N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 21

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

OTAGO.

There was a- very good attendance at the ordinary meeting of the Waianiwa branch. Mr Marshall occupied the chair, and Mr Paterson, organising secretary, was present. The Chairman briefly addressed the meeting, and introduced Mr Paterson, who delivered a lecture on a veterinary subject, which proved highly interesting, and elicited a good discussion at the. close, many present taking part. — Touching on the financial condition of the union, the Chairman, who is a member of the executive, stated that the Springbank portion of the "Waianiwa branch had come forward almost to a man and paid their subscriptions. — On the motion of Mr A. M'Kenzie, Mr Paterson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive address; a similar compliment to the chairman brought a very profitable meeting to a close.

The Mokotua branch held its usual bimonthly meeting on the sth inst. There was « very fair muster of members. Air It. Birch occupied the chair. The first business on the programme was the presentation of a handsome writing case to Mr XL Nicholson, secretary to the branch. The

Chairman made the presentation, stating that as Mr Nicholson had recently got married, they did not wish such an opportunity to pass by without their showing in some tangible manner that the members of the j branch, one and all. thoroughly appreciated i Mr Nicholson's services to the branch. Mr Nicholson thanked the members for their handsome token of respect, and stated that he had always given ' his services for the good of the 'branch ungrudgingly, and would continue to do so. But he thought the best reward a secretary could get - was to have every farmer in his district rpll up to the meetings and take a .share in the work. By this means they would~.be- helping- »the union along, and they would s at the' 'same time be doing their duty to a splendid institution. He thought members now and again were inclined to magnify the importance of the union's veterinary service. They were too apt occasionally -to grumble if they could not get Mr Paterson ~ whenever they had an animal ill. - Let them think more of the union and less of the veterinary service. By doing so they would be showing a much better spirit and a less selfish one. — The next question to be considered was how best to <get- rid -of the rabbits in the district.' It was '"mentioned that they were very numerous , this.- 'year,and some special effort would have' to -be made by every settler in the district ' if they were to be kept in check. "It was finally decided that they should fellow the, lead of the Myross Bush branch and;request all to poison simultaneously during "the third week in December. — Mr Paterson then addressed the meeting, and answered a number of questions relating to diseases among stock. i

A meeting of the Waikaka Valley branch was held on' "Wednesday last, Mr G. P. Johnston (president) in .the chair. The matter of road traffic on the Maitlaud Village road caused some discussion. Mr A. R. Harvey moved — "That a meeting of ratepayers be held to discuss the matter, to which the eountv member could be invited, the meeting to be held on a date to be arranged by the secretaries of the branches." Mr Gilchrist seconded the motion pro forma. He expressed his doubts that any good result would follow such a course, but it would be advantageous to meet and confer with those* who were supplying coal to the dredges. Some of these complained of the tax on vehicles. However, he did not think they had much grounds for complaint, as they were getting the benefit of almost the whole of the rates expended on the roads for years. A good deal of destruction had been caused by carting material for the dredges, but this had not lasted long, and might be waived, The continuous carting of coal, however, was a very serious matter indeed. He did not think the destruction would be so serious if this traffic was conducted during eight or nine -months of the year. Most of the damage was done at flood time and in the winter. The traffic from the farms did not do much damage, and the rates from the mining properties did not go far towards repairing the damage. The amount received from gold revenue was very small. The Chairman said that in conversation with a number of dredge owners he was told that many of them would be quite willing to lay in lignite and cover it for the winter. The motion was carried unani-mously.—-A circular letter was received from the chairman of the Marton branch in reference to the question of land tenure. Mr M'Phail said it would appear tiiat the leaseholder was going to be. in a better position than the freeholder," and as regarded taxation, he was going to get off lightly. He was inclined to think that in tima people would begin to think that the leasehold was the best way to hold land, as the_ freeholder would be bo encumbered that his land would not be of much use to him. Mr Gilchrist moved— "That the circular be received." They were going to discuss the question at a future meeting. He was certainly in favour of the freehold, bufc he was strongly against land monopoly, aud he would be sorry to see the fine lands of the colony in the hands of a few. Land monopoly had been one of the greatest curses_ in the world, and though not noticeable in the colony, perhaps there was a aanger that it would come, as it had in older countries. Those in Waikaka Valley who had the freehold did not desire the leasehold, he thought. The question before the colony was as to how to dispose of the unsold lands, and he was not much inclined to interfere with this. He would certainly like to sec everyone getting the freehold of a limited area, but he was strongly against large area? bein<r parted with on the freehold system. He did not see how the areas were to bo limited, however ; there was nothing to prevent any one person buying up the whole of the Waikaka Valley if tne farmers were willing to sell lhcre was no law to prevent it. He added to his motion : " That this meeting approve of the optional system of land tenure. ' The motion was carried. — The Secretary, in the course of a verbal report on the position of the branch and farmers' unionism as a whole, said that the Valley membership was s*, aU of whom had paid. The position 6* the union was not all that could be desired. Waikaka Valley branch had paid £25 15s to the executive, and if the 40 branches had paid even £15 each there would have been no need to call upon the guarantors. One branch only paid £2 10s in the

year. Their own district, however, was in a strong position, practically only three, farmers not being members. — Mr (iilchrist was thanked for his address, and after discussing routine matters, the branch adjourned.