OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 23

OTAGO

'"'The annual ;meeting of the Otama branch was called for Tuesday, 18th inst. Only pix members attended, and it was decided Xiot to proceed with, the consideration of the twaneh's position or 'the election of officers. It ia -possible that the- branch will not meet Again, except to discuss what should be "done with the small balance in hand. .TheTe was a good attendance of memfcers at the annual general meeting of the ffio Tua. branch, held on the 14th inst. Mr \A- Rowley presided. The balance sheet pas read, and adopted. — The following are Ihe office-bearers for the ensuing- year : — t'esident, Mr A. Rowley ; vice-president, r TEL. Knowler ; secretary and treasurer, rB. Richards : committee, Messrs Rioh-fc-rds, Frew, Griffin, Wilson, Corkery, O'Brien, Knowler, Harris, Miller. Rowley, and ~0. Small, jun. : auditor, lilr J B Pobertson (re-elected). 'j.ne fee for the tear was fixed at 12s od. Mr B. Richards Was appointed the delegate to represent the branch at the extraordinary meeting of the farmers' Union to be held this month. — The 4>raxtch passed unanimously the following a'esolutions : — '^That this branch is not in favour of retaining Mr Patersou as veterijjary surgeon * that political measures aff-eet-iEng" farmers should be dealt with by the union." — In reply to Mr J. Wilson, the Sec-r-etarv stated that the membership had decreased by one since last year. This reply brought forth from Mr Wilson the aphorism. > — 'It's a pity that the few should -fight for Jthe many." — In reference to the firet resolution, the branch fully r-eeognises Mr Pat-er-£on's ability as -a veterinary surgeon, but the isolated position of the district from the larger centres renders the securing- of Mr taterson's services difficult and expensive. The annual'meeting of the Balfour branch ivas held on the 15th inst. There was a good attendance, and Mr George Stuart occupied the chair. The balance sheet *howed a credit balaace of £5 17* 2cL which

{ was voted as follows: — Delegate and memj ber of Invercaxgill Executive, £2 ; secretary. ' £3; and picnic account, lus 6d. — The order paper was a very lengthy one, and all the subjects were fully discussed, and. members were very enthusiastic, me following resolutions were carried: — "(1) This branch recommends that, in the event of * person being tried -by jury for sheep-stealing-, the jury should be composed of s~eep farmers and_ squattera, and that legislation be introduoed to prevent the use of the knife ~in earmarking. (2) That this branch is in sym- : patby with the North Canterbury Executive, .on the question of anthrax. (3) That this I branch is wholly opposed to the platform of the newly -formed Political Labour League. (4) That this branch is not in favour of reinstating Mr Paterson. in the present state of the union's finance, and it is wholly opposed to the arrangement with Mr Hunter as organiser. (5) That this branch approves of carrying on the mutual fire insurance business of Otago and Soxithland together, and having the office in Dunedin." — Messrs G. Stuart and D. Dickie were re-elected chairman and vice-chairman respectively, and Mr H. P. Henriksen was appointed delegate to the Conference : Mr J. C. Macpherson wa<? re-elected secretary and treasurer ; Mr T. R. Anderson was appointed auditor, and the fallowing- grentiemen were elected an executive committee : Messrs G. Stuart, D. Dickie. H. P. Henriksen, J. Macnherson, ~H. Gordon. R. Roy. J. Butler. D. Anderson, D. Walker, M. M'Phee. and D. M'lrcan. " At the annual meeting of the Oamaru branch which took place on the 15th inst., only 10 mezabens were present. Tfcp Presi1 dent (Mr W. W. Wylie) deplored the lack of interest shown by the looal farmer? in the union, though the attendance was an improvement on la&t year's meeting, when there was not even a quorum to begin v, ith. He added chat th n efforts of the officeis of the local branch of the union had been t-o / poorly backed uj? that, he regretted to say.,

