N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 21

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

. OTAGO. The annual ' meeting of the Pukerau branch was held on Wednesday last. Mr .W. Scoular presided. The secretary (Mrt). Purvis), in presenting- the report and talanoe sheet,\ stated that five meetings in all', had .been held during the year. .-The membership at present was -41, and that toi the previous year 47.-'- The cost tof ' funning the- branch had been £l/7s 6d. the expense that . delegates incurred from' time to time- in attending exe.cutive "meeting^, he could only re-echo what -iad- beeit -said- Jgr Mr : .' Gilcßrisfc. at the " "meeting" of."-fche " "Waikalca" Valley branch — namely, that some- scheme! should be ad opted 'expenses of those attending -the conference. ~,Tsie report and "balance-sheet were v adopted. " Regarding the' fixing of. levies; as proposed by the" Poverty Kay Executive, ,the chairman was of opinionthat" matters' should remain as they were Represent. He -considered- that the different branches- should be allowed a free hand in that respect. -It was resolved— "That the method at present in vogue ~ be adhered * to." Mr "JPurvis considered that the 10s "per member should- not all be handed-'over ia the .executive. He would favour 8s being 'paid over, and' that 2s be retained by the branch to oovei working expenses. Twr" T. Heron was of opinion that if the executive still asked for 10s .per member and n.o veterinary -service be given in -return, the result would be that the membership would fall away .considerably. It^ was Resolved that in -the"- event of the veterinary service being dispensed with, it be suggested that --the executive! remunerate the branch Secretaries - and other attending members of ±he executive". — A letter was read from the provincial secretary concerning tlie question ©£ Mf-Paterson's Te-appointment at a salary of £100 under certain conditons. -It was aresolved that; owing to the financial position of -the union, Mr Paterson be not reengaged in the' meantime.- — It was further " a-esolved, .in connection with the correspondence -received regarding steps being; taken concerning the pilfering ot sheep, that ' : *'in- eases where- persons are on trial for sheep-fctealing^one-Jialf of'the jury should consist" of farmers." The following officers were appointed" lor the ensuing year: — Chairman, Mr- W: Scoular (re-appointed) ; secretary, -Mr D. , Purvis, (re-appoinled) ; auditor, Mr J. Craigie" " (re-appointed) ; .members of_t com- ' <mitfcee-^Messrs D. Robertson, T. Speden, •"W- Elliot, R. Wilson, James- Craigie, T. Heron, A. M 'Donald, J. Pullar, J. Young, A. vMaxted, and chairman and secretary; delegates to conference, Messrs D. Purvis and W. Scoular. The annual meeting of the Waikaka Valley .branch 'was held on the 22nd ult. . !Ehe; chairman (Mr G. P. Johnston) presided. The secretary (Mr D. Gilchrist) read the report and balance sheet. The balance sheet showed that the total, receipts (including, last year's balance of £2 9s 3d) amounted to £30 15s 9d, and that the exjpenditure was £28 18s 6d, which left a -credit balance of £1 17s 3d. The amount paid to the executive was £25 15s, and *he cost of running the "branch was £3 3s fed. The report stated that there were 54- members on the. roll, five of them being ihonorary, and that all the subscriptions had Ibeen paid during the first half of the year. The branch was formed in August, 1901, and the membership during the past year was only 3.1 less than' the number on the roll at any time. -When disjunctions and resignations of a few members, due to their having Jeft the -.district, were taken into consideration, it would be seen that the branch was ihblding together remarkably well. "Seven meetings -were held during the year, and ariatters 'of more than local interest were dealt with. The principal event of the year was the resignation of Mr Paterson, Jfche veterinary and organiser, -who was present at four meetings. His addresses on veterinary subjects were of great value, Bbut unfortunately not more than a third Of 'the members found it convenient to .attend the meetings, so that the majority did not receive the benefits of the informajfcion imparted. The delegates attending the Annual conference had never been refunded Sheir expenses, and the members of. ihs

executive had to travel at their own cost, and it was time that this form of sweating was discontinued. The report and balance , sheet were adopted. — The retiring officers 1 were re-elected — viz., Messr-s G. P. John- / ston (chairman), JHugb Smith (vice-chair-man), D. Gilchrist "(secretarv and treasurer), S. White (auditor), J. Clouston, J. M'Phail, G. Morrison, A. Cruiekshank, and D. Gil.lespie (committee). Messrs W. J. Johnston and D. Gilchrist were appointed delegates to the forthcoming conference. The subscription was 'fixed at 10s — the same as last year. Members felt inclined to .raise it in , order to' pay their delegates' expenses, but owing^ to the action of the executive, or some "members of it, in appointing a canvasser recently, it was deemed advisable ±o attempt to put the brake hard down. At the conclusion of the annual meeting an ordinary meeting was held. The provincial- secretary wrote stating, inter alia, that a canvasser had "been appointed, and that the Poverty Bay Executive had suggested giving authority to the Colonial Council to definitely fix the subscription of members ' to the union and appoint the amount payable to both the council and Provincial Executive.' The circular provoked hostile comment, and the local member of the executive was asked how, in face of the resolution of the recent > conference the executive had employed' a canvasser. Mr Gilchrist replied that no one could be more surprised .than he, as -he^ had not been, consulted, and he understood that a number of the . members of the executive knew nothing about it. ' He had heard that the canvasser was' not being paid out of the funds, but- that he retained a commission on the subscriptions "and guarantees collected. It wis ir.animously decided :^ "That-this branch strongly disapproves of the employment of Mr Hunter as canvasser, as it is in contravention of the" resolution passed .by the recent conference, and that this branch is indignant that the suggestion has been , maJde that Mr Hunter should collect levies or subscriptions from secretaries." It was also unanimously decided, "That this branch is opposed" to the suggestion of the Poverty. Bay Executive, and is of opinion that the method of fixing subscriptions at -present in vogue should be adhered to.*' It was further unanimously decided, "That this branch recommends that the levy in future be reduced to 8s per member, and requests that the resolution be submitted to the forthcoming conference." — A circular was received regarding sheep stealing, which evoked considerable discussion, and it was resolved. "That, in the opinion of this branch it should be n-ade illegal for sheep or others to earmark with the knife,' and that all sellers of sheep should be compelled to state the brands and earmarks on their notes of delivery to the buyers." — A circular was received from Mr J. G. Wilson, Colonial President, asking .branches to consider the question of prohibiting the importation of bones, in view of the fact that Government wasnot , carrying out the recommendation of the Chief Veterinarian made to avoid the risk of the importation of anthrax germs. The ihe-eting was unanimous, in praise of the -efforts of the Colonial Executive and loud in denunciation of the action of the Government. Me-nbers were of opinion that vested interests were so powerful in " the that farmers would have to show they were in earnest in this matter if they were to save owners of animals from the serious losses caused by anthrax i in the older countries of the world. It | was' also agreed/ that if the forthcoming ! conference did nothing else than give f unanimous support to the Colonial Council in its efforts to get imported bones sterij Used or their importation prohibited it ; -would be doing sufficient to justify holding the conference. It was unanimously re- | solved, '"That this branch supports the resolution of the Colonial Executive regarding the importation of bones, and that in the opinion of this branch the subject should bs considered by the conference." — The chairman and secretary were asked to fix the date of next meeting, after which the meeting, which was one of the most animated held by the branch, adjourned at 10.30 p.m. J