FARMERS' UNION.

Northern Advocate, 24 June 1920, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

WHANGAREI SUB-PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE YESTERDAY'S DELIBERATIONS An attendance of nine members ot the Whangarei executive of the Suop'ovincial branch of the Farmers' Union was presided over, by the president, Mr G. S. B. Morrison, yesterday, the others present being:— Messrs S. C. Jounneaux, H. Carey, J. Peat, A. Dawson, F. L. Cubitt, F. McDonald, A. C McCardle, Thompson, L. P. Adams, and the secretary Mr B. Harris. GOVERNMENT LECTURERS It was decided that the secretary should arrange an itinerary for Government official lecturers who will visit the North to address 'settlers on matters of veterinary science, dairy farming, and soil testing at suitable times and places. FROM RIFLE TO PLOUGH The . Provincial Secretary of ths Farmers' Union wrote, concerning means of finding employment for the imperial ex-soldier immigrants coming to the country, but as branches had received the same circular letter, the matter was left to them to formulate replies in consonance wth their wishes. SYSTEM OF PUBLIC WORKS Messrs H. Berridge and F. I* Cubitt, both orf Waikiekie, forwarded thessa c letter—attacking the tern of public works—which was received from them by the Chamber of Commerce some weeks ago without comment. The letter wanted, inter alia, to make provision for small contracts, and abolition of day wages in connection with Public Works operations. Ithad been sent to branch secretaries also. Mr Cubitt, though on e of the signatories, was evidently against some of the proposals made, which may be considered anon by the executive. WHY SO? A few accounts were passed for payment, the auditors being provided for with 3 guineas instead of 4 guineas, as charged, on whose authority the alteration was made not being specified. TAXING TYRES Towai's remit concerning a special tax upon motor tyres, proceeds of which wer c to be applied to the making of good roads—especially upon metalling of existing clay roads—was received, but as members had not been instructed by their branches how to vote, a decision upon the remit was held over. ONCE BITTEN Following upon notice of motion, Mr Cubitt propounded a lengthy claim to the correctness of his vision that an organising secretary would work wonders in the membership strength of the Union, and in other ways. His colleagues were not convinced, though Mr Adams seconded the motion pro forma to give members a chanc e to discuss it. Mr Jounneaux wanted every man to be made an organiser, and h e contended it should be general that every man getting a new member should get a percentage commission. The chairman considered that, apart from mere organis<on, members who could show non-members the benefits derived from joining the Union, would do much better service than could be obtained by engaging a paid organising secretary. If the Union wanted to get new members, Mr McDonald contended that it must show tangible results, and he also was of opinion that an organising secretary would not convince an average farmer. In defence of his ideals Mr Cubitt declared that what was wanted was a first-class man, able to expound all the benefits offering to farmers who were now members. If he were on the road for three months, tha Waikiekie representative considered that he would make a big difference to the roll of the Union, His proposal was not adopted when tested before the meeting. NOTHING NEW Waipu branch had forwarded a remit protesting against the spread of noxious weeds on Crown Landg, and the executive accorded its support to the prptest by ordering that the endorsed complaint be forwarded to the Minister of Lands. DOUBLE-BARRELLED ESILI4ET A discussion, starting from a query by Mr F. L. Cubitt, concerning Mr Jounneaux' eligibility to sit at the executive table, occupied a lot of time. It turned out that Mr Jounneaux was a member of the Auckland executive and was on the Provincial executive only partly as a representative of the Whangarei sub-provin-cial executive, of which he really was not the official delegate, but of which he was a member ex officio, by virtue of being a past-president. As Mr Adams put it, the Whangarei executive was lucky in having Mr Jounneaux as a member of the Auckland executive, who, was ever as a Northerner, anxious to keep an eye lifting for the welfare of the North. Mr Cubitt tried unsuccessfully to get a motion through that the secretary write to th c provincial secretary relative to th e 'subject of delegates.

"I can recall, a few years back, a traveller saying to me, when land was £30 to £40 per acre in this district, that the farmer was paying too high a price for his land, and must become bankrupt," remarked Mr Go lid water at a meeting of the Taranaiki Chamber of Commerce. "I replied 'Do you see any farmers' names in the bankruptcy notices?' He said 'No.' At that time our butter fat was eightpence to ninepencs per pound. Now it is about two shillings and with the advent of the dried milk industry the returns wil< be much larger. The farmer is a ,' shrewd dealer, and knows what he iis about, but, of course, some lands are speculated with, and disaster may come to a few." writes in the Melbourne Age: "After his experience on the day of the Prince's landing in Melbourne Mr Hughes can no longer put up the pretence that the alleged public opposition to his salary gralb was a vain thing, manufactured in fche editorial departments of the daily press. Where I was standing the people who recognised William in the highest and shiniest belltoppar in tihe procession immedi,a;feely set up an unmistakable boo-<hoo. One workman, having groaned his loudest, said with perfect satisfaction, 'Well, it was worth While waiting, ,'f only for that.' All along the line of march the Prime Minister was greeted with similar manifestations of popular disfavour, and I can imagine him saying to himself, 'Well, William, my boy, this is "Pro Bono" and "Mother of Ten"—the newspapers must be keeping a large stock. The cheers for the Prince were almost immediately turned into groans for the Prime Minister, the transition being so sudden at times as to give H.R.H. manifest concern There was on Prince Edward's faci at the first outburst a look which seemed to say, 'My goodness, now what have I done?' The Priime Minister took the hint (or perhaps it was put to him delicately), and has not asosciated closely with the Prince in public since, wet blankets being pecuDiarliy out of place in such connection."