N.Z FARMERS' UNION. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 9

N.Z FARMERS' UNION. OTAGO.

A depixtation from the Oarnaru branch waiter! on the members of the Auctioneers" Association Jast wecik, to make the request that the commission of 5 per cent, charged on the sale of horses be reduced to 2^ per cent. The . subject was debated by the parties, and after due consideration the auctioneers replied that they could not see their way to comply with the request. An adjourned meeting to consider the advisability of forming a branch of the Farmers' Union was held on the 9th inst., ab Ed&ndaJe. Mr J. Cushnie occupied the chair, and there was a fair number of farmers present. The committee appointed / to canvass the district with the view of ascertaining the amount of support the branch would bo likely to receive reported favourably, and it was resolved that a branch be formed. The following were appointed office-bearers : — Messrs J. Cushnie (chairman), H. Marshall {vice-chairman), J. A. Sinclair (seer.?tary), and H. Niven (auditor). Mr Cushnie undertook to read a short paper at -next monthly meeting, the subject to be " Freehold Versus Leasehold." At a meeting of the committee of the Oamaru branch on the 10th inst., the following resolutions were passed: — "That the County Council be approached with a view to getting the creek crossings at Queen's Fiat, Pig Island, and back of Mr Menlove's improved by stone sheep crossings, built in up to the normal level of the creek." "That it should be made compulsory, under the Slfcoek Act, that all persons finding stray sheep or cattle in their possession, shall, within one week of discovering them, send a full list and description to the stock inspector for the district, and that a list of these be kept in a specia' book in the inspector's office', open to inspection by all owners of stock." A meeting of the Maniototo branch was held at Ranfurly on the 10th inst. There was a fairly repr jsentative meeting seventeen members being present. The chairman of the branch, Mr R, W. Gtendinning, presided. The Special Committee appointed to consider Mr B. Mawhinney's scheme of \ graduated annual subscriptions reported as I follows: — "Your committee_ appointed to consider the matter of fixing the annual subscription of members on a graduated scale having conferred, is of opinion that it being the wish of the branch to adopt the principle, the suggestion of Mr E. Mawhinney be acted upon, and that niembero pay as per his schedule, with this proviso, that members pay at the nearest sixpence or shilling above the sum appearing on his list opposite their names." The report of the committee was adopted. — In | regard to the question of members in arrear, it was resolved that the secretary write to each and ascertain, if possible, if they are willing to continue as members of the union. — Mr R. Scott, as delegate to the provincial conference- held' in Dunedin on the 24th May, gave a short report of the business don© at the meeting, stating among other matters, the fact that severa| branches have, now adopted a graduated scale of subscription, and that the provincial levy for the current year is fixed at 5s per member. — The Chairman said it would be better to consider this meeting as xh& usual quarterly one, and if anything of importance cropped up before the September meeting the secretary should -call one. The suggestion was approved of, the September meeting to be held at Wedderburn. — Mr T. Stephens asiked if it wero within the scope of the branch to start a ploughing match I in the district, and in doing so deplored j the fact of there being so little good ploughing to be seen on the Maniototo. The Chairman thought it would be- better if the local A. and P. Association took the matter tip, as he did not think it came under the scope of the union's work. The committee meeting of the Milton branch was held on the 13th inst., Mr W. Grey (president) in the chair. In reference to the- secretary's honorarium, the president stated that £4- was votod to Mr Inglis last meeting, but that gentleman would not take it. Mr Inglis thanked menners for their good intentions, but the funds were in need of the money, and he did not think they should give £4- to him when he did not want it. — The President said he would like some expression of opinion on the matter of the size of cornsaok.;. Sonw time rgo it was agreed that the grain should be put into 2001b bags, which would be a great drawback to farmers if carried into effect. j His opinion was ihai the Government should be approached with the object of i stopping the importation of all sacks over . H'm— i.e., holding four bushels of wheat. There was a lot of conversational discussion on the matter, and eventually Mr T. Scott moved, with a recommendation to the Government to stop the importation of all bags over that size. Mr T. Lowery seconded i the motion and it was carried unanimously. t s-Iu regard to « note f?oz& bh& Provincial

Exenuli'.e *;latmL," rh,i' n > u 1 * would bo 5s -p2r member, the President said the branch had already fixed the amounts — viz., 10s for farmers holding ever 50 acres: 5s under that number, and 2^ 6d for farm labourer*. Since thsir la'-t meeting the executive had met sikl fixed ihe levy. He did not sc-o how the branch could pay the amount on then- 5i <=nd 2s 6d levies. What could they do' Tht, only way out of the difficulty was to keep the 5s and 2s 6d, and pay 5s out of the JOs members. Mr D. Reid stated that the branch mi.st maike a return of its members. Be deplored the fact that a district like Bruce had only 79 member's, while Middlcniarch totalled 120. Mr Reid explaii cd that the Provincial Executive had a lot of expense to meet ; their secretary w-as paid ar inadequate salary — a starvation one, in fact — and even tha delegates got nothing for their expenses. Ho was one of them, and never aske-d for ii. and did not expect it; at the same time there w«ro others probably who could not afford to do that. He asked how if would do to send in 5s per member, and t>et their revenue, from those who paid over ss; that would keep them going. The President, however, looked at it the other way, and considered the- executive should be paid out of those who contributed 10s or over. At present they had nothing to pay a salary to their secretary. Mr Reid sa ; d they should adopt a diffeient system of canvass. Th© man who was agent for his own district should be supplied with a printed list of the members. A great many farmers could be got if they were asked at the righi time. The President said it was passed last meeting that each member should have his own district. As far as he was converned, it had worked well, as l>e had already sold one-third of the total of lasb year. According to the ruj.es of the executive, the branch should have been notified as to the intention to levy 5s each member. Not having done so, he considered they should only pay the 5s out of the 10s members. It was decided to leave the matter over. — A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr Inglis for his gratuitous services to the branch.