N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18320, 10 August 1921, Page 9

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION

BRANCH MEETINGS.

Mr Keenan presided over the monthly meeting of the Greenfield branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The inconvenience caused by the lack of an oil engine on the Tuapeka Mouth punt was discussed, and the secretary was instructed to write to the clerks of the Tuapeka and Clutha County Councils asking that steps b© taken to have one installed. It was resolved to ask the Minister of Justice what is being done in the matter of remitting the fines imposed on Tuapeka Mouth farmers recently prosecuted under the Rabbit Nuisance Act. The branch decided to take no action this season to procure the services of a horse for stud purposes. Mr Keenan intimated his desire to be relieved of the chairmanship. The resignation wae accepted with, regret, and the appointment of a successor was left till next meeting. Mr Skinner was appointed delegate to the Rabbit. Nuisance Conference. The threshing-mill workers’ award was fully discussed at the meeting of the Clydevale branch, and a special committee was set uo to deal with present and proposed awards. The secretary was instructed to ask the Balclutha branch to call a conference at Balclutha of all South Otago branches and Tapanui Sub-provincial district to discuss the mill-workers’ award and the proposed farm labourers’ award, and also to consider the advisability of the Fanners’ Union having an office of its own in Dunedin where the secretary should devote the whole of his time to the union’s_ business. Some members thought the union should bo registered under the Arbitration Act. and it was decided to ask the Provincial Executive what objections there were to such registration. The branch supported the proposal to instal a live stock weighbridge at Burnside. The secretary was instructed to make inquiries as to whether the County Council was supplying bird poison. The Popotunoa branch at. its last meeting discussed the terms and conditions of the threshing-mill workers’ award and the demands of the shearers for the incoming season. The conclusion arrived at was that settlers could not afford to pay the wages nor comply with the conditions scheduled under the present and proposed awards. The question of rural mail deliveries was discussed, and the opinion of the meeting was that back-block settlers should not have to nay subsidies for their deliveries. The Otekaike branch has decided to forward to the Provincial Executive its suggestions as to the wages to bo paid to threshing-mill hands and the time to bo allowed for shifting, etc. The opinion was expressed that a farm labourers’ union would bo unworkable. The proposal to establish a live stock weighbridge at Burnside was favourably received. Mr A. H. Chapman was appointed delegate to the Rabbit Nuisance Conference.

The chief business at the last meeting of the Mosgiel branch was the consideration of the' threshing-mill workers’ award and the proposed farm labourers’ award. The views of the meeting having been ascertained. it was decided to communicate with the other branches on the Taieri Plain with the object of having a uniform recommendation sent forward to the Provincial Executive. A meeting of the Tapanui Sub-provineial District was attended by representatives from all the branches in the disHet. The correspondence showed widespread interest was being taken in the endeavour to obtain the instigation of a live stock weighbridge at Burnside Paleyirds. The provincial secretary had asked the B-devards Company to meet representatives of the upion to discuss the matter, and a committee had been appointed to meet the company if a conference was agreed to. The proposal to form a new county in order to link un with the Southland Hospital district r T: d not commend itself to the meeting. The wnsto of money that was going on through the ohso joto methods of rnad-pinking emnlnvpd hv a CrOVernm p nt department in the vieinitv of Tapanui was severely commented upon particularly as i* apne-mpd that the work was far beyond what was necessary.