there was not a great deal to report. — The {Secretary then read the annual report, ;>s follows: — "Tho year closes v\ ith a balancesheet, duly audited by Air Thomas Patcrson, Ngapara. showing a credit balance of £12 17s 3d. Tho membeiship stands nomina'ly at 85. Paid up membeiship, 52 at 10s. Since balance sheet four mcmbeis have paid, making a total of 56. Half of these fees have been forwarded io Dunedin to meet Colonial and Provincial dues, thus supporting the Provincial Executive of Dunedin, whose splendid service in floating the insurance mutual and bringing down fiio insurance rates in the colony has not only tne commendation of the Colonial president, but the thanks of every thoughtful farmer in the colony. Little headway has been made in Oamaru — either for the want of good counsel or good backing. It is for the farmers to pay whic'i. The Auctioneers' Association were asked to redues the eommi c sion on sale of horses io 2^ per cent., but declined, and your application has lapted. Eo fire insurance : On August 13 yaur committee passed a resolution as follows — 'That the Farmers' Union Mutual, in refusing to take hazardous risks, is not suited to our grain-growing district.' The Provincial Secretary replied, complaining of the XJublication of this view. On October 8 it was resolved — "This committee rca&sert tho experience of members that in canvassing farmeis almcst unanimously declined to divide their risks.' The directors of the Farmers' Mutual ha/re since arranged with tho Government Fire Insurance Office to take over for them all risks of their clients which they cannot take themselves, and under these improved conditions the new committee may yet see fit to encourage members to insure in their own concern. This branch of the union is greatly indebted to Mr Paterson. Farmers' Union organiser in Southland, and Mr Gilruth. Government Chief Veterinarian, for very valuable lectures to farmers on veterinary subjects during the 3 r ear ; also to Mr Wilkie. late Government Veterinarian for Otago, who promised a similar lecture, but was compelled to abandon the proposal at the last owing to throat affection. A lecture was a" so delivered by Mr M'Curdy, colonial organiser in the interests of the union. It is to be hoped farmers will look ahead as much in general interest as in personal, and support the incoming committee by attendance at meetings." — After a general discussion, in which reference was made to the muchventilated question of the weight of cornsacks, the report and balance sheet were adopted. — The election of officers was then proceeded with, and there was for some time a deadlock. Messrs Wylie, Borrie, Mahoney, Edwards, and Jackson, in succession, declined the presidency. Finally, Mr Wylie was persuaded by the meeting to accept the office of president for another year, and h e agreed to do so provided that Mr W. Seth-Smith would continue to act as secretary. Mr W. Scth-Smith said he absolutely could not find the time to do as suggested. Personally, he considered the branch should appoint a paid secretary for a month or two, to devote his whole?" time to working up the local branch. He did not grudge the time he spent in working for the union in the least, but he could not give the time that was necessary if the branch was to do any good. The matter of the secretaryship was ultimately left over for the present, and Messrs W. G. Hille, R. Jackson, D. Borrie, Dovey, J. Mahoney, Cuthbertson, Shand, Morton, S. C. Watson, B. Seth-Smith, W. Seth-Smith, were elected a committee. Mr W. Seth-Smith agreed, under pressure, to keep on acting till a successor is appointed, and Mr B. Seth-Smith promised to give his brother every assistance he could. — A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs W. W. Wylie (president! and Mr W. SethSmith (secretary) for their efforts on behalf of the union. A similar compliment was accorded to the auditor, Mr T. Paterson. The members' subscription was fixed at the same amount as last year. It was decided to meet in future on the second Saturday of every month at 11 a.m., and the meeting closed with the usual compliment to the chair. , The annual meeting of the Maniototo branch was Held at Ranfurly on the 15th inst., Mr Glendinning (president) in the chair. The balance sheet for the year ending March 31 was read. The receipts amounted to £44- 19s 8d and the expenditure to £21 14s, leaving a credit balance of £23 5s Bd. There are 144- working members on the roll, of whom 73 have paid, to March 31, and the outstanding arrears amount to £40 7s. The President, in moving the adoption of the .report and balance sheet, said that although there were so many outstanding subscriptions they were in a better position than they were last year. The balance was then £4 2s lid. as against £23 odd this year; even when the liabilities were paid they would be about £14 to the good, and in addition a good many of the outstanding subscriptions were good, but the difficulty was to collect them. The report and balance sheet were adopted. — Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: — President. Mr Glendinning (re-elected) ; vice-president, Mr C. J. Inder ; auditor, Mr R. Logan (reelected) : committee — Messrs C J. Inder. James Lory, jun., W. Davis, J. F. Anderson. J. Howell, J. Forrester, Greer, John Lobb, J. M'Lea-n, John Kearney, and K. Williamson; secretary, treasurer, and delegate, Mr R. Scott (re-elected) ; second delegate. Mr Glendinning (re-elected). The President moved that the sum of £6 be voted to the secretary (Mr Scott) in recognition of his services. The motion was carried. — Mr Pram wrote re the successful opening of the fire insurance scheme. The directors were confident that before the close of the year £200,000 worth of risks would go through the association. Arrangements had been made with the Government State Fire Insurance Department that placed their risks on an absolutely safe footing. — Mr E. Mawhinney moved : '"' That the annual subscription of members to thp Maniototo_ branch of the New Zealand Farmers' L T nion be altered so that instead of a fixed and equal amount be-in e; contributed by each member, the subscription be on a graduated basis, according- to the capital value of oach member's property as appearing on the county roll books." Mr Mawhmney had evidently taken a great deal of troublo in preparing 1 his argument;, and laid before the meeting a very lucid explanation of his scheme. He said that since the oonimencement of the union he had held the opinion that the large farmer should pay more towards the upkeep of the union than the .small one. Ho had taken tho ratable ■salve of tho property of member, as near as ho could get it. /Rom tho county roll. Owing to some of the properties being in the names of wives, sons, and daughter*, it has n roved a nwi'f difficult iob than lie thought. He had made out a graduated scheme, which Averaged 9s 8d per member, The minimum

wa« fe, and the maximum £1. For the firb( £500 of capital value the fee would ho 5-, : for the next f 500, 8d on the £100 ; tho next, 7d ; the next, 6cl ; the next. s<l ; the ncrvt, 4d ; Iho next, 3d; and the next 2d. That brought them Up to a capital value of £4000, v. hen the subscription would bo 19s Id. A Aery lengthy discussion ensued, the majority of members present fov curing the scheme, but n sood many saw difficulties in putting it into practice, and Eom-- 1 did not agree with Mr Mawhmucy'o scale. On being put, the motion was carried by 9to 5. Mr Inder moved, Mr Mathias seconded, and it was carried— "That the chairman, tho secretary, and the mover Le appointed a committee to look into the scheme, and report to a meeting to be held in about a month, and that the fixing of the annual subscription be held over till then." — A hearty vote of thanks -\as parcel to ths auditor (Mr Logan), and tho meeting terminated.