N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 18

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

BALCLUTHA BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Balclutha Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union was attended by Messrs A. Houliston (president), Robert Moffat, Joseph Mosley, W. J. Keys, Geo. Moffat, S. W. Moffat, John Mosley, P. Renton, R. H. Wilson, R. Renton, and J. E. Stewart (acting secretary.) The balance sheet, submitted bv the secretary, showed a credit balance of £l9 7s lid, but aginst this there were outstanding accounts amounting to £4 Os 6d. Unpaid! subscriptions amounted to £6 10s. It was decided to vote four guineas to the Harvey Hall for the past two years, leaving a net balance of £ll 3s sd, which was deemed verv satisfactory. A resolution of sympathy with the widow and family of the late secretary (Mr J. W. WiLsom) was carried by the members standin a in silence. Mr Ho'iulisto.n declining to be re-elected president, Mr Joseph Mosley, who had proposed! him, was unanimously elected. Mr J. E. Stewart Was appointed secretary at a salary of £lO a year, and Mr Mosley, the chairman, was appointed a delegate to tho Provincial Conference. It was resolved' to urge the Minister of Railways to reduce by one-half the railway fare when i ravelling with stock to the Burnside yards, sheep, it was pointed out, being more, important than racehorses. The President said that at present there was nO' harmony between the Department of Agriculture r:nd the farmers. The present system was out of data, and he intended to propose an entirely new system. MILTON BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Milton Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union was hold on Friday evening. The annual report referred to the danger that a time of peace might give rise to a false sense of security. The union should take the lesson to heart lest it be caught mapping when the time comes when it will have to put forth its ■full strength. I needed no gift of foresight to see that matters in the political and industrial world were gradually drifting towardte a more pronounced form of Socialism. The only way to counteract the Socialistic influence at work is for those who are oppered to suoh extreme views to. make their presence felt. And the farmers of the Dominion, whose interests are particularly assailed can do this in no more effective manner than by lending their support to tho Farmers' Union and making it a strong, active, and everalert, bedy. Reference was made in the report to the ccmsideration given to remits from the Dominion and Provincial Executives, the visit of Mr Sedgwick, the inaugurator of the scheme for introducing boys from tho Home Country for farm, work, and 1 the successful picnic at Taieri Mouth. Strong exception had been taken to the millowners agreeing t. a rise in the rate of wages for throwing without consulting the farmers. No objection was taken to the. increase itself i>s it was felt it was fairly* earned, but to the fact that farmers were not consulted. In view of the uncertainty as to the liability of farmers with respect to accidents to threshing mill employees, and the contradictory opinions of legal authorities, the whole matter was referred to the Provincial Conference for consideration» The financial position was un.satisfsctory. The branch was really in debit £1 4s 3d. The subscription had been reduced from 10s to 7s 6d in the hope of increasing the men> bersh.ip. but this hope had not been. realised l . The number of financial members was 65, against 58 for the previous year. Nothing could more seriously cripple a branch than lack of financial resources, and the question: was one that required the serious consideration of members. MANIOTOTO BRANCH. The annual meetinsr of the Maniototo Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union was held on the 6th inst., Mr R. Scott, M.P., presiding. There were also present Messrs W. Davis, J. Lobb, W. M. Mawhinnev, D. Duncan, S. C. Greer (secretarv) R. W. Glendinning, J. M'Leod, C. Inder, and Passmore. The annual report stated that the. membeiship numbered 70. and the balance in hand amounted to £57 5s 4d. Three new members had since joined. Four regular meetings h?d been held during the year, and altogether the position of the branch was satisfactory. There was room for improvement, as many farmers were not members of the union. Tho branch strongly

