N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 16

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

After several meetings in regard to a rise in harvesters' vages in the Tokomairiro district, a meeting of the Farmers' I'nion in Milton on Tuesday night pledged themselves to give the old ra.te of payment — 9d an hour and found, or Hid and the men feed themselves. No threshing mill to operate unless the owner agreed a pay those wages. Farmers at Apaiima are forming a new branch of the Farmers' Union. The monthly meet.ng of the Gore branch y.-aa held :«i the 14th mat., Mi D. Clark in the ;hair. The Provincial Secretary wrote stating that arrangements had been lompleted with Mr Patfrson to visit all the branches in turn. He enclosed a list of dates of his visit*. — The Secretary of tho Milton branch wrote asking for information re the currant rate of wages paid for harvesting and ,hre3hing in the Gore district. jA meeting of hit. branch was being held to dk'cuse th- matter. The secretary was instructed to reply stating that the rate last year was lOd per hour, and that it would probably be the same this year. It was stated that in parte of the district the wage was 9d, but in Gore it was lOd. — A letter was received from Mr James G. Wilson, president of the union, stating that the negotiations re fire insurance had not been successful. Mr K>r*cbride, M.H.R., has undertaken to bring in a bill next ses€ion, on the lines of tho Ontario Insurance Act, to enable fa'm?rs to mutually insure themselves and reduce the cost. Branches were- le- !

quested to exert every effort to secure their members' assistance in passing the Mutual Insurance Bill through the House. It wa6 decided to consider the suggestions contained in tho circular at next meeting, and that Mr M'Nab, M.H.R., be asked to accord his support to Mr Kirkbride's Bill. — In a communication from the Provincial Secretary attention was direoted to the following matters : — Branch secretaries were reminded timt the annual conference of the Sonth1 land provincial district was to be held early in April. It would be necessary to elect a delegate to the Provincial Conference, and, further, to confirm the action of last conference in deciding that the subscription for the ctti3uing year Fhould not be less than ICte. The following resolution liad been passed by the Wyndham branch, and it would be as well to have the opinion of their branch, a*, it was almost sure to come before the conference, and was 8 matter that affected the whole district :—" That the Southland County Council be respectfully a=ked to hold in bejrance the matter oi declaring ragweed and tansy noxious weeds under the act, and that meantime the question be referred foi consideration to the various branohes of the union throughout the county." — The Chairman snid ho had noticed that the Premier had stated that he would fetch in a bill to make preference to unionists compulsory. That would be an unjust law, and the broach should discuss the matter at next meeting. Mr Coutts said the leading implement makers of the colony had gone into a combine, and no doubt they would be asking the Government to plaeo a high duty on imported machinery. The Farmers' Union should raise its voice against that. — In regard to the ragwort question, which it wafl decided to fully discure at jioxt/ meeting, Mr Biggar said that he did not think ragwort was a noxious weed, although it was a nuieance. In Hie Winton district it seemed t. be harmful, but it must be earned there by something in the soil. It had been growing in this district for many years, and there was no evidence of it having proved harmful. It the County Council declared it a noxioue weed, the settlers at Croydon would have to abandon their land altogether, as alongside them wae a reserve which was covered with it. It would be as bad is the Californip.n thistle — impossible ia keep lown, as it was continually blooming. Several members thought that ragwort made good feed foi sheep, but could not 'ay how it affected cattle. A special meeting of the Tokomairiro branch was held on the 17th inst., to further consider tho harvesters' wages demand, and was attended by the president (Mr Allison) and over 60 members. Before proceeding to business, Mr John Tough moved that the press be excluded from the meeting. He thought several of the farmers would be able to speak their minds more freely if there were no reporter present. Mr J. Farquharson seconded, and the meeting then went into committee. It was unanimously agreed not to accede to the demands of the Harvesters' Union, and all present pledged themselves not to pay more than 9d per hour and found, or Hid and the men to find themselves. Two members were appointed to obtain farmers' signatures to the agreement.