FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19102, 22 February 1924, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union was held yesterday afternoon,' and was attended by the president (Mr E. H. Murney), Messrs J. Christie, J. Clarke, J. A. Macpherson, , M.P., A. C. Leary, and J. D. Edgar. Mr Andrew (president of the Otago A. , and P. Society) attended at the invitation ” of the executive. A circular letter from the New Zealand Union to provincial secretaries notified that the following resolution was passed at the recent executive meeting:—“That the question of the method of electing the . members of the Meat Control Board be • referred to the Provincial Executive for discussion and opinion.” _ • Mr Leary moved: —“That this executive is in favour of the present method of . electing the Meat Control Board, but considers that ample time before the election - of the electoral committee takes place - should be given to those interested, to " look into the merits of tnose nominated.” Mr Macpherson ifioved as an amend- A ment, and Mr Edgar seconded, th#t tue same system as that adopted in. the. Dairy Control election be adopted in the election of the Meat Control Board, or any system by which a direct vote of the, producers can be obtained. Mr Macp&erson farther said that he was opposed to the present American "college” method, maintaining that the actual producer should have some direct say m the election of j delegates. He referred to the wire fran- «f chise methods whereby the actual producer j had a direct vote in the elections, of members of the heard. —The amendment was The president of the North Canterbury ~ Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union ■ wrote advising that he had received a ■ letter from the Minister of Agriculture stating that he would arrange to be in Christchurch on the occasion of the Wheatgrowers’ Conference, and suggesting that the union- should do all it possibly could to obtain from the majority of wheatgrowers, at any rate, an indication of the conditions under which they were prepared to grow wheat next year. Apparently the Minister considered that this could he best -done by arranging a series of meetings of wheatgrowers in the different districts of Canterbury and Otago. The date fixed for the conference was February 27, at Christchurch, when the matter would be discussed by delegates from the different districts, with a view to presenting a resolution to the Minister in the afternoon. The writer asked that the matter be brought before the executive, and that the . executive then advise whether it was prepared to co-operate in the matter and also whether it considered fiat it would be desirable to arrange joint meetings. with, the local A. and P. Societies. If the executive were in favour of that course he hoped that it would oommnnicate direct with the A. and P, Association as there was not much time between now and the date of the conference. He added that . the cpnference was the result of a proposal of the chairman of the Wheat Board (Mr G. W. Leadley) that farmers should negotiate as to the price of next-- season’s wheat before they sowed the crop, and both Mid and North Canterbury were in accord with that proposal Mr Leary said that it was time the Government interference was “knocked on the head.” but if prices were to be fixed at the conference they should have some savin the fixation. Other members expressed similar views Mr Macpherson moved that the invitation of the Wheat Board be accepted and that a delegate be sent; that the president be appointed the delegate to represent Otago; and that the A. and P. Society bo asked to send a delegate to co-operate with the Farmers’ Union delegate. Mr Leary moved that the delegate bo instructed to place before the conference the executive’s views, which axe opposed to fixation of prices, but in the event of fixation to do his best in the interests of the producers. Subsequently, however, iha withdrew his motion. Mr Macpherson said that he would rather see the delegate go with a free hand until he got all the facts placed before him. The wheat question was a very big one, and involved much money and labour. He would like the matter to be. left entirely in the hands of the delegate. Mr Leary said he Vas prepared to agree to Mr Macpherson’s contention, as. he was satisfied that no' delegate could go from Otago and be opposed to fixation of prices. The dominion secretary wrote asking an opinion as to whether the provincial executives were in favour of (a) a fiat, . tax oh all motor vehicles; "(b) a tyro tax . alone, fc) a tyre tax together with a petrol tax.—Mr Leary summarised the scheme as outlined bv the Minister of Public-Works. He said that the Minister was in favour of the petrol tax. With the tyre tax, ho said, they would not only have to pay-the tax but also the wholesalers’ and retailors’ profit over and above the tax. The petrol tax would be collected by a system of ‘ stamps. He thought the petrol tax to be the fairer, because the actual user had to pay the tax in accordance with the horse-power and weight of his machine. It must not be lost sight of that this tax was purely for the maintenance of roads. Mr Macpherson said that the consensus ( of opinion in Britain was that the petrol tax was the most equitajile and just that " could be applied. He moved, and Mr Leary seconded, that if in the opinion of the Government further taxation was necessary that it be by a tax on petrol. - ' The Milton branch wrote stating that for the convenience of farmers a copy of the brands and ear-marks of local farmers should be supplied to the local stock inspectors Mr Christie moved, and Mr M‘Pherson seconded, that the matter be referred to the Minister of the department concerned. The hon. secretary of the Tahatika branch of the union wrote complaining of the condition of the phosphorised poisoned pollard as sent out by the department, and asking that the matter be placed before Mr Nosworthv. The writer also asked why the local stock inspectors were not keeping a stock on hand for the farmers when they needed it.—lt was decided to refer the letter to the local officer in charge of the department.