N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 21

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

OTAGO.

The annual meeting of the Milton branch was held on the Bth inst., Mr W. Grey (president) in the chair. The report and balance sheet were submitted to the meeting. The receipts (including a balance of £5 10s 3d from last yearj were £44- 10s Bd, and th« expenditure amounted to £34 lls, leaving a credit of £9 19s 3d. In moving the adoption of the- report and balance sheet, the Chairman comn:>e>nted on the fact that the branch had an increased membership, which was due to the members of committee having- done the canvassing instead of employing a man. Mr N. M^Arthur, in .seconding the motion, remarked that the branch wras to be congratulated on the financial * success it bad attained dining the past year. It would be a good thing to make their meetings more attractive. The lecture which was given recently by the Government exp?rt had been much appreciated, and the incoming coramirtos should .go in mor? for such lectures. The report and balance •shfer were adopted. — Office-bearers were elected as follows: — President, N. M 'Arthur; viccpresidsnr, J. L. K-ewbigging ; -ecretary and treasurer. J. H. InglL> (re-elected) ; auditor, W. Moore (re-elected) ; committee — R. Ferguson, J. Norrie. M. Scott, M. Finch, V. Lowery, Jasper Clark W. (irey. T. Scott, A- Allison. R. Clark, D. Hamilton. James Allison, and T. Falconer ; delegates to Provincial Executive, president and vice-presi-dent. The secretary was voted a bonus of £5 5a for his services.

Mar James Rutherford presided at 'the anual meeting of the Kaitangata branch, held on the 3rd inst. The report and balance sheet of the preccedin? year's' work was read and adopted. Although the balance sheet show-ed the branch to be sound financially, the report showed that there was not that interest taktu in the union by the surrounding farmers that ought to be. During the year a deputation from the branch waited upon Mr Tree, manager for the Kaitangata Coal and Oil Company, re reduction of freight en Kaitangata line. Mr Lee received the deputation very cordially, and agreed to certain concessions, a list of tame to lye- forwarded to the union, but with the exception that lime is to be jarrisd free on' the lice, nothing further ha-s "been heard of the matter. Another item that was an advantage to members of the union w«3 the procuring of binder twine from Beqg and Co. at a considerablyreduced rate. Several members expressed their appreciation of the ?ood qualities of the twine supplied, and pronounced it the host ugad for a long time. — The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: — Chairman, Mr James Ruthe-rford (re-elected) ; Tiee-ehairman, Mr John Haggart; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. Smaill

(re-elected) ; committee — Messrs J. P. Rutherford. T. Frazer, D. Haggart, F. Field, T. Johnson, jun. ; U. Aitch-eson, A. Renton, J. D. Brown; auditors— -D. P. Clements and G. Aitchison ; delegate to Provincial Council, Mr James Rutherford.

Th? annual meeting of the Palmersion branch was held ou the sth in^t., Mr Thomas Mnir (president) in thf» chair. The Secretary road the annual report -and balanoe ih*ot The retiring committee regretted that very little interest had been take-n in tha work of the branch during the past 12 months. Tli-2 membership had decreased from 40 to 25, and although tho decrease was partly accounted for by thp establishment of a branch at Diinbaffc. it ■was to be regretted that tho farmer? of Shag "Valley did not accord more support to the local branch. The union had been doing excellent work during the past few years. and it was to be hoped that every farmer would study his own interests by becoming a member. The balance sheet showed the receipts for the year as £D 9s 6d. including members' subscriptions £9 7s 6d. and donations (Messrs D. and J. Ross) £2 2s. Tho disbursements were £9 IPs 9d. and, including a credit balance of £2 17s. orought Ifonvard from the previous year, thp funds of th>^ branch amounted to £4 7s sd. The rcrrort and balance sheet were unanimously adopted.— The following officers for the ensuing year were elected: — President Mr Thomas ifuir; vice-president, ilr David

