N.Z. FARMERS UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS UNION.

HAMPDEN BRANCH.

The Hampden Branch of the Farmers Union held a very successful meeting on Monday, 18th inst., there being a.n attendance and upwards of 50 farmers. Mr Trotter (chairman of the branch) presided, and rn.troduoed the speaker of the evening, Mr (x. H. Stewart (president of the Otago ProvineiaJ: Council of the New Zealand Farmers Union). Mr Stewart apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr R. Scott, M.P. for Tuipeka, who was also to have addressed the meeting. Mr Stewart addressed those present as follows: —I wish to convince you to-night of the paramount importance of supporting the Farmers' Union in your own interests and the interests ol your fel-low-farmers throughout New Zealand. It is a common platitude that we live in an ag© of organisation. We know that the wage-earners are organising mome and more fully every day, and I think they are quite right, and that through their trades and labour councils they make their voices and views heard freely and immediately on all questions affecting them. We know also that the employers' federations have been of very material assistance in protecting' and forwarding the interests of the manufacturers. It cannot be doubted that similar organisation is necessary among the farmers, and that much good has resulted from such organisation in the past, and still more gq£,d can be done in the future, if more wnl help. Yott may say, But what need is there for organisation just now? What grievances are we labouring under Y Will it not be time enough to organise when danger threatens? Well, the answer is eimplv this: That in order to be effective it must not be one of mushroom growth, but on© whwtf* has been carefully and systematically built up so that it can speak with authority, and without delay when our interests are threatened. It is fairly clear that the only grievances that will raise a protest from an unorganised class is one which threatens the very existence of that class, and i 9 felt by each and all of us. But under such circumstances many minor wrongs must go unremedied, and many evils .must be reformed by a slow and painful process, which would never hav© seen the light of day had it been known that an active and alert organisation was watching the interests of the farmers. More especially does the need of organisation l

show itself in connection - with legislation. We know that in these days legislation of far-re aching importance is rushed through the House with unexampled celerity. Now, unless we have an organisation ready to scan closely proposed measures it is certain that our interests will suffer, and they have suffered in the past from want of suoh a "body. Surely a portion of the community that, out of a total of £15,891,530 exports, provides £13,317,404, needs to organise and move by a solid union for measures for its own protection. Mr Stewart then proceeded to give facts and figures about the good which the union had accomplished throughout the Dominion, stating that farmers' unions throughout the world had been objectlessons of what farmers could do, even though they were scattered over such wide areas. The organisation of the New Zealand Farmers' Union could reach all farmers in the Dominion, aind all it wanted. was the farmers generally to join the union and help it with their subscriptions and moral support. The subscriptions they would find were light, in fact lighter than any other union's subscription. Mir Stewart then brought the claims of the Otago Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association before the meeting. He said the Mutual . Fire Insurance Association was promoted by the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, owing to the strong feeling frequently expressed by members that the rates charged by insurance companies were much too high on farm buildings, and it was felt that the only remedy was the undertaking on the part of the union to provide a suitable and comprehensive scheme among its own members and farmers generally to "carry on its own insurance business. As was usual on starting a new thing, there were plenty willing and ready to influence people, and endeavour to prevent the Mutual getting ahead. Those who" thus acted were, of course, those to whose interests it was that the Mutual should not come to staynamely, representatives and those interested in other' companies. Of course, it was only natural that they should use every endeavour to keep the business which was the best they had on their books. The first move made by the companies was to reduce the rates by one-third on farm buildings. Why was this not done before the advent of the Mutual? Simplv because the companies recognised that farmers were usually slow to move. But when they did move it was with a will, and it took a good 6trong move to shift them again. Unfortunately, some farmers were taken in by this move, ■which would not have been made but for the Mutual. This, however, was more than met by the Mutual, its rates being cheaper •than the companies even with the onethird reduction. Then the old cry, "It -won't last," was heard—the cry that had been heard before regarding farmers' cooperative companies, dairy factories, etc., and each one present knew what these had proved. The Mutual Association started the first year with £79,478, and now had £135,000, every year showing a steady increase. The original policy-holders had almost" without exception stuck to the Mutual, and were its best advertising mediums. The Mutual had built. up a •good reserve fund, which was being added to each year, the risks being held in Otago, Southland, Canterbury, and Nelson. Mr Stewart concluded his remarks by an appeal to farmers to support the Farmers' Union, the Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and Farmers' Union Advooate. the Farmers' Unisfe paper.' Mr James Findlay also spoke of the good work done by the Farmers' Union and the .Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association, emphasising what the previous speaker had stated. On the motion of Mr Trotter, seconded by Mr Nicolson, a hearty vote of thanks ■was accorded Mr Stewart for his address. NORTH CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. At a _ meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union this afternoon, the President (Mr Richard Evans) remarked that a tremendous number bf x men were coming to New Zealand at present who were bona fide colonists arid anxious to go on the land, although they had never been used to farming. Mr Evans referred to the satisfactory report' of the Southland Union, on the young immigrants who had come to them recently. He was satisfied that these people would make good colonists. Many of them were naval or military men, and,,,, although they know nothing of farming,'■; they were eager to learn and were of the right character. Mr Hall moved, and it was agreed, that the Southland Branch be asked to favour the North Canterbury Branch at a later date with the result of its experiment. Ronayne, General Manager of the New Zealand railways, wrote in regard to the weight of grain carried in one sack on the railways, stating that it had been decided to reduce tha penalty •rate to 10s per ton. The writer pointed out that if the penalty were reduced any further there would be no inducement for farmers and others to observe the .by-law, It was resolved—" That in the opinion of this executive the fine of 10s per ton is too high, and 5s would be an ample deterrent from, filling bates over weight." It was also resolved that a letter should accompany the resolution to the Minister pointing "out that farmers were anxious to observe the by-law. and had no desire to evade it. Mr W. Stringleman, District Traffic Manager, wrote intimating that the regulation restricting the weight of grain per sack would not be applied, to potatoes for the present. The letter was regarded as very satisfactory