N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 21

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

OTAGO

At the annual meeting ox the Gore branch, held on the 29th ult , the members, upon assembling, voted Mr Ladbrook to the chair. Mr A K!eir then moved — "That a vote of condolence be passed with the relatives of the late president, Mr Kingdom, and that this branch adjourn for one week." Mr O. R. Bowrnar seconded the motion, which was carried.

Only six members put in a-n appearance at the annual meeting of the Waianiwa branch, Mr Beaven being in the chair. The report showed that nine n.eetings were held, at which the attendance was slightly better than in the previous year. Apart from the ordinary routine of business and tho lectures of Mr Paterson, no special cftort was made to introduce anything cf an ed-tcational or social element into the meetings. The committee had worked harmoniously together, with the happy result of making the branch, if not the strongest in Southland, very nearly so. The roll of members showed 54- working and five honorary who had paid their subscriptions. The total receipts were £37 3s Bd, and the expenditure £29 17s 4d, leaving a credit balance of £7 6s 4d. In moving the adoption of the report the Chairman gave a, short resume of the year's work, which he considered highly satisfactory, with the exception of the attendance at ordinary meetings. A remedy for this he could not at present suggest. The report and balance sheet were adopted. It was unanimously decided to vote £5 to the secretary in recognition of his services.

A meeting of the Waikaka branch was held on the 29th ult., Mr J. O'Brien (president) in the chair. There was a small attendance of members, owing to harvest rot being finished. The Oh airman said the principal business of the meeting was to appoint a delegate for the coming conference, also to discuss circulars received from the Colonial President and the Provincial Secretary. On the motion of Mr Milne the secretary (Mr J. A. Hodge) was appointed delegate. Tho Secretary, in thanking the members for their conf.dence, said he would do his Vest to represent tho branch satisfactorily at the coming 1 conference. — The Secretary moved — "That this branch is opposed to the resolution of the Poverty Bay Executive, and it is the opinion of this branch that each provincial district should fix its own levies." Seconded 1 by Mr John Milne, and carried. — The bianch decided, after considerable debate, that it was not in favour of appointing an organiser, and suggested tliat the branch secretaries do the organising and collecting fo-* their own branches for one year at least. — It was further resolved — "That this branch is in sympathy with the Waikaka Valley branch that the levies be reduced to 8s per mem'ier." — The question of sterilising bonedusit was fully discussed by mem"beriS, and the meeting agreed with the Colonial Executive — "That the precautions taken by the Government arc not sufficient to safeguard farmers against the, spores of anthrax, and) that the bones be sterilised or importation cease." There was a good 1 attendance at the general meeting of the Thornbury branch. The Chairman (Mr Templeton), in movingi the adoption of the report and balance

sheet, gave an interesting account of the union's work for the past year, and said that financially the union was much stronger now than it was a few months ago. Mr Linscott was elected chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr E. Sutton re-elected secretary. The branch was in favour of retaining Mr Paterson's services as veterinary adviser. The Chairman was appointed delegate to the conference. Mr Hunter, the organising -secretary, was present, and', at the request of the chairman, gave an accoiint of the union's past work. In his address he referred to the different acts the union had been instrumental in getting put through the House — viz.. the Fertiliser Act, Bush and Swamp Land Act, and the Mutual Fire Insurance Act. He also explained the aims of the union,, mentioning some reforms that the union thought absolutely necessary in the farmers' interests and was endeavouring to carry~ out. He also advised the branch to follow the good example of the Mataura Island branch in having a good_ rousing social occasionally," and to dispense" with all meetings not absolutely necessary, one good meeting being worth a dozen indifferent ones. Mr T. B. Sutton's motion io tho effect that as the Government had failed to erect sterilising plants in the colony the importation of bonedust should be prohibited was carried. It was considered that the risk from anthrax was too great and the effect of it to disastrous to warrant their importation, _ and that we had a good choice of manures without them. The usual votes of thanks concluded a very enthusiastic meeting. The branch has about 35 members, and gives promise of greater develonment.

development.

