FARMERS' UNION AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18657, 13 March 1924, Page 12

FARMERS' UNION AFFAIRS.

LARGER MEMBERSHIP SOUGHT QUESTION OF : A LEVY. The executive of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union met on Tuesday evening. Mr. A. Harding presiding.* ;•< , The report of the delegation which recently toured the Bay of Islands was submitted. . Referring to the recommendations contained in the report, Mr. H. Gardner , said the Bay of Islands district executive was anxious to Introduce a new : scheme for the enrolment of union members. The plan was virtually one of com-' | pulsion, under which every farmer supply- | ing a dairy factory would become a mem- j ber of the Farmers' Union. The dairy companies would be required to deduct £1 from the annual payments to each supplier, and this sum -would constitute the subscription to the union. The sub-pro-vincial executive had endorsed the scheme, and it was considered to be the only practicable method of Increasing the member- ' ship. Several members were strongly opposed 1 to the scheme. It was unanimously agreed that the subscription could not be less than 30s, •as membership entitled all subscribers to the official organ of the union. The chairman said lie doubted the power of the sub-provincial, executive to make the levy. Other speakers declared that the dairy companies would have to alter their articles of association and obtain the consent of the Supreme; Court before the ) levy could be legally made. On the motion of Mr. Munro,' it was resolved that the scheme could not be entertained unless the minimum of the levy was fixed at 30s. ; A recommendation that ladies should be enrolled as honorary members was ap- , proved. /' ■ ; • It -was resolved to authorise delegates ! to {he provincial executive who Were tin- j able to attend meetings personally, to elect representatives. * _ A motion was carried that preparations ; for the next general election should be deferred until the Dominion Conference had met and formulated a political programme. 1 -o' .. , It was decided to support the proposal for the waterfront railway. ■ - . . •