N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 2984, 24 May 1911, Page 19

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

MILTON BRANCH. The annual meeting- of the Milton. Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was attended by Messrs N. M'Arthur (president), W. Grey, D. Clark, J. Heads, C. Cowie, H. Peattie, T. Lowery, M. Scott, J. B. Norrie, Jasper Clark, and J. S. Ing-lis (secretary). The President said the recent Provincial Conference had shown conclusively that the Farmers' Union was not dying out. This was not the time for farmers to sit down contented and think matters wouJd continue as at present. Matters were not going on as smoothly a.s in the past, and 1 it behoved farmers to band together to protect themselves and this fair Dominion. Legislation waa in prospsct whicih would prove inimical to the best interests of the Dominion, and farmers required to stand shoulder to shouldeir, not only in their own interests, but in the future welfare of the country. He hoped that local farmers would manifest a greater interest in the affuirs of the union, and attend the meetings of the branch. If thev had a grievance they should bring it forward; • it would bo freely discussed, and, if considered reasonable, sent forward to the Piroviincial Conference, from thence possibly to _ the Colonial Conference, and thence direct to the Government headquarters. The farmers had thus a direct channel of ventilating anything for their benefit. The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr MArthur (Mr Norrie declining the retiring president's nomination) ; vice-president, Mr J. B. Norrie (reelected) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. S. Ing-lis (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr E. Moore ; committee—Messrs Jno. Allison-, .inn., T. Hitehon, M. Scott, M. Finch, J. Clark, D. Clark, W. Grey, Jno. Heads, C. Cowie, H. Peattie, J. Cameron, A. Wislcy, jun., and T. Lowery. The subscription was fixed at 10s, ss, and 2s 6d, pro rata. It was decided in future to meet on Saturday evenings. WYNDHAM BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Wyndham Branch of the New Zealand Farmers'

Union was presided over by Mr T. W. Foster, and attended by a dozen others. The annual report stated that the meetings held during the year had been well attended. The membership was 43—the same as the previous year. Thane was a credit balance of £ll lis 6d. During the year an interesting and instructive address on "The Dairy Cow" was igiven by Mr T. Ayaon, and much appreciated. The Grairman said that, white the Wynd'ham branch was holding is own, speaking generally the union was not receiving bho support it deserved, despite the fact that the necessity for solid assistance was never gireater. It was hard ito account for the apathy'. Splendid work had been done by the Dominion executive. Personally he wim beginning- to lose heart, and he knew that some members of the nrovinciail executive, who had l 'gone on hoping against hope and gave their time freely to the interests of the caiii;e, were bseoming disheartened Mr Ccok said that so far as t!»?dr (tjivvn branch was concerned they had gcod reason to bo satisfied, but he thought it was a ehomc farmers, did! not give the union mora yuoport. Valuable service had been rendered by the provincial executive, a.nd the un'icn had gained any material advantage for the farming community. Mr T. Aysen endorsed what had been said. Their branch should have a larger membership, as the union was the only avenue whereby the just requirements of farmers cou'd be voiced. Perhaps a paid organiser would have the desiredl effect. He was sorry to hear. the chairman's aeooumt of the doleful outlook in other districts, but (trusted it was simply an illustration of the old axiom that "t-he dtirkest hour was just before the dawn." Mr Cook having declined tne chairman's nomination as Mr Footer him- j self was re-elected. Mr Thomas Ayson was ! elected vice-president. Mr Arnott was re- | elected secretary, despite his desire to ■ stand aside for some time, eulog'stie refer- j ences being made to the work he bad done during Ihia six yeairs of office. Mr James M'Lauchlan was -re-elected auditor, and as n, eomnritte'? —Messrs P. MCauehan, Alex. Bell, John M'Kay, P. Campbell, jun., H. Adams, A. Laid'aw (all re-elected), and J. Y. Ccok (successor to Mr Beonge, who recruested to bo relieved). A brief discussion took place about the apathy shewn bv farmers. Mr Arnott said the sum and substance of the matter was that ever so many farmea-s wanted all the benefits gained through, the medium of the Faa-mers' Unioa without paying for them. "What is the use of onr paying subscriptions?" was the sum of their logic; "we get the benefits as it is." At the ordinary meeting which followed a good deal o-f business was transacted. The district railway traffic manager intimated that the request of the branch to have the locomotives' standing place removed to a site where horses were l*3ss Mkcly to be 'disturbed had been acceded to. The seciveta.ry said 12 months had eSapsed since they had started this agitation, and ho was surprised at the amount icif ired topeisni which had been found to follow. After considerable discussion, Mr Ayson's motion that the branch approve of the remit with reference to the formation of a Farmers' Political Association was carried, it 'being understood that it merely committed the branch to givimjr its approval to the Auckland platform. The remit which proposed to relax the iregiuilation dealing with the destruction of Canadian thistle, "where it was thoroughly established in inaccessible country," was approved after some discussion. It was resolved to approve of the remit protesting against potato-growers having to allow "bags in" to the merchants. i