N.Z. FARMERS' UNION. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 22

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION. OTAGO.

The provisional organiser and secretary of the Otago Branch of the Farmers Un'on (Mr J. T. Pram) visited the Palinerston branch on Saturday afternoon and addressed a meeting of the members. There was a fair attendance, Mr James Ross (chairman of the branch) presiding. Mr Pram spoke on union matters generally, and explaining the working of the mutual fire insurance scheme. The meeting was enthusiastic, and members listened with marked attention. After a few Questions had been asked and answered, a vote of thanks was accorded on the motion ot Messrs Thomas Muir and D. Macleod. It was mentioned by the chairman gat good results had followed the visit of Mr Pram to the district a fortnight previously, and he urged the pressing necessity of all farmer! joining the union. Mr Pram visits the Oarnaru district this week. It is the intention of the Wrey s Bush, Oiro and Aparhna branches to amalgamate; and, to celebrate the event, and also to infuse more vigour into the combined brandh, they intend holding » monster social in Mr T. Stroud's barn at Wrey s Bush on September 18. A meeting of tha Heddon Bu?h brancn v-as held on tho 21st inss., Mr W. Watson in the ohau-. The Secretary (Mr J._P. Forde, jun.) read the correspondence, which included several circulars fronWhe Provincial Executive, one of these being a remit; from the Central Executive, urging branches to bring pressure upon the Government, with a view of having agricultural experts appointed to impart instruction in elementary agricultural science to children attending country schools. Tho matter was fully discussed, and the unanimous opinion arrived afc was that sufficient instruction in the elements of agnoulturo k amply provided for ;n.lhe; n.lhe new syllabus and also undor the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. , It was therefore decided, ot the motion of Mossrs Cochrane ana Oatto, that the branch take no action in the matter. The ordinu-y meeting of the Pukerau branch took place on. the 17th ir.st. There v/ere about 15 members present, and Mr William Scoular (president) ocoupied the chair. Mr John M 'Queen (president Southland Executive) was also in dance Correspondence was received from the New Zealand Executive re rural education, and was dealt with, and from the Southland Executive urging One speedy payment of all subscriptions.- -A remit was received containing a motion by the Hirerstiale branch re ragwort, of which several members expressed approval. Mr M'Queen said tho weed had been included in the schedule of noxious weeds by the Couniy Council, though, differences of opinion were expressed. He had used all his arguments against it on the ground that it was acod feed for sheep. The duty of the local body ended when it declared a weed noxious, the Government then taking it up. iic Avas sure the Government ne^cr anticipated people being so foolish as to declare ragwort a noxious weed. However, it appeared that the local body could not alter its decision except through th© Government. No doubt the department would soon bo instructed' to allow the- act to remain a dead letter. It was resolved tc support the remit. Regarding a remit from Waiau branch to the effect that all valuers should leave a copy of their lists with concerned, it was resolved that the remit be supported. Tho Woodlands branch met on the 15th inst., wheo. Mr James MTverohar presided over a good attendance of members. He remarked that at the last colonial conference a large amount of useful work was transacted. He noticed with satisfaction that Mr J. G-. Wilson, the strong man of the union, was re-elected, and that the colonial organiser was replaced' by a private secretary to the president. _He felt uneasy at the disposition of certain North Island! delegates to take a more active part in party polities. He thought that if ever the union came to grief, that rock would make the wreck. It was unlikely that there would be a contested election in Awarua, and he doubled if there was a man. in the country who could win the &€&t from th©. sitting meiuibei\ wjiojg. h«

regarded as the ablest statesman in the colony. He would bo sorry to divert support from .Sir Joseph to an otherwise weak candidate merely because he favoured the union's platform. — A letter was read from the colonial president urging the branch to take action to secure agricultural education to country children to fit them for ths V/ork they were likely to ba engaged at. Mr Dowlin? supported, and moved— "That technical agricultural education he recommended to be taught in tho primary schools." Mr F. Cameron supported the principle, but thought that exp-crinaontal farms would be tho nioet effective ami cheapest. Other speakers held that simple le-xt books in agriculture dealing with tl.-e action of manures, drainage, natur^, of pasture plants, etc.. would be most serviceable. Emphasis was laid on the fact that the country primary schools were the proper place for t-his instruct'on, as secondary pchools and universities were outside the circle of those engaged tilling the soil. The motion was carried unanimously. — A remit from another branch asking that artificial manures be placed on the 'owest freight rat© by the Railway Department was considered. It was pointed out that manure was now on the lowest rate except road metal. Messrs D. M'Kenzie and E. Edie moved — "That this branch is satisfied wilh the freight rate changed on manures until the railwiy revenuo warrants a further general reduction/ This was carried unanimously. — Another zeinit asked that ragwort be removed from the Noxious Weeds schedule. The discussion showed some diversity of opinion. Messrs Taylor and Percy's morion in favour of retaining tlie weed on the schedule was ca.rriod againsc Messrs Ed:o and Cameron's amendment removing it by 11 votes to 4-.— A further remit proposing that valuators be compelled to leave a copy of their valuation before leaving the property was opposed and rejected as being of no particular valu© to land owners. A meeting of the Tapanui branch wa-3 held on the I&Tfa inst., Mr George Howat in the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The Secretary read the following communication from the Colonial Executive of the Farmers' Union: "Would ycu kindly bring this matter 1137 at the ivexi meeting of your branch, and pas.? a resolution to this effect— That the membar for your district be urged' to secure for country children in New Zealand -that education which will fit them for their work in the country, and to try to- keep them from migrating to the towns. This can best be done by engaging a thoroughly trained teacher from one of those countries where rural education is one of the features of the system. If we wait till we get a college where teachers can be trained, we may lose much valurble time; and we earnestly request the member for the district to join with others in insisting that the Government devote time and attention to this important subject.' " After some discussion, the branch entirely concurred with the efforts of the colonial executive in endeavouring to introduce technical education into the colony. — The meeting decided to run the ensuing year's subscription on a graduated j basis, 5s to be th© levy paid by those ! members whose capital vahio is less than £500. Over that amount tho subscription would be 7s 6d. The secretary was given, full discretional y powers in the matter. — In dealing with fee prevalence- of she^p-st-eaiiaif. Government is to be asked through the Colonial Conference to take tho action they promised some time ago towards the abacament of this growing evil. — The following has been forwarded to the Colonial Conference in reference to the Noxious Weods Act: — "That in all- cases brought by tho Stock Department against settlers for failing to destroy noxious weeds, and rabbit®, no fea shall be allowed if a solicitor bs retained for the prosecution." It was said that inspectors should know the law well enough to conduct their own cases. — The branch deemed It unnecessary to ask the services of the provincial organiser. Each member is l-equested to waken up all eligible non-members and enirol them in the union.