FEDERATED FARMERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26233, 17 August 1946, Page 4

FEDERATED FARMERS

NORTH OTAGO EXECUTIVE Mr W. Doig (chairman) presided at the monthly meeting of the North- Otago Executive of Federated Farmers yesterday morning. There were also present— Messrs A. McMillan, S. Perry. JW. Malcolm, R. McKerrow, J. H. Mitchell, W. J. Whalan, A. Cuthbertson, J. H. McCaw, W. Muldrew, J. E. Ewing, G. Grant and I. J. Robertson. . The North Otago Progress League Irrigation Farm, Ltd., advised that the Public Works Department’s machines and experts were operating on the company's farm at Awamoko. —Received. The engineer of the Waitaki Electric Power Board (Mr N. A. Davidson) asked for co-operation from the executive and branches in furnishing particulars for the rural electrical reticulation scheme. The records were required whether or not the persons concerned were immediately desrious of receiving supply— Received. The South Canterbury executive advised that Mr C. R. Barnett, of Winchester, had been nominated as the deputy on the Dominion Executive to Mr W. 'Malcolm, for the combined districts,Received. The South Canterbury Executive wrote supporting the North Otago suggestion to the Dominion Executive, and a local organiser for North Otago and South Canterbury be appointed.—Received. Subscription Scale A circular setting out the proposed subscription scale was received from Dominion headquarters. Mr W. Malcolm said the one weakness of the scale was the basing of membership on individual turnover figures. A member with a holding of a capital value of £IOOO, would pay £1 subscription. The anomaly occurred when holdings of a capital value of £2OOO to £SOOO would come under the £2 scale. There were 19,000 holdings of the latter capital value in the country, and he thought an increase could be fairly made on the £2 subscription. Mr Malcolm also thought that the statutory boards (meat and wool, etc.), should contribute In some measure from their funds. If that was done it would be a much fairer method of obtaining funds to operate the organisation. He moved that the delegates to the Dominion conference be instructed to support the suggestion that funds should be drawn from the statutory boards, and that a flat rate in addition be imposed on ail members. Mr J. Kingan seconded the motion, which was carried. It was decided to alter the date ot the executive meeting from the third Friday of each month to the fourth Friday so as to allow North Otago representatives to attend meeting of the South Canterbury executive. Mr J. E. Ewing reported on the recent conference of dairy producers, and put forward problems facing the milk suppliers of the South Island. Branch Remits The following branch remits were received : Lower Waitaki: “That legal opinion be obtained as to the liability of the Railways Department where fires were started by passing trains.”—lt was decided to write to Mr W. L. Roberts, commercial agent, New Zealand Railways, Dunedin. Hampden-Waianakarua: “That the Railways Department be approached and requested to concrete the trucking pens at Kartigi, and that the loading race at the Hampden stock yards be altered, as at present lambs could get through Detween the race and the trucks.’’ —The remits were referred to the chairman to interview the Oamaru station master.