Ross; secretary, Mr W. McGregor (reelected) ; treasurer, Mr A. lleming ; auditor, Mr D. Maeleod, jun. ; committee — Messrs R. Cameron, Jas. Service, C. E. Wise, A. Fleming, Geo. Sloan, John Coutte, W. J. Ros.s, and T. E. Stenlouse.— Mr Wise regretted that more publicity was not given to the work done by the union. He felt sure that if farmers w-c-re cogni«aut of the good work that was being done by the union the membership would be much larger. It would not cost very much- to print and distribute amongst farmers short circulars giving particulars of the business transacted at the meetings of the Provincial Executive. These circulars could be eei;t to every farmer, whether a member of the union or noi. After discussion it was decided to lay the suggestion before the Provincial Executive. — Mr Sloan brought up the question of the means at present adopted for the destruction of small birds. Although the Wai nemo County Council was annually spending about £150 in the destruction of small birds, it was generally admitted that the pest was worse this season than it ha 3 ever been. He thought tho present system of purchasing eggs and nests was ineffectual, and judging by experiments that he had tried during the past few months, trapping with net traps was the best means of coping with the pest. He was of opinion that the money at present being expended in the purchase of -eggs and nests should de applied in the direction he indicated. A general discussion followed, but nothing definite was arrived at. The ordinary meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive was held on the 4th inst. There were present, . Mr J. M'Queen (president), and Messrs H. J. Middletcn, A. Beaven, A. Tapper, N. A. M'Laicn, H. P. Hcnrikaon, Jas. Milne, K. Finlayson, D. Marshall, W. Templeton, and D. Gilchrist. A large amount of correspondence was dealt with, including progress reports from the Otago Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association, showing that they had closed the year with £80,000 of insurance, on which the total losses had been £8. This association also suggested, as there were several Southland farmers who had taken out policies with them, that some of the local supporters should be nominated for seats on the beard of directors for the ensuing year, but no action was taken in regard to this. It was decided to strongly urge on members, as their present policies fell in, tc give their business to the Otasjo Mutual.— A report of the annual meeting of the Taranaki Mutual Association, with balance -.hfot was also received, and considered very .-satisfactory, that association having current £55,000 of risks with no loss at all during the year The report pointed out that the State lending and other departments now accepted the Taranaki Mutiral policies the <=ame as other companies'. — A letter was recened from Mr G. A. Scott, the. organising secretary, dated March 3, tendering his resignation, partly on account of ill-health and partly that the support he has met with from the farmers has not been such as to lead him to desire to continue in the positon. .The President, in advising Mr Scott that his resignation had been accepted with regro.., made complimentary references to the manner in which he had carried out his dirbe* and the recognition of the Executi\e of the great discouragement he had met with.r It was arranged that Mr Scott should visit the Otama, Hokonui, and Oreti Plains districts, where a number of new members had promised to pay as soon as tfce new y?ar started, prior to the termination cf the agreement on June 3.— The balance sheet, duly audited, was laid on the table, and with a draft of the annual report was adopted. — It was pointed out that there were still a good many amounts due for veterinary services performed by Mr Paterson while connected with* the unicn, including some from non-niencfbers of the union, and it was decided to take legal advice and action to recover same. — A number of subjects to be brought before the provinc al annual conference, which is to be held in Ashley's Hall on Friday, May 25, were considered, and the president and secretary were appointed to prepare the order paper, so that this may be done in time- to forward to all delegates. Secretaries of branches are urged to forward any business their members wished discussed to Mr Allen at. the earliest possible date.— lt was decided that the annual dinner be held in Ashley's Hall on he evening after the conference, the arrangements for which were left in the hands of the president, vice-president, and secretary, and it was decided to imite the colonial president (Mr J. G. Wilson), With repr«cntat.v« from the Canterbury and Otago Executive-, also Mr J. C. Thomson, M.H.R.— It was reported that there were several farmers abour the Mount Linton district who had expressed a desire x> form a sub-branch to tne Opio branch, and Mr Scott was asked, if convenient, to pay the district a visit.

CANTERBURY.

The Farmers' Union was not going to die a natural death, said Mr J. Studholme at tho annual meeting of the Ashbunon branch, for it had within itself the springs of a permanent prosperity. The real cause of lack of interest in the union was summed up by Mr J. C. N. Grigg in the one wordprosperity. If a depression came, then farmers would flock in and take an interest in the union. If the branch promoted any reunion gatherings they should take a practical and useful form such as the reeding of papers on farming, and the macection of

crops which ha<? been grcwa for experimental purposes. The annual meeting of the Dunsanclel branch took place on the 3rd inst. The President (Mr Shcat) ga\e a report of the year's work, and a&ked the- members to support the unior loyally. The i7aiance 3bect showed a credit balance of £3 17s 3d. The secretary was voted 30s, in recognition of his services. Seven meetings had been held during the year, which were fairly well attended. It was decided to bold monthly meetings during the winter, and to procure speakers from outside the j district if possible. Mr Sheat was reelected president and uelegate, Mr Sowden was elected vice-president, and a committee of 12 wa; appointed. The annual meeting of the C4reenpark branch was held on the 7th inst.. the president (Mr J. A. Pannett) in the chair The President, in moving the adoption cf tho report and balance sheet, said that mem- j bers. could congratulate themselves on the financial position of the brancn. The re- j port and balance sheet were adopted. The- 1 following officers were olected : —President, ' Mr .G. Xeill ; vice-president, Mr J. G. Fieeken ; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. Pannett ; delegate to the conference, Mr J. A. Pannett; auditor, Mr G. H. Barnett; committee, Mess\-s W. S. Kimber, F. J. R. Kimber, J. S.- Pannett, H. P. Dulicu, F. Hubbard, R. A. Forbes, Heinzmann, W. Gilmour, T. O. Morgan, G. Tobeck, E, Yari, J. H. Tobeck, and C Andrew. A J sub-committfie was set up to make necessary | arrangements in connection with the. annual | banquet and concert to be held next month.