FARMERS' UNION DELEGAETS

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1925, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION DELEGAETS

EXPENSE'S DISTRIBUTION.

A remit from the Otonga branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was discussed by the Whangarei sub-pro-vincial executive last week. It urged that the sub-provincial should pay nil branch delegates' expenses to the Provincial Conference and charge it-equal-ly to all branches in the sub-provin-cial district.

In explanation the president, Mr K. S. MacKenzie, said that in the past very few delegates from branches had attended the conference and it was felt that if the cost were evenly distributed amongst all branches it would be an incentive to more of them to send representatives. Ho moved that the remit be referred to branches for consideration.

Though he doubted whether the proposed change came within the rules of the Union, Mr G. S. B. Morrison seconded the motion. Mr J. Howie said he was a nominated delegate who had declined to act because he recognised that it ■would have meant a few men putting their hands in their pockets to pay the expenses. Mr A. C. McCardle's view that the proposal was a move in the right direction as a means of enabling the smaller branches to send representatives was opposed by Mr Morrison. The latter heU< that at the present time a small branch which was unable to pay a dele gate's expenses to the conference did not do so, whereas under the proposed scheme they might be debited with a share of the cost of the expenses of other delegates, even though they did not send one themselves.

Mr G. A. Storrar said he was in sympathy with tr>p inauguration of a system by which delegates from smaller branches could be sent to the conferences. However, he would prefer to see the re mil;, which embodied a good idea, withdrawn and returned to the Otonga branch for revision. He nu ved in that direction as an amendment, and the motion was carried by six votes to three.