FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2076, 7 December 1893, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

A meeting of delegates was held at the Council Chambers, Milton, on Wednesday, 29fch ult., for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of forming a South Otago Farmers' Union, composed of the various farmers' clubs in Tuapeka, Bruce, Clutha, and Taieri counties. There were present : Messrs M. Henderson (Tokomairiro, in the chair), Williams (Tuapeka West), Prentice (Berwick), Dunn and Falconer (Gore), Cameron and M'Ara (Waifcahuna).

Mr Cameron said this matter had been under consideration by his club for some time, and they had recognised the fact that something of the kind was required. One of their memhers, Mr Craig, had suggested the advisability of forming a union embracing Bruce, Tuapeka, Taieri, and Clutha counties. This suggestion had been approved of, and the various clubs were communicated with, the result being that they nearly all agreed to send delegates to the present meeting. His club had been asked to prepare a draft constitution, which had been circulated, and which he would now read : —

1. This union shall be called the South Otago Farmers' Union. Its object shall be to unite tho farmers of the counties of Taieri, Brace, Olutha, and Twapeka, to support the election"of candi. dates' for seats in Parliament who are thoroughly in sympathy with the farmers' interests, and to keep members of Parliament posted in all matters likely to advance the legitimate interests of the bonafide producer. 2. This union shall be composed of its officers and of the delegates appointed by the several clubs and agricultural and pastoral associations and districts in which no organised body exists who join and aTe registered membere. 3. Every farmers' club, agricultural and pastoral association or district in which nd organised bpdy exists may become memhers of this union on paying the fee of to the treasurer ! and, on presentation of receipt of said fee, shall be registered in the register of the union. 4. Every farmers' club ( agricultural and pastoral

[ association or district, after paying its entrance fee and being registered, may appoint — — dele- | gates, who shall have the right to sit and vote at all meetings of the union so long as the entrance fee fixed by the delegates is paid, or till notice ! in writing under the hand of the secretary of the I club, association, or district he represents has been received by the secretary of the union, giving the appointment, name, and postal address of his successor. 5. The officers and delegates shall meet at Milton at such time and place as shall be fixed by the ExecutiveJCommittee, and such meeting, shall be called meetings, and may be adjourned from time to time till the business is concluded. 6. The delegates assembled at the annual meeting shall elect an Executive Committee, who shall have power to deal with and finally determine all matters of an executive nature, as well as all other matters that may be referred to it by resolution of the delegates in meeting assembled, and may hold meetings whenever it considers it requisite to do so. 7. The Executive Committee of the union shall consist of the president, vice-president, treasurer, and two other members of the union (three to form a quorum), and may out of the funds of the union liquidate all accounts, pay a secretary and any other person whose services are obtained or who may be employed by the committee to advance the interests of the union ; and may make rules, regulations, and orders which shall have force till revoked by the committee or vetoed by the union. The financial proposals suggested as to the best means of raising the necessary funds for the efficient working the proposed union, without being oppressive, collectively or individually, are : — 1. Each club, association, or district joining the union should contribute not less that two guineas annually. 2. Each individual member of the club, association, or district to contribute annually, say, 23. 3. Let any others of the farming community, not members of any organised body, become members of the union by contributing, say, 4s annually. | 4. Delegates' expenses attending meetings of the executive or annual meeting to be paid out of the ; funds of the union. Mr Cameron had to apologise for the absence of Mr Craig, who was suffering from a severe illness. He was sorry to see that only five out of the nine clubs communicated with were j represented at the meeting. Mr M'Ara said he thought they would all agree with him when he said the time was I now ripe when they should make an effort to assert their right and watch over their j interests collectively, and he thought the only way they could do so effectively was by uniting, as was proposed, by forming a union, as he thought they would all agree that no matter how energetic a farmers' club might be their efforts were only, as it were, individual, and their influence only local. In fact, there were matters that affected their interests for which they, as individual clubs, could hardly ever expect to get any redress. Take, for instance, that imposition of the 2£ per cent, discount for cash upon the sale of wheat, and bags given in. Now that was a matter which they, as farmerß, should try and do away with, and he thought the only effective way in which they could do bo was by the formation of a central union as was proposed, which would be the means of making themselves known and heard upon all matters affecting the farming interest, and proving the soundness or otherwise of their opinions, advance the claims of the i farmers in a more decided form, and show that ! they knew their wants and that they meant to ! stand up for them and not be as hitherto ; as any attempt to better their position had been taken very little notice of. He asked them to contrast the apathetic feeling- that prevailed amongst the farmers in looking after their interests with other trades. There was not another calling but had its organisation to look after its interests in a practical manner. Now he asked if they, the representatives of the principal industry of the colony, should stand silently by and not make an effort to help themselves ? The next thing to consider was the financial aspect of the proposed union, because upon that depended the whole success of the movement. If they could not agree to raise sufficient funds to pay a good energetic secretary, and other incidental expenses which would be»required for the working of the union, then he said it was of no use going any further in the matter, because from experience gained in the 1 past with the New Zealand Farmers' Union he ] found that unless they had a paid secretary, I and one that would take a deep interest in the movement, it would turn out a failure. It I [ would be uphill work for some time, but he thought that with patience and perseverance ' all their troubles would be overcome, and that then they would have an organised body in their midst that would have a beneficial effect upon j I the farming interest commercially and politi- | cally. If they had the interests of the pro- I j posed union at heart they must be prepared to make some self-sacrifice. He moved — "That a farmers' union bo formed to be called the ' South Otago Farmers' Union, embracing the counties of Bruoe, Taieri, Clutha, and Tuapeka." Mr Williams seconded the motion. He was entirely in accord with much that had been said, especially so far as the 2£ per cent, was , concerned. Mr Dunn said the Gore Club had been represented in the New Zealand Farmers' Union by their president, Mr Bell, who was also president of the union. When he heard of this meeting he had called a meeting of his club, when a resolution waa passed favouring the formation of this union ; though they were not empowered to aay that the Gore Club would join at onoe. He was in fullest sympathy with the union. He thought the advantages were quite patent, but doubted if they would J gob the farmers to join. It seemed to him that they could never be got to unite. They would rather vote for the closing of publichouses than for the destruction of small birds, or for denominational j education rather than for getting cheaper cari riage of lime, and many other things of a like nature. Mr Bell, their president, waß of opinion that this union would not be any more successful than those that had preceded it. He considered that if they o^uld not get the members o£ one olub to agree to certain action they would never get delegates to agree. Mr Falconer had not cooas to say much, but more to listen to others. There were miiiy matters, however, which were of great interest to them as farmers and which would be dealb with by the union. Mr Prentice said his club was in favour of the formation of a union, but \yaa not prepared to commit itself to the financial proposals as they qfcood, In hi^ opinion what killed the other Union was the time the meetings were summoned for--Dunedin Show day. The Chairman said so far as his club was concerned he could only repeat what Mr Prentice had said. He was in favour of the union, but, like Mr Dunn, had grave doubt 3if it could be carried out. There seemed to bo a \ja.»t of cohesion among farmers, vsdpU was fatal to everything they They got into a state of uelfishnosp, aqd could nob see that iQon'ey spent for the. whole waa well spent. On behalf of his olub he would support the motion. The motion, being put to the meeting, was carried. Mr Prentice moved— "Ti«& w view of the

small attendance the meeting be adjourned to a date to be fixed by the Waitahuna Club." Mr Williams seconded the motion, which was carried. — Bruce Herald.