NZ. FARMERS' UNION.

Northern Advocate, 25 July 1923, Page 7

NZ. FARMERS' UNION.

WHANGAREI SUB-PROVINCIAL

EXECUTIVE

The sub-provincial meeting of the N.Z. Farmers' Union took place in the Whangarei County Chambers yesterday; pr-esent —'Messrs P. McDonald, president), D. T. Wood (Kara) vicepresident, W. G. Thomson (Mangap:u\ G. S. B. Morrison (Maungatapere), ,T. Peat (Kauri), E. B. Haycock (Marua\ J. Morrison (Matapouri), P. Felix (WTiangarei), A. C. MeCardle (Titoki), C. A. Whimp (Ruatangata), E. 8. Mc-K-enzie (Otonga), A. Dawson (Towai). G. A. Storrar (Whangarei) treasu;'T, and B. Harris, secretary.

Messrs T. V. Nutsford (Mareretu), H. S. Alexander (Pakotai) and E. Babe (Waikiekie) apologised for absence. NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED. Mr E. Babe's appointment as delegate for the Waikiekie branch was notified and Mr W. G. Thomson for Mangapai, and the president briefly welcomed the last mentioned and Mr J. Morrison, wlfo made his first appearance. WAIKIEKIE LIMESTONE. There was a protracted discussion relative to the delay and olher p'-iases of the movement to promote the new company to develop the limestone deposit at Waikiekie. It was submitted that the Union had identified itself with the formation of the company and had influenced members of the Union to take up shares. It was also su ingested that there had been some dissatisfaction expressed by shareholders, and that therefore a commit fee should investigate the matter.

The president said that the executive knew nothing very definite about position, beyond that the Union had prevailed upon the directors to remove some objectionable features in the prospectus, and the ex-organiser had induced people to take shares in the concern.

After thorough consideration, the Executive decided that the committee should investigate the present stage of progress in the .development of the lime deposits. THE EX-QRGANISER. Arising from minutes of the previous meeting, the secretary and treasurer both advised the executive that they had not secured butts and other documents demanded from the ex-organis?r ; Mr F. L. Cubitt. '

Mr Storrar said that he attributed the delay to ill-health combined with "Waikiekie indifference."

Mr Wood said that the executive had its business to do and he considered that the treasurer should renew the demand for return of the required dockets.

| This subject also led to a lengthy debate in which nearly all the members I spoke, and finally it was decided that the secretary and treasurer should renew their efforts to 'get possession of the executive's property. THE PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. The president gave a resume of what had been done at the Auckland Provincial Conference. There had not, ho thought, been quite the attendance of delegates tha't had marked previous ■occasions, but presidential report had been a fine one and a very able exposition of the objects and aims of the Union. The volume of busiuess had been as much as on previous occasions, but it had been gone through more expeditiously. Interesting addresses upon the Agricultural Banks proposal by Mr Poison and upon the Meat Board by Mr A. E. Harding had been features of the conference.

Mr McDonald then recounted the many subjects discussed. The Empire scheme of land settlement which all

thought a very good one; the reaffirmation that Crown Lauds should be roaded before being settled, with t!ie new suggestion that large companies who v>aded hand before sub-division should l)'e exempted from tax; carriage of immigrants' personal belongings to their destination railage and customs free; taxation of Native Lands; the Main Roads scheme; and every phase of the question of going in for politics. . ■ ,

Mr McDonald was convinced, after reading Mr Poison's scheme, that Agricultural Banks would be a fine thiug for the country. A member: Everyone exrept Mr Massev. He is not cojivincetl. The President: Well, i+ is hard to say"-what his personal opinion may be. as he- represents quite a lot of interests. • , Referring to oattli' dips, the president said that a resolution had been recorded to ; ( sk the Government to

bear the full cost of their provision, chiefly lie thought in connection with those on the boundaries of tick infected area-'?, but also of ■existing dips within the area. The fate of other remits was briefly outlined bv the President and Mr Morrison then said that the number of delegates was well up to previous- occasions. 1-Ie was in favour of the .-separation of business and amusements at the conference and he moved that the executive express that view. ■Mr McOardle thought that such an expression was: unnecessary, as the "Provincial TCxcntive had carried into effect a recommendation made in in that connection. The delegates were then thanked f-.r their rcpoit. The president expressed hi." opinion that il would have been boiler had the balance-sheet been dealt with earlier In the meeting than war, the case.

The executive snbsc(fuently went into committee to discuss aspects of the balance-sheet. SECESSIONS FROM HIKURANGI BRANCH. W. H. McLeod, secretary of the Hikunnu'/i branch, wrote that owing to the formation of other branches having left that branch with so few members, it had been decided that those remaining join the Kauri branch. The letter was not commented upon. AUCKLAND WATERFRONT RAILWAY. -, K . f The provincial secretary forwarded a petition in favour of the "wnterfront railwJiy" in Auckland and, in accordance with a standing resolution, the members signed it. IMMIGRANT FARM LABOUR. Mr W. Iluey, provincial secretary, •vrote that he had received application from several new arrivals who were seeking employment on farms, some with experience and some without. There would also bo over 100 men discharged from the warships Philomel and Chatham in August, and the Gov-ernor-General had accepted' the tTnion's offer to place some of the men on farms. If any of the members or settlers required labour and referred to the writer he promised to do his best to meet their requirements.- The letter was received. SECRET A R Y f S REMUNERATION. Mr Harris wrote that at the beginning of the last financial year the J financial position of the executive compelled some retrenchment, and the executive decided that the office al- j lowtance of £45 per year granted him should be discontinued, and further j that, as he had looked upon that as , salary, his work should be reduced con- I siderably by holding fewer meetings. Later events, especially the appointment of an orgnniser and the holding of meetings at shorter intervals very considerably added to his work. Therefore lie asked that his remuneration be placed on the basis existing at the beginning of last financial year, or at least, say, 30/ a week retrospective from the beginning of the financial year. After dealing with this matter and eulogising Mr Harris' ability in his secretarial duties, it was decided with regret that the financial state of the executive's funds did not warrant the. increase at the present time. 1 KEEPING COUNT.

A circular was received from Mr J. Pow, Dominion Secretary, asking that all branches throughout the country carry out the wishes of the Dominion Executive by sending in quarterly returns and capitation. There was no conimcnt upon the intimation. FORESTRY TIPS. Price-lists and pamphlets and two booklets,"Forestry on the Farm" and the ''*Romarkable Pine," were received from Mr A. H. Goudie, Conservator of Forests. REMITS PENDING CONSIDERATION. The Whakapaiti branch .forwarded a remit "That no man be allowed 1;a grade cream in a dairy factory unless he is a qualified and certificated grader.'*

Whakapara branch had also proposed;—" That all holders of land who are not living on, or working or improving such lands should be forced, after a period of three years, cither to improve or sell such holdings."

Another remit from Whakapara branch was: —"That the law of New Zealand be so altered or amended that wherever the Government uses land or buildings in the Dominion for commercial purposes in order to make a profit or to compete with private enterprise, those l:\nds or buildings be taxed for rating purposes on the same basis as tho-io adjoining, and that the tax so levied be paid to the local body in whose area those lands or buildings are situated."

As the Whakapara delegate was not piesent. it w;as decided that consideration be held over until next meeting.

IMPROVING THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Kauri branch, through the secretary, Mr J. Biggar, forwarded a remit — "That the morning train from the Nor Mi be speeded up to connect with the Auckland express." It was decided ti) move in the matter. the time prior to compilation of a new timetable being considered opportune.