THE THRESHING QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10571, 18 January 1896, Page 8

THE THRESHING QUESTION.

An *djonrned meeting of farmers wag held at O'Kauo's Hotel, Mosgiel; last nigkt,' to consider the threshing question. Mr James Onghton presided, and the following farmers were also present: —Messrs John Nimmo, R. Gibson, David Andrew, R. G»wn, K. Sroellie, T. Gawn, R. Webster, A. Hastie, R. Toad, P. Ford, W. Smith; and J. H. Allan. •

Mr R. Web3teu, one of the deputation appointed at last meeting to interview the millowners in the West Taieri district, raid one of the millowcers had agreed to thresh any way at all. Mr Hastib said thst was only one millowner. Another who was interviewed would not agree to anything. Mr R. Gaws, who interviewed the millowners in East Taieri, in company with Mr Gibson, said Mr Blackie did not give them a decided answer as to what he would do. Mr Kirklaod aaid he would thresh by the bushel, bnt he wanted to employ five of the mill hands himself acd allow tbe farmers to get the rest and feed and pay them. The speaker proceeded to refer to the sm&Hness of the mesting, and said that as there did not appear to be much interest taken in the question he thought they bad hotter lot every man "paddle his own canoo.".

The Chairman said that seemed to be the general feeling of the meetiDg, and he was of that mind himself.

Mr Hastie said if they came to that conclusion it would make them look very foolish in the eyes of the millowoers. Now that the millowners were waiting outside to attend the meeting the best tiling to do was to grant the m sn interview, and thre9h the question out afterwords.'

It was agreed to invita the millowners to be present, and Messrs John Brown, William Kirkland, A. M'Donald, R. M'Kegg, and W. Blackie appeared before the meeting. The ChaiekaN, in addressing them, said he understood that they were present to give the meeting their views on the threshing question. The farmers wished to thresh by contract.

Mr E. M'Kegg : I suppose you have decided upon what you are going to do then ? We would like to know what your terms are ?

The Chaieman : So far as that goes we wish to have the threshing dona by contract. We want to know whether you are agreeable to th»t. That is the leDgth we have got at tha present timrj.

Mr M'Krog : Of course we want to gee what yoa ere going to do.

The Chaikman : In what way ? Mr M'Keqg : What you are going to give by the bushal.

Mr Gibson eaid that would be a matter of arrangement between th? farmers and the millowEers. Different farmers would have to give different prices,

Mr M'Kegg ssid the millowners would have to make a bargain at each place they went to then.

Mr Gibson : Yon might do so, so long as you aro agreeable to thresh by the bushel.

Mr M'Keog said at a meeting of millowners held on the previous night at Outrani,-when 10 millowners were present, representing 15 mills, it was unanimously resolved to adhere to tha following resolution:—" That for the following season no threshing be done in the Taieri unices at per day, and at tbe rate ef 7s 6i per hour for traction engines, aud at the rate of 6s 3d per hour for portable engines."—The following had agreed to the resolution:—Walter Blackie, Wm. Kirkland, R. M'Kegg. X. Christie, John Brown, M'Leod Bros., J. M'Donaid, G. M'Donaid, Daniel Heeuan, Alex. M'Donaid, David Carrnthnrs, Charles Robinson, K. Robinson, John Dow, and Matthew Brown. The Chairman : This resolution leaves little room for any diaenssion on our part. I think all I can" do in the name of the meeting is to thank you for your attendance and for your resolution, which puts us out of pain anyway. The millowners then withdrew, and it was resolved to discuss the matter further iv private. At the conclusion of the meeting the secretary informed the reporters that the following resolution had been unanimously carried:—" That the Taieri farmers offer a good season's threshing to good mills and traction engines on the Taieri Plain; all communications to.be sent to the secretary bsfore the Ist of February."