FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 18

FARMERS' UNION.

The Gore- Farmers' Club has decided to amalgamate with the local Farmers' Union. The Balclutha Farmers' Union have elected the following officers for tho ensuing year: — Mes-srs J. Findlay (president), J. Paterson (secretary and treasurer), A. Houliston, R. Campbell, J. T. Stewart, W. Marshall, J. Christie, J R. Renton, T. Soper, J. M'Neil, W. Taylor, J. Begg, jun., J. A. Somerrille, J. F. Ay»on, and D. Murray. The following are the officials elected at the annual meeting of the Milton Farmers' Union, held on Tuesday: — Messrs Jas. Allifon (president), Geo. Martin, Thos. Falconer, H. M. Driver, Alex. Allison, K. Clark, W. Dunn, N. M' Arthur, Thos. Lowery, M. Finch, J. Tough, and D. Reid ; secretaiy, Mr A. Campbell (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr D. Reid (re-elected).

Some time ago the Riverodale branch of the. Farmers' Union communicated with the Railway Department with reference to running a train on Friday mornings to connect at Gore with the Clinton Invcrcargill service. The Railway Department lu> now decided to give the suggestion a ?r: inoiiiho' trial. From July, therefore, it has been arranged that the train shall leave Lum-dcn at 5.50 a.m., Balfour at 6.29, and Itiversdale at 6.55, and arrive at Gore at 7.50, connecting with the first ' train to Invercargill.

The annual meeting of the Chttli* branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union took place on the 24th nit., Mr John Findlay (president) in the chair. The. chairman said that before proceeding with the business, he wished to refer to the .sudden death of one of their members — Mr Jefferis. He liad known Mr Jefferis ever since he came to the colony, and always held him in the highest esteem. The secretary was instructed to write a letter of condolence to Mis Jefferis. — The secretary read the balance sheet of the branch for . the year ending March 31 last. From this it appeared that the receipts amounted to £20 15s, and the expenditure to £19 457 leaving a balance in hand of £1 lls. — A letter was- read from Mr Peter Nelson, agent for the insurance company, explaining that he had insured three old members and ten new members. These had to pay their <.üb.=oriptions as members of the union before being insured, and he handed in the amount of these subscriptions', £1 18*. — The secretary reported that he had got ten new members. He had also sent pnrceU of ticket? t- members, so that they might obtain new members, but a. considerable number had not yet reported the rf-nlts. — Tho chairman reported that he ha- attended and taken part in the meeting of delegates to the Provincial Conference hold in Dunedin. when a large numfier of uuc-ctiou^ \yei<i discussed, au,d the aund yf

the meeting »n these questions explained to the delegates appointed to attend the Colonial Conference to be held in Wellington in June. The Provincial Council had agreed that the subscription be for old members 3s a year, and for new members initiation Is, annual subscription 3s. — Mr Findlay was unanimously elected president for the ensuing year. .a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr John Patewon (the secretary) for his services.

A meeting of the Gor- Farmers' Club" was held on the 24th ult., for the purpose of further considering a proposal to merge with the local branch of the New Zeaalud Farmers' Union, Mr J. Falconer in the chair. Mr Henderson moved that the club merge with tho union. Mr Beattie pointed out that a previous resolution, carried on his motion, that the club do not merge, should first be rescinded" before action as proposed was taken. Mr Couttt (treasurer) stated that the leason why the club had not merged with the union at the last meeting was because they had not sufficient funds in hand to meet all liabilities. Since then he had collected enough subscriptions to pay off everything and leave them with a small balance in hand. He had notified the secretary of thaf. fact, and he had called the meeting that day to further consider the proposal to merge. On Mr Beattie's motion the resolution against merging was rescinded, and Mr Henderson's motion in favoui it merging carried unanimously. The monthly meeting -of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club took place on the 26tb ult.-, Mr W. J Livingston (president) in the chair. The president drew attention to the fact that the sheep dip was in & state of disrepair. Tt was decided that the necessary repair? be effected. — Mr Craig, in giving a. j brief report of the conference if delegates to the New Zealand Fanners' Union, j thought that it was not necessary for him lo say much, a? the members had no doubt road a report of the proceedings either in the Ota go Dailj Tinier or Tuapeka Times. He had no hesitation in saying that the union «o far had been a thorough success, and lie noticed, witt very great pleasure, that a number of young men were deeply interested in the movement, and several of them had been elected members of the . executive, which, in ins opinion, augured well for the future success of the union. So far it had every appearance of turning out a *,trong, beneficial organisation for the New Zealand fanner.. If they are moderate in their fleinand-, and, at the same time, carefully watch over their own interests and not get =plit up through political leanings to either party, he ventured to predict a great future for the New Zealand Farmers' Union. — Messrs Rose and Craig were appointed delegates to represent the club at the Agriculttual Conference to be held in Dunedin under the auspices of the • Otagt A. and P. Society at the time of their Winter show, ! June 25 to 27. '

