, Mr. T. B. H. Priest; vice-chairmen, Messrs. R. E. Talbot and D. J. MacKenzie; committee, Messrs, D. J. Boyle, P. A. Davidson, A. V. di Menna, Al J. Field, W. Gumbley, A. Honeybun, D. Isdale, W. J. Kirkham, W. J. Livingstone, E. A. Orbell, W. Puddle, R. L. Reed, J. W. Talbot, A. Lowe, W. H. Meech. The secretary, Mr. D. Balhany, the trear surer, Mr. W. J. Kirkham and the auditor, Mr. J. A. Fraser, were re-elected.

Messrs. W. H. Meech, W. Puddle, and J. W. Talbot were elected delegates to the provincial conference of the Hawke’s Bay branch of the union. Following an inquiry from the provincial executive for details of increases in farm costs, it was decided that the committee approach the various mercantile firms with a view to obtaining such information,