OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 22

OTAGO.

The^, annual meeting of the Woodlands branch was held on the 4th ins*. Mr-Thames M'Kerehar presided, and Mr Hunter, organising agent, was present. The report md balance sheet were read, showing 53 members on the roll and a credit balance of "£li 4s lid. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. He alluded to the poor attendance in proportion to the numbers on the roll. Eighteen members had failed to pay their subscriptions, while nine new members had been enroled. — The following offic-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Mr M'Kerehar (reelected) ; vice-president, Mr J. D. Trotter ; secretary, Mr D. M'Kenzie; auditor, Mr W. I/. Taylor; committee — president, vice-presi-dent, secretary, and Messrs S. Laidlaw, W. Clark, P. Milne, T. Percy, jun., I>. Halorow. M: Leith, and E. Edie.— The subscription for the year was fixed at 12s 6d. — Mr Hunter thought that the attendance would continue poor until the meetings became more attractive. He noticed that a movement had been made to enroll the wives and daughters of farmers as members. He thought' that if some ol- those- undertook to .read papers-it would Jieln to popularise the .meeting-s.. , c He alluded\ to the Labour .Party's organisation as being the cause of ,the labou£r.laws of this country. The only thing to combat that' party was the Farmers' -Union. The Labour party's policy .meant the forfeiture of property. The proposed increase, of. 'the land tax, as advocated by Messrs Tr- E. Taylor and Laurenson and their supporters, was a step in that direction. Their efforts to substitute the parliamentary roll in place of the ratepayers' roll for local bodies'- elections required attention, as if that were given effect to it would be found that rate-payers would vote on one side and their workmen on the other. Extravagant expenditure would be the result. The ratepayer would have to settle up. while the workman transferred himself elsewhere. He wished to refer to the freehold tenure. Those supporting the abolition of this tenure did so in order to gain the unearned increment. Inquiry into the question showed that most of this increment was the result of the labour of the occupier and his family. He alluded to the want of support accorded to the Com* mercial Accident Insurance Company when they reduced their charges, with fhe result that premiums had been raised. -Jfhe same thing would happen if they did m.b support their fire insurance scheme, and* he noted with satisfaction the Government's offer to reinsure Farmers' Union risks. He concluded by asking each member to .canvass his neighbour for support. The proposal to appoint a consulting veterinarian to the union was considered, and Messrs M'Arthur -, and' Percy- moved: ""That the veterinary "service be not renewed for 12 months." Mr I'M.' Arthur thought that the union should first, get out of debt, and then consider pro-''-posals such as this. An amendment, moved ' by Messrs Leith and Laidlaw — "That an ! effort be made to retain Mi Paterson as consulting veterinarian, to the Union/ was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. A. motion opposing a remit from Hawke's Bay to alter the rules of the union to allow the Colonial Executive to fix the membership subscription throughout the colony was carried. — A motion supporting North Canterbury and protesting against the action of the Government in refusing to undertake the sterilisation of imported bones was carried. Votes of thank* were passed tc Mr Hunter and the chairman, and the meeting clcser*-