OAMARU FARMERS' UNION.

North Otago Times, 24 October 1905, Page 3

OAMARU FARMERS' UNION.

At ft meeting ol tho Oamaru Farmers' Union Comniittw, held recently, soven members were pros nil, Mr W. W. Wylie being in the ch a ir, The electoral circular issuod by (lie Colonial Executive was discussed, Mr Donald Borrie said ho had great difficulty in supporting the proposition o( tho circular in its entirety, He was not prepared to sink his individuality in any election, and support a candidate simply because ho subscribed 'to tho Union principles; Ho had already stated publicly that lie thought Hie Union Imd made a great mistake in taking up land tenure. It did not concern himself whether or no the tenants should havo th» option ot the f-feehold, but the agitation for it should come ifroni the tenants alone. He was prepared, other things being oqual, to support Union interests, but he was not prepared to agitato to support the Union against- the Government and the present system of tenure, and he objected to the request for loyalty to the Union without consideration ol private interest. Mr Cuthbertson fully agreed that every member should have a,'free hand, and ho able to vote as lie thought best. Mr V. T. Slmnd thought tho rqquest to sink private interests was intended to mean, personal, friendships. They ought to consider it a duty to strike a combination to help fanners, otherwise they would be split up .into small factions. They should conform to the circular as much as possible, a certain amount of discretion being given to every man. It was designed to encourage them to sink private interests as far as possible, and to consider tho farmer generally,

Mr Borrie agreed, but there were greater, interests than that of tho Union, and he would not pledge himself to suppoit a candidate simply because he answered certain questions satisfactorily, irrespective of what the man might be. Mr W. Soth-Smith said it was usual for any faction representing particular Interests to submit those interests to Cftiididatos in tho form ol questions, thus eliciting the particular attitude of tho candidate on each question. When this was done by all parties, each elector, having his own views, could judgo the candidates by tho aid of the answered questions, in the light of his own views; and he did not think Mr. Wilson, in ask/ing them to bo loyal to tho Union, wished that they should be disloyal to every other interest they imd at heart; Mr Cuthbertson said the Farmers' Union was strong on the freehold. Ho believed tlioy meant to support only Candidates who supported " freehold." Mr Wylie suggeseed that the object if tho freehold being taken up generally by farmers must be to get the Crown tenants to sh a To the land tax. Mr Borrie cheerily remarked that in that case to ask that Crown tenants be taxed would answer the purpose. Finally, Mr Borrie moved, and Mr Cuthbertson seconded, " That tho circular ro election be received, and that test questions bo put to cand dates on tho platform as a guide to tho electors." Tho Coifuiiitteo then proceeded to discuss the agricultural education proposals. Mr Wylie read the Hon. T, Yi Duncan's reply to the request for an expert to bo engaged to train teachers, in which it was urged that tho mutter was 0119 for tho Education Board to consider. Mr Borrie said (hat provision was already mode for this very thing, and in a desirable form. Somo teachors were making good use of it, but tho trouble was that the teachers 'were not trained, and the children's timo was fully engaged. 'Ho had 110 sympathy with the proposal to give young children agricultural subjects. It was moro adapted to technical schools afterwards. Tho scholar. mow had certain subjects to pass the 6th Standard under 14 years, and il he was given more subjects he was deprived of his best chanco of securing a bjgli. school education free. Tho American Harvest Combine was noxt considered. Mr Borrie moved, and Mr 1\ SetliSmith seconded, that tho meeting protests in the strongest manner 'possible against any additional duty being imposed on agricultural implements.—Carried, ; i [■■ mm