N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 20

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

—Maniototo Branch.— At the annual meeting of the Maniototo branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Mr C. Inder presided. The annual report stated that the branch commenced the' year with 70 members and a credit balance of £SO 3s lid. On the 31st March there were 67 members and a credit balance of £56 Is. While the financial position was satisfactory, regret was expressed that the branch was losing more members than it was gaining, but confidence was expressed that the coming year woufd ,see an increase in membership. The report having been adopted, office-bearers were elected as follows: —Chairman, Mr Scott; vice-presi-dents, Messrs C. Inder and W. Davis; secretary and treasurer, Mr Greer (reelected). Auditor, Mr Mathias; committee —Messrs J. M'Leod, D. Nicolson, A. Pearson, K. Williamson, D. Duncan, Fentcn, Glendinning, Lobb, W. 1 Davis. W. Mawhinney, Coram, E. Shaw, W. M. Mawhinney. Very complimentary reference was made to the manner in which Mr Greer had carried out the duties as secretary. Mr Inder, in vacating the chair, expressed disappointment at the efforts made to increase the membership. Many had promised to join when spoken to, but they did not do so. To emphasise the need for continued watchfulness, he read a paragraph from the annual report of the Federated Shearers' and Pastoral Employees' Uniqn follows: —"Politics, as well as Other matters of Government; must be. past and parcel of our union, whether you ■agree with me or not.' I am confident that ho real benefits; 1 no sound and honest laws will ever be properly administered until labour breaks the chain that is bound round it, and makes one combined effort to capture every seat in the House of Representatives." That brought them back to the old question of whether they

were to be a political body or not. The Labour party thought of nothing but big pay and short houra. In a. young country like this there were a lot of things to be developed before such an attitude was reasonable. Of course, not "all of the demands of the party could be classed as unreasonable, but they never seemed to consider what the future result was going to be. The producers had "to pay. Perhaps some parts could stand it, but here they had heavy enough burdens to carry. All the union wanted was fair and reasonable legislation. Among the correspondence was a letter from the Under-secretary for Lands stating that the question of setting apart pastoral run 2190 as a forest reserve had been referred to the superintendent nurseryman for the South Island at Tapanui for an opinion as to whether the run was suitable for tree-planting, and adding that it was no use reserving areas foi tree-planting if the district was being overrun with rabbits. The president and vice-presidents were appointed to draft a resolution protesting against the closing ok the Ranfurly nursery and opposing the stopping of tree-planting in the district, also that the Minister be asked to reserve an area for tree-planting. It was decided that the subscription be the. same as last year—namely, on a sliding scale from ss, where the rateable value was under £SOO, and 10s where it was over £4-000. It was resolved to hold two meetings in Ranfurly, and one each at Wedderburn and Kyeburn. Mr Greer declined to accept any bonus for acting as secretary, and was accorded a vote- of thanks. It wias suggested that each, one present should have to bring a new member during the year.