A meeting of the Wairnate Lraneh of tlio New Zealand Farmers' Unidn was hold on the 24th ult. Mr Douglas, the president, and 20 members were present. A letter waa read from the Agricultural Department re the appointment of analysts at Dunedin and Christchuroh ; guaranteeing the genuineness of manures and seeds, and that a bill would be introduced respecting the destruction of small birds and the testing of jXHSOu for that j>un?os«. The sec-

retary was instructed to inform the department that winter is the best tiuie for poisoning, and to ask that something should be done before Parliament meets. — Lengthycorrespondence was read between Mr James Wilson, of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Wellington, and the War Office concerning the trade in New Zealand oats and? other produce to South Africa. It was resolved that the Wellington Farmers' Unionbe informed that this branch highly approves of the action taken by Mr Wilson. — Mr Corcoran, one of the delegates to the late South Canterbury Conference at Timaru, reported that all the recommendations from, the Waimate branch were approved and adopted, and will he sent to headquarters. — It was announced that ladies are eligible for admission to membership, and numbers are being enrolled. At the last meeting of the Scott's Gap. (Southland) Farmers' Club a resolution was carried that the club become a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr J. Dickson ; secretary and treasurer, Mr M'Kay ; committee, Messrs J. Thornton, Noble, and J. C. Forde. A meeting of the Waikaka, Valley branch o£ the New Zealand .Farmers' Union was, held on the 23rd ult., Mr M'Phail in the chair. The chairman, in the course of his inaugural address, referred to the want of interest evinced by the younger members of the branch in hocial and political questions, and pointed out the opportunities the various .subjects brought up for discussion afc these meetings afforded them of acquiring information which would be at least interesting, and might prove profitable. He proceeded to say:— There is a vast amount of knowledge just outside the domain of practical agriculture which the majority of farmers are ignorant of. and thoy are reaping the fruits of knowledge discovered by a few who have a higher conception of life and its purposes. Take, for instance, the constitution of soils and the composition, and analysis of manures. " How* little do we know about such subjects, t^iotwithstanding the fact that we are, in our own estimation at least, good farmers? But I hope the members of this Lraneh will recognise that there are matters beyond the routine of the farm which should demand our earnest attention, and that farming even good land could become a most impleasant occupation. You will understand that I am alluding to legislation. There is a great cry in the towns that rhe landless workers are bearing an unfair share of tho burden of taxation. We must therefore be prepared to fight the social battles of the future, and to that end! we should study the social problems of the day. As regards social problems in the past and even yet, in spite of the activity of town workers, I am afraid it must be confessed that the country people, especially 1 the farmers, are very apathetic, and that they are- behind the times. The speaker concluded by reading an extract from a; work by an English writer, Mr W. J. Dawson, on "The Religion of Citizenship." £1 hearty vote of thanks was accorded the/ chairman for his address. — Mr H. SmitH gave a brief report of the recent conference, and received a vote of thanks for his «er•vices as delegate. — On the motion of_Mr Gilchrist it was resolved to hold meetings once in two months in future, next meeting to take place towards the end of July.~Th«