The annual meeting of the Milton branch was held on the 2nd inst., Mr W. Grey (president) in the chair. The annual report and balance febeet were read. The balance sheet showed: — Receipts: 69 members -at 10s, £34- 10s. Expenditure : Provisional treasurer, levy on members at ss, £17 ss ; Bruce Herald, £5 13s; J. S. Inglis, canvassing for insurance, etc., £3 Ss ; miscellanemis, £2 12s 9d; thus leaving a credit balance of £5 10s 3d. The Chairman said he would like to make a few remarks on the mutual fire insurance ; they were all aware that the association had been started, and it was the duty of every farmer to back it up. Some farmers, when approached, made all sorts of excuses. He stated that arrangements had been made with the Government Insurance Department for reinsurance on policies over the value of £100. The department had come to their assistance at a critical time, and' agreed to accept re-insurances, and it was now the duty of farmers to back up their own insurance company. In connection with the Arbitration Court case, he > stated that the mill owners were cited, but the Farmer?* Union had to take the case up. Had they not done so the demands of the Labour party would have wiped the small farmers out of exist3nce, if they had to pay the prices demanded. There was only a small price for their crops this year, and they would not have been able to carry on at all. A number of the farmers had not paid their subscription this year ; he did not know whose fault this was, but considered the sufcsoriptior was made too low at the start, when it was 2s 6d, whereas row it was 10s. The mistake was in charging too little at the start. The sum of 10s was very reasonable, but he thought they should charge 5s to holders of less than 50 acres, and 2s 6d per amnum to farm labourers; several of the latter would be willing to join, but would not pay 10s, as they thought it too much. Thi branch had now a credit balance of £5 10s 3d, whereas the year was started in debt They had not done so bad, considering there were only 69 members, whereas there should be about 200. He concluded by paying a compliment to the secretary, who, he remarked, had been very attentive to his dirties, and also moved that the secretary b? granted £4 out of the balance: he was sorry they coidd not afford to give moro. The motion was carried, and the report and balance sheet were adopted. — Office-bearers were elected as follows: — President, Mr W. Grey (re-elected) ; vice-president, Mr N. M'Arthur (re-elected) ; secretary. Mr J. Si Inglis (rc-elcctcd) ; treasurer, Mr D. Reid 1 (le-elcctcd); auditor, Mr W. Moore (re-elected) ; committee — Messrs W. Farquh arson, A. Allison, A. Lowery, J. Newbigging, G. Fisher, T. Lowery. J- Allison, J. Norrie, J. M'Leod, M. Scott, T. Scott, D. Hamilton, and Jasper Clark. — The Chairman said he considered it would be a wise plan if all the meetings of the committee were turned into general meetings. After considerable discussion, a motion was pa«sed to the effect that members could attend at any mooting, but could not bo allowed to vote. The ordinary meeting of tho branch was. then held. A motion was carried that this branch press upon the Colonial Executive the necessity of tho Government erecting sterilising plants in the colony, or else prohibit the importation of bones. — It was decided that the meetings be hold on the second Tuesday in each month, and that members of committee be notified by post, and the meeting also be advertised.— Messrs W. Grey and D. Reid were appointed delegates to attend the meetings of Provincial Executive at Dunodin. — Mr Norrie moved that the subscription be same as last year (10s). The Chairman said 10g was a reasonable sum, but gome small farmer® thought it too much. He thought they should only charge 5s to

holders of 50 acres and under, and 2s 6d to farm labourers. The motion was altered accordingly, and agreed to. — Some discussion ensued as to the most suitable method of canvassing for members, and eventually it was decided, on the motion of Mr M'Arthur, seconded by Mr T. Scott— "That members of committee canvass their respective districts. 1 ' CANTERBURY. At the annual meeting of the Dunsande] branch Mr G. Sheat was elected president, Mr G. Lill vice-president, Mr J. Johnston delegate, and Mr J. Aldridge secretary and treasurer. A committee of 13 was appointed. The balance sheet presented showed a credit of £3. The branch decided to arrange -for monthly lectures during winter. While attending the Midland Railway Conference on the West Coast, Mr J. O'Halloran, president of the Canterbury Executive of t he "Farmers' Union, was asked to address a meeting there in regard to the 1 nion's work and objects, but the limited time at his disposal would not allow h."m to accede to tha request. He found that a great deal of interest is taken in tie union's affairs, and he had given instructions that literature dealing with the matter should be forwarded to some gentlemen who are in sympathy with the union, and •who intend fco establish a West Coast branch. The annual meeting of the Templeton branch was held on the 28tb ult., Mr IX Jones presiding. The Chairman gave an address on the work of the year, bringing under review the various efforts made by the union. The balance sheet, showing a credit of £7, was read and adopted, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs C. Benjamin and J. M'Crostie for their assistance in looking after the finances. — The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Mr D. Jones: scietary, Mr C. Benjamin ; treasurer, Mr A. J. Bell ; committee — Messrs G. Witty, G. Mangin, F. Maddison, C. Maginnes, S. J. Bailey, G. Bailey, M. Law, H. Jones, D. Marshall, W. Armstrong, W. Earley, W. Bailey, and T. Somerville; delegate to conference, Mr D~.. Jones ; auditor, Mr D. O. Burns. — It was arranged to hold tbe ar nual tea and concert in June. The second annual meeting of the RanSiora -branch took place on the 2nd inst. Mr E. T. .Mulcock (president) was in the chair. The Secretary (Mi- A. S. Bruce) stated that the income for the year was £16 12s, including subscriptions, £15 11s 6d. The expenditure was £1 14s 6d, and £10 2s 6d wao due to the central body, leaving a credit balance of £4- 15s. The Chairman, in moving the •adoption of the balance sheet, deplored the lack of interest taken in the union by the farmers of the district. Mr M. Maofarlane seconded the motion, and it was carried. Officers were elected as follows: — Committee — Messrs E. T. Mulcock, J. Stevenson, F. Horrell, P. O. Threlkeld, G. Whiteside, J. Barker, C. Leech, C. O. Aikman, and J. W. Foster ; president and delegate to the Provincial Council, Mr M. MacfaTlane ; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. SI. Bruce ; auditor, Mr G. Leech. — T\Tr F. Horrell thought that the present subscription was too small, and moved that it should bs 10s rer annum. An amendment by Mr J. Stevenson that it should be> 5s was carried. — It was resolved to invite Mr Leadley to give an address a fortnight hence ; also to systematically circulate the union's literature, and endeavour to increase the membership.