N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 18

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

A meeting of the Win ton branch wa« held on the 19th hist., and, notwithstanding that ft wa= one of the loveliest moonlight nights imaginable, there wore only five farmers pro■eut—viz., Messrs J. K. I>a (voted to the icltair), John Oowic* (Winton), .James Thomson (Winton Plains), bohu Scott (Hokonui), Snd Alex. Fra«er (Lnchiel). The clerk (Mr Vm. Ru-boll). aft"r the minutes of the prefceding meeting had been adopted, said, in answer to the chairman, that there was no correspondence- and no business to tiansact. The reason for s,uch a sparse attendance was (then disciibsed. Mr Cowic thought that the meetings of the branch would be much snore successful if they were held in the afternoon, which would enable those living «t a distance to get home before darkness eet in. He moved that the next meeting should, as an experiment, be called for [Tuesday, 16th September, at half-past 2. The ■notion was seconded and carried.

There was an attendanoe of a dozen members at the nieetinjr of the Tapanui branch pa the 16th inst., Mr George Howat (presiIdont) in the chair. A hearty vote of thanks ',was accorded Messrs Quin and Rodger for /the use of hall for meetings. — In the matter )of increasing the membership of the branch, jthe Chairman reported that he found the email settlers biassed against the union, ou ffche grounds that its main abject was to oust (the present Government, an opinion quite jerroneous. Such an argument could not be applied, as the union contained just as many members in favour of the present Government as opposed to it." The secretary re» ported that 37 members had now been ?nfrolled, with the promise of a few more. The XJhairman did not think the farmers should he so dilatory in joining the union, but should decide one way or the other. In the tnattei of politics," the "Chairman considered that entering into party politics would prove the quickest way to kill the union. At the Barns time, there were matters that required their consideration. In individual electorates It was necessary io satisfy themselves that the men elected to represent them in Parliament should know their requirements and be in sympathy with them. Question were

continually arising in the House that wanted to be put forcibly before Government, as, for instance, the running of steamers to South Africa, and also the protection of the frozen meat trade at Home. Mr Cleg horn suggested the formation of a committee to put questions to candidates at the general election. The Chairman then read the platform and objects of the union, as supplied in printed form from the headquarters of the union. — The planks aud objects of tho organisation appeared to meet with th» approval of the meeting. — The Chairman was deputed to attend the next meeting of the Crookston Fanners' Union, to confer with that branch in the matter of selecting a candidate to contest tho Clutha seat at next general election.— lt was decided that a committee be formed to question candidates on matters of interest to the farmers, the committee to consist of th» chaicman, secretary, and Messrs Cleghorn, Jas. Sim, and John Howat.

A meeting of members of the Pleasant Point branch was held on the 18th inst. About 45 members were present, Mr A. Oleland being in the chair. A long discus-j-ion took place as to the decision of the Executive Conference lately held in Wellington not to enter the law courts as against any other union. Mr O. H. Verity and some others being of opinion that if the Farmers' Union was to be rated as non-combatant it would become simply a sentimental aud peace-at-any-pnee association. Mr Acton objected to any tuch view of the position, explaining that there was a very wide field for usefulness outside the law courts. Ultimately a resolution was passed affirming that, in the opinion of this branch, the Farmers' Union ought to be placed in a position to contest in the law courts the demands of any other industrial union. — The secretaiy was requested by resolution to write to th-© Woolgrowera' Association and inquire if they would render active assistance to th© mill-owners, since they, or most of them, were growers of grain as well as wool. — The proposed amendmont to the Fisheries Conservation Act was fully discussed, and a resolution was parsed pointing out the injustice and the violation of every private right which would result from ghing a legal right to every man who paid for a fishing license to make himself "at homo" on all the farms of the colony. This resolution is to be at onco sent on to the member for the district. — Many members paid their Is subscription towards the Mill-owners' Dofence Fund, it being recognised that it was the fanners who were practically to be defended. — The Chairman expressed the hope that members would pay up their subscriptions, in order to make up the roll for the current year.

At a meeting ot the Farmers' Union at Timaru it was resolved to make a levy of Is per member to assist in defrajing the cost of defending a case brought by tho Waimate Labour Union against throshing-mill owners.

The* Wnikaka Vallfv branch of tho Far- , mera' Union met oa Friday #v#aiogt iV\^

reference to the proposal made by the Gore branch, to form a deputation to wait upon the auctioneers to endeavour to induce them to reduce the commission on the sale of hor=,e3 to 2£ per cent., it was resolved to take no action, as the commission at present charged, 5 per cent., was not too high. The following motions were cariied unanimou&Jy: — "That this branch disapproves of the charge known as grooms' fees, and that the owners of stallions travelling in the district be asked to abolish them." "That the branch set asid« one or two night? for the discussion of political sxibiects "

ASHBURTON, August 24. At a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Farmers' Union on Saturday Mr G. "W, Leadlty, president of the North Canterbury branch and vice-president of the Colonial Conference, stated that the union had been twitted with being a party organisation, got up to oust the present Government. He gave tho statement a flat denial. There was not a. word of truth in it. There was nothing in the policy of the union which aimed at that. It did not matter what party a candidate supported, if he supported the union's platform he was their man. Mr Leadley briefly traversed the planks of the platform, and concluded by stating. " Our politics are our own,"