FARMERS’ UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL A meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of ,the New Zealand Farmers Union was held on Thursday and was attended by the following members: Messrs W. Lee (president), J, W. Wilson, A. S Orbell, R. McCaw, C. S. Harris, A. C. Cameron, A. C. Leary, A. Christie, G. Crawford, J. F. Drake, S. Sim, D. Grant, J. C. Elliot, G. A. Bain, E. B. Boyd. Messrs T. E. Whiteside, J. Burnett, J. R. Maginness, J. C. Begg were also present. Committees Appointed The following Standing Committees were elected:—Finance Committee: Messrs McCaw, Leary, Lee, Sim, and Cameron. Emergency Committee: Messrs McCaw, Sim, James Begg, Lee, Leary, Cameron, and Inder. Organising Committee: Messrs McCaw, Lee, Inder, Leary, Cameron, Orbell. Dairy Committee: Messrs Lee, Crawford, and Wilson, with power to add. The following were appointed to represent the council on various bodies: Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Mr E. H. Calder; Vocational Guidance Association, Mr J. W. Wilson; Ancillary Transport Association. Mr Gilbert Crawford; Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, Lee and John Andrew. • Fat Stock Sales With respect to fat stock sales it was decided to invite each province to send three delegates representing the Farmers' Union, three representing graziers and fatteners, three representing stock agents, three representing butchers, and one representing pig raisers to a conference which will be held in Dunedin on Thursday and Friday, at which four representatives of the Government will be present. The following delegates were nominated to represent the Farmers’ Union:—The president, Mr McCaw, and Mr Cameron. Mr Leary to substitute for any delegate unable to attend. It was reported that the following persons had been nominated to represent the fatteners and graziers of Otago :—Messrs R. T. Kirk, W. Lindsay, and Alex. Murray. Mr George Masters had been appointed to represent the pig raisers of Otago. Upper Clutha Irrigation

A letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce asking for support to the Upper Clutha irrigation scheme. Mr C. S. Harris, of Cromwell, stressed the importance of irrigation to that district, and gave examples of the tremendous increase in productivity where water was available. There were, he said. 663,000 acres of Crown land which was at present worthless, and which was at a level of approximately 200 feet above the Clutha River. Under irrigation it would be wonderfully productive. There were a further 26,000 acres suitable for irrigation at a level of approximately 300 feet. He considered it would be a major scheme fdr soldiers’ settlement in the South Island, and felt it should be supported by all public bodies in Otago. It was agreed that the council should support the two Upper Clutha branches of the Farmers’ Union and do everything possible to further the scheme. It was also agreed to co-operate with the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce in this respect.