FARMERS’ UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 15

FARMERS’ UNION

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF REMITS INCREASED SUBSCRIPTIONS DISCUSSED The subject of increased subscriptions was brought up at the quarterly meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union during a discussion on the Organising Committee’s report. The recent Dominion Conference had decided upon an increase to 30s and a statement was released explaining the grounds for the increase. The subject was discussed in committee, and the statement was as follows: “At the recent Dominion Conference, the subscription for membership to the Farmers’ Union was increased to 30s. The Otago delegates, in accordance with their instructions, moved an amendment to the effect that the subscription be fixed at 255. This was heavily defeated, most of the delegates considering that the union activities were being stultified for lack of funds. The Auckland delegates stated that their subscription had been reduced from 30s to 255, without any appreciable difference to the membership. They had, in fact, come to the conclusion that the reduction had been a retrograde step. “Members asked the position in re* gard to orders, and it was agreed that it would be desirable to get every member on i,o the > 30s subscription basis as soon as possible. The president (Mr R. S. Thompson) occupied the chair, and also present were Messrs D. H. Cockburn •Queenstown) , R. H. Michelle (Milton), D. Grant (Lovell’s Flat), G. P. Howell (Middlemarch), C. J. Inder (Dunedin). J. A. Johnston (BalcluthaL W Lee (Waikouaiti). R. McCaw (Waitahuna). W. J. Marshall (Berwick). J. McKMorgan (Oturebua). A. Orbell (Waxkouaiti) W Sutherland (Clinton). A. Sooor (Pine Hill). T.Stockdill (Miller s Flat). Stuart Sim (Crookston). W A. Scaife (Pembroke). F. Waite. M.L.C. (Balclutha).-James Begg (Dimedin), C Cameron (Dunedin). A welcome was “tended by tte chmrngni » Messrs Grant. Johnston, and Orbell, three new members of the executive. Committees Elected The following committees were Sl Organising Committee. - Messrs Michelle. Thompson. Cameron. Inder. Morgan. Sim, Stockdill. Grant. Emergency Committee. Messrs Michelle. Thompson. Sim. Lee Waite, Cameron. Inder. Begg. and A. C. Leary ' Committee. Messrs Michelle. Sim. Clark. Cameron, C Mr b A. n 'c. Leary was appointed an honorary member of the I c° u ncil ana its representative on the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. The nomination of Mr lan D. Revie as the council’s representative on the Meat Board Electoral Committee was confirmed, and Mr S. R. Whyte was appointed to represent the council on the Vocational Guidance Association. Lorry Charges Correspondence was received from the Southland executive with reference to lorry charges, and it was noted that representatives would visit Dunedin this evening for a conference with the Otago Council. . ..... Mr Cameron and the secretary (Mi E. Calder) were appointed to arrange for delegates to represent the Otago Council at the conference. Branch Remits The South Taieri branch’s remit advocating that canine distemper be scheduled under the Stock Act. and that Government veterinary officers carry out the work of anti-distemper vaccination in those areas where the services of veterinary surgeons in private practice could not be made available at a reasonable cost, was carried. The Cromwell branch’s recommendation that the movement towards the unification of primary producer organisations be given urgent consideration and wholehearted support, was the subject of favourable comment, Mr Cockburn outlining a strong case for its adoption. . .... The number of members by this time having dwindled to 11, less than that required for a quorum, the remaining delegates formed themselves into a committee and recommended the adoption of the remit by the next meeting of the council. An additional recommendation was that the executive should further discuss the matter with a view to encouraging the organisation within the province. “That the Government be approached with a view to the establishment of a chair of veterinary science in the University of New Zealand was a remit forwarded by the Palmerston branch. Mr Grant pointed out that the conference had only just passed a motion censuring the Government for its extravagance. and that it should not urge the establishment of an uneconomic scheme. , , The remit was referred to the next meeting. , , The committee recommended the adoption of the Lawrence branch’s remit that the Government be urged to remove the 5 per cent, sales tax on lubricating oil used in farm tractors. The committee decided to inform the Glenomaru branch, in connection with its remit, that in the committee’s opinion the Meat Board was doing everything possible to find means of utilising old ewes to better advantage.