Farmers’ Union Meetings

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 29, 9 April 1937, Page 10

Farmers’ Union Meetings

A WAN UI BRANCH'S ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Awanui branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the Forrester’s Hall on Thursday, April 1, Mr. E. R. Bird presiding. « Annual Report In his annual report, the president, Mr. E. R. Bird, had the following to say: Guaranteed Price The year has been an eventful one. In the nation’s sphere we have witnessed the change over from a National Government to Labour with their policy of guaranteed price for butter. The Farmers’ Union advocates that the guaranteed price figure be based upon the value of the farmers’ service *to the community in the direct use of his products and the goods used in the country, but purchased overseas from the proceeds of the sale of his products abroad. The guaranteed price for the current season will be considerably in excess of sterling realisations in England but it is actually, much below its true value when converted into the New Zealand price level. There is full power and machinery in the present Government’s Primary Produce Marketing Act for payment to our farmers in future, to be made on the compensating price formula, so that all criticism should be of a helpful and constructive nature. It is very pleasing to record that at the Dominion Conference of the Dairy Industry, held in Wellington a fortnight ago, complete unanimity was reached between the Farmers’ Union and the Dairy Industry in endorsing the formula of the compensated price. Costs of production have risen considerably and appear to be still increasing. De-Rating Whilst our Prime Minister has given his assurance that it will be the policy of his Government to derate farm lands, they are not prepared to do so at present. In fact, our local road and hospital rates have increased by approximately 33 1/3 percent. Drainage Rates During the year another effort was made to have the drainage rates question settled. The Minister of Lands was approached but little if any, advance was made. The present impossible position was made more confused by the Minister’s reply to our representations. His reply was as follows: “I still maintain that the Rehabilitation Act will to an extent meet your difficulties. All charges must be put in the pot and treated alike. The Commission has powers to deal with arrears of drainage rates as well as other rates. When the decks are clear, then the Government can consider the drainage rate as a policy matter. You do as I ask you and then come to us again.” Your chairman was pleased to attend the first local case before the Rehabilitation Commission involving large arrears of drainage rates and • t was with keen dismay that we heai'd the Commission’s ruling, “that they had no ] over to wipe off any part of drainage or county rates or arrears, but they could deal with the penalties only which had been added on account of non-payment!” So the effort for a reasonable settlement must still be continued. Wharf and • Port Serious suggestions have been made involving the shifting of the local port to another site. Your branch has watched the position closely and are now pleased to report that our contentions have been endorsed in the latest engineer’s report which in brief means that the port will remain as at present. Electric Power Board Proposals have been placed before the settlers to reticulate our territory with power from Arapuni. As the estimates meant the farmers’ land being security for the loan, provision for rating and power costs in excess of diesel engine power, your branch with sister branches at Kaingaroa, Kaitaia and Waiharara, have all expressed themselves against these proposals. The last annual

meeting of the Kaitaia Dairy Company also voted against the proposals in their present form. Since the estimates for this work were brought down, Hokianga has dropped out of the scheme. Also all prices for materials etc. will have risen enormously. Nevertheless certain influences are at work to proceed with this work. Union Affairs During the year, Mr. J. W. Jones as canvasser worked in our area and it is pleasing to record that he had a very successful time and nearly doubled our membership. Sister branches were formed at Waiharara | and Kaingaroa and our branch en- j deavoured to assist with combined 1 meetings. I conclude by appealing to the Union for further interest and loyalty. Election of Officers The following officers were elected: Chairman —Mr. E. R. Bird (re-el-ected); Vice-Chairmen Messrs. J. Gill and L. West; Secretary—Mr. J. : J. Richardson, pro tern; Delegates to Annual Sub-Provincial Conference Messrs. E. R. Bird and W. Rose ; Branch Delegate to Annual Sub-Pro-vincial Executive —Mr. E. R. Bird. It was decided to urge all members to attend all branch meetings so that interest and enthusiasm can be maintained. * It was decided that in view of the conflict between the Minister of Lands’ statement as to the Commission’s powers to deal with arrears in drainage rates, and the chairman of the Commission’s ruling, that the branch recommend to the Kaitaia Drainage Committee that they again approach the Minister to clear up the position. ANNUAL MEETING OF FAIRBURN-KAIAKA BRANCH I | The annual meeting of the Fair-burn-Kaiaka brach of the Farmers’ Union was held in the Fairburn half on Monday evening, the president, Mr. H. Parker, presiding over a fair attendance of members. President’s Report The following report was submitted by the president : Another year has come to a finish ; I think for most of us more profitable than recent years. We have had a full year of the Labour Government, and personally I am in accord with the guaranteed price so far as it has gone. If it had not been for the guaranteed price the dairy factory would have been advancing 9d some of the months. The worst of the guaranteed price is that we will always be a year behind, as the Government will not be able to adjust the price with the rise in costs until the end of each year, so therefore I would strongly urge all to support the compensating price and be united when the time comes to present the bill to the Government for them to do as they have promised, that is to adjust the guaranteed price in accordance with costs. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows : President—Mr. H. Parker (re-elected) ; Vice-Presidents Messrs. W. Dawson and O. Fisher ; Secretary—Mr. T. J. Coulter (re-elect-ed); Member on Sub-Provincial Executive—Mr. 11. Parker ; Delegate to Sub-Provincial Conference Mr. O. Fisher. „ General Business Matters of importance that were fully discussed included Farm Costs, Agricultural Workers’ Bill, Transport, Amalgamation of Local Bodies, Electricity and Increasing Union Membership. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister of Public Works re improvements to Fairburn road, and a committee was set up to go into the question of farm costs. The following was passed as a remit to the Sub-Provincial Conference : “That this branch whole-heart-edly supports an electric scheme for the North but favours the national-i.-uUon of electric power in New Zealand.