opposed the closing of the Eweburn Nursery, which the State Forests Department had. decided on; and also urged! on the department the necessity of setting aside a large area for tree-planting in this district. The nursery is again in full swing, and a large area of suitable ground has been SSfc aside. The Chairman referred to the movement to secure representation, on all local bodies, and l said the farmers must uphold their end of the stick, or in the long run they would suffer. He referred to the success, of the farmers' mutual fire insurance scheme, which had now £150,000 of insurances, an dsaid that if farmers supported it their premiums would soon be about half of what they paid insurance companies. It was prooo&ed to form a branch of the union in Ida Valley, which would mean th 3 loss of one or two members. The Oh airman referred in appreciatory terms to the manner in which the secretary (Mr Greer) had carried out his duties. He thought many farmers who were in sympathy with the union, and' paid their subscriptions, did not realise what an encouragement it would) be -to those who carried on the work, if they give their presence even ence a year. The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr B, Scott, M.P. (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs O. Inder and D. .Duncan ; secretary and treasurer, Mr b. O. Gree:- (re-elected); auditor, Mr Matinas (re-elected); committee—Messrs J. M Leod, D Nicholson, A. Pearson, K. Williamson, Passmore Lobb, W. M. Mawh:,nney, Glondinning, and W. Davis; delegate to Provincial Conference, Mr Glendinning. The secretary was requested to write to Mr Mathias, thanking him for his past services as auditor, and votes of thanks were passed to the president, secretary, and vice-presidents for their work during the &aasom, and also to the reporter of the Chronicle. ' T Messrs . Greer, Dun-cam, and J. M -Lean were appointed a committee to select a team to compete, in the Farmers Onion rifl"} competition. The following remits were adopted! :~ "That the Government be urged to take some practical steps with a view of ascertaining- if artesian water exists in Central Otago.—That, in view of the approaching scarcity of timber, the Government be urged to continue the afforestation of suitable'areas in Central Otago.—That a remit be- forwarded asking the amendment Of the Rabbit Act, giving inspectors power to compel settlers .to poison rabbits m certain districts within a given time—to apply to two poisonings, one in the summer a.ncßone in the fall." Mr Glendinning was not altogether' in favour of the remit, as conditions, that would suit_Fma.ll farmers would not be suitable for large holders of land.

"WAIKAKA VALLEY BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Waikaka Valley Branch, of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held last week, Mr Hugih Smith presidiig. There were present Messrs J. Oockbam, G. Itono. G P Johnston, J. MThail, J. M'Phail. jun... R. M'Phail, & White, jun., and D. Gilchrist. ■ , The annual report stated that the membership had fallen from 13 to 9._ The Chairman referred to the want of interest taken in their affairs by farmers in the Home Country. Mr Gilchrist thought, it -was necessary to widen the scope of the union. They had need of a political organisation. Mr G. P. Johnston had confidence in the future of the union. If farmers would TeaJiso that they were allowing themselves to fall out of line with the forces that were acting and counteracting they would) give the support they had been withholding. Mr M'Phail thought that if more meetings were held the membership would increase. The followin-pr officers were elected: Chairman, Mr G. Morrison; vice-chairman. Mr Hugh Smith; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. M'Phail, jun.; committee—Messrs J. M'Phail, S. White, jun., J. Cockburn, and D. Gilchrist; auditor, Mr D. Smith; delegate to conference, Mr G. Mortrison. The subscription was fixed at 10s, and it was decided to hold four ordinary meetings during the year, the first to be held on June 14. The branch considered among other thing? the following remit from the Tuatapare Branch: —"That in view of the aggressive position taken up by the Socialist party, the time has arrived when the Farmers' Union must also take a more aggressive position in self-defence, and to this end the union should take steos to have electoral committees appointed in every electoral district, whose duty it shall be to find a candidate who will supoort the farmers' interest irrespective of party ties, and do what they can to support hi 3 election." Messrs Gilchrist, Cockbuirn, G. J. Johnston, and Hugh Smith spoke in favour of the remit, and it was unanimously decided to ask the delegate to support it at the conference, which is to be held on the 25th inst. MVERSDALE BRANCH. Seven members attended the annua l mooting of the Riversdale Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union. Mr Joseph Smaill, the president, said the year had been disappointing so far as the number of meetings held was concerned, but on the other hand 12 new members had been enrolled, and the number was now 30, as against 18 last year. To make the union a live institution, however, what was wanted'was the attendance of members at the-meet-ings, so that matters touching the. far-

mers' interests might be discussed, and any existing- girievance brought under the notice of the executive. Judged by this standard, the Riversdalo Branch had been a failure last year. . The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £2 17s. The following office -bearers were elected: President, Mr Joseph Smaill (no-electedi); secretary, Mr P. Murray; (treasurer, Mr D. Stevenson; delegates to annual conference, Messrs P. Murray and J. Stevenson (Willowbank). The following remits were adopted:—(l) "That boroughs should be required to maintain their own roads and bridges without levying upon, the ■ adjoining counties," (2) "That the new regulations regarding the conveyance of goods on the railways bo revoked and the old system reverted to."