OAMARU NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3444, 16 March 1920, Page 29

OAMARU NOTES

OAMARU, March 13. At a special meeting of the North Otago branch of the Farmers' Union, held this morning, the president (Mr J. G/ Macdonald) in the chair, Mr W. Milne (Ardgowan), at whose instance the meeting was called, suggested the urgent need of a dominion farmers' representative in London, independent of Government control, who could with a free hand safeguard farmers' interests. He moved: "That the parent branch of the union be respectfully requested to use the utmost endeavour by cablegram to obtain the services of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, as Commissioner in London, for the primary producers of the dominion, on his retirement from the position of High Commissioner; that he be permitted to define his own duties', select his own assistants, and name his own remuneration, to be paid, in the first instance, out of half profits on wool, until a scheme for payment out of proceeds of exports can be promulgated." Sir Thomas Mackenzie, he said, was the most suitable man in whom to repose such a great confidence, and ho believed it was hia own wish to complete the work he had so well begun. The value of the present shipments to England was £30,000,000, a very small percentage of which would pay salaries and office expenses. Messrs J. A. Maopherson, Geo. Livingstone, T. Kingan, D. Cameron, T. Little, and the president having spoken in support of the resolution, it, with the addition that the president of the Dominion Union be asked to send a cable to Sir Thomas Mackenzie whether he would consider the appointment and at what remuneration, also to supply, if he would accept, the approximate cost of the office and staff. At a meeting of the North Otago Hydroelectricity Committee, the Mayor presiding, it was unanimously decided to canvass the district with a petition to form a United Ota.go Board, and the suggestion was made to secure Hakataramea, if possible, as an outer _ district The board was quite willing, it was stated, to come in with the Otago_ Power Board a course which its geographical position rendered the most convenient. The farewell visit of His Excellencv the Governor-General and Lady Liverpool was responded to by a very large attendance of the piublic at the railway station, where a decorated dais had been prepared. Their Excellencies were introduced! to the members -of- local bodies, and a finely-executed illuminated address was presented to the Governor-General by the Mayor (Mr Jas. M'Diarmid). The ; £rua-rd of honour was composed of the Waitaki Hitrh School Cadets, and the 10Mi Peerimental Band was in attendance. Hia' Excellency replied at some lensrth to the welcome, and they were heartily cheered on their departure.