FARMERS’ UNION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5559, 10 April 1905, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION.

■PALMERSTON BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Captain Hewitt presided at the annual meeting of the local branch of the Palmerston North Farmers’ Union on Saturday. There was a fair attendance, and considerable interest was manifested in the business. Mr Stubbs, the convener of the Produce Exchange Committee, reported that since the last meeting of the branch committee he had conversed with Mr B. S. Abraham concerning his proposal, and had told him that nothing further had been done in the matter excepting that the secretary had receiver! instructions to circularise the various branches. Mr Abraham replied that whether or not the union intended to take the proposal up, he himself was determined to push the' matter through. Mr Stubbs thought it was only courtesy to Messrs Abrar ham and Williams to let them know the decision of the union at an early date. Ho moved, “That the secretary be instructed to further circularise the branches, asking them to facilitate this matter of the Produce Exchange, by communicating to this branch their views on the proposal.” The motion was carried unanimously. A communication was received from Messrs Goldingham and Beckett, in which was' embodied a proposal that that firm should sell and guarantee payment for all produce for a commission of 2) per cent, buyers and 24 per cent, sellers, and should nrovide free storage in Palmerston North for all lines of grain and seed sent through the firm. In moving • the adoption of the annual balance-sheet (which shows a slight credit balance), the president remarked on the low membership as compared with former years. Though at on© time there had been as many as 280 members of the branch, there were now only 142. He was of opinion that it was high time that the services of an energetic canvasser should be obtained. He noted it.li ple.isure, however, that the balance was on the right side of the ledger. The motion was carried unanimously. • A communication was received from the president of the colonial executive (Mr J. G. Wilson) expressing the disapproval of the executive of the attitude of the Government in regard to the sterilisation of bones question. The president further asked the branch to urge the member for the district to take the matter up in Parliament and insist on proper precautions being taken, or further importation of bones being prohibited Captain Hewitt took strong tion to the action of the Government in appointing inspectors whose duties would bo “to jaunt round India.” In his address prior to the election of officers for the ensuing year, the chairman reiterated his belief that the first plank of the union should be its public declaration of its dependence on the Almighty. Ho was awaro that the majority of the members differed from him on the Point, but he was none the less conscious of the truth of his belief. He thought he could not sea his way to continue to act as their president unless they would make this public declaration. He referred with gratification to the responses made to the mutual insurance question by various of the branches, and also emphasised that the time had arrived when steps should bo taken for obtaining technical and theoretical agricultural instruction for the young people of the district.

The following officers were elected: — President, Captain Howitt; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. Balsillie; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Hunter.; auditor, Mr A. Guy; committee. Messrs A. S. Aidrich, D. Mathieseu, 0. Voss, Shirtcliffe, MoEwcn, 0. Monrad, A. Mathieson, W. K A. Slack, J. B. Thornley, MoHardy, D. Thomas, L. R. Bryant, P. E. Daniell, P. K. Buchanan, L. Neil sen, Barber. W. Stubbs, F. Manll, A. Harding, P. A. Honkirk. A committee meeting of the local branch was held after the annual meeting.

Mr J, Balsillie moved, “That this branch is of opinion that power should

be given to tlio Colonial Executive to fix the levy on individual members at such an amount as will allow for the appointment of canvassers for each province, and that they thus do away with tho colonial organiser. ’ Captain Hewitt; remarked that he was well aware that the colonial organiser covered a lot of ground and worked hard. His reports to tho executive were not specific, however, and though lie mentioned the fact that be had tramped so many miles on such and such a day, and’ had spoken for so many hours at this or that place, yet there was 'never any report of actual specific work. 'Hie motion, which was put in two sections, was carried. On the motion of Air Barber, it was decided to recommend to the executive that tho levy .should ho limited to 5s pel' annum per member. It was decided to ask tho Agricultural Department to appoint a noxious weeds inspector for tho district. The opinion was generally expressed by committeemen that Air Duncan, under whoso inspectorship tho nuisance is at present placed, has already sufficient to do as stock inspector, and that there is one man’s work in curbing tho growing evil of noxious weeds. Some discussion took place on tho Produce Exchange and mutual insurance proposals, but nothing of a definite nature was decided on in either case.

Air W. E. A. Slack said that he had for a long timo felt that Palmerston, and, indeed, tho North Island in general, required a fat stock market run on somewhat the same lines as tho Addington yards. At present- producers were unable to get fair value for their fat stock. Tho introduction of an open market would induce Farmers in the district to bestow more careful attention to tho breeding and rearing of their stock, and as a result this branch of their business would be, more profitable than at present. Aluch had been said of tho quality of Canterbury lambs, but lie was inclined to think that tho presence of tho Addington stock-yards (a concentrated market at which large buyers congregated) had much to do with the building up of this reputation. Just as good a class of stock could be bred in North Island as in tlio South, and just_as good a class was actually bred. In conversation, Air R. S. Abraham had expressed the opinion that ultimately fat stock markets would bo held in Masterton, Dannevirke, Palmerston North, Foilding, and AVanganui, and dates could b© so arranged that buyers could attend them all. Let Palmerston North lead the way. Mr Abraham had informed him that his firm would be willing to conduct the sales at a commission of 2r\ per cent., and would, in addition, offer a prize for the best fat stock put through the yards during the year. Air Bryant endorsed Air Slack’s remarks. At present there was no possibility of concentrating stock so that, by comparing them, a fair price might be gauged. - Air J. Balsillio said that at present everyone got the same price for his stock from the freezing companies, because the companies would only take what they wanted, -vO they’ wanted the best only. They only paid one price, and that was by no means a satisfactory one. Air Slack instanced a certain lot which recently fetched 12 s here. Southern buyers subsequently informed him that in the Addington market 20s would have been paid. Air Barber suggested that North Island breeders were introducing Romney strains tod freely, but Air Slack, who is a prize breeder of note, pointed out that the Romney and English Leicester strains were at present topping the market. Mr Bryant said that recently a batch of Shropshire cfoss lambs were passed in at a local sale at 10s 4d. The same lot were sent to Christchurch and sold at 16s 7d. ’ _ , , A voice: Doubtless us Cinitevbiuy lambs. , , „ ... Mr "Balsillio moved, “ That the, time has arrived when fat stock markets should le established in this district, and that tho other branches in the district be asked to co-operate in the matter.” The motion was carried unanimously.