GISBORNE FARMERS' UNION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10961, 2 May 1907, Page 4

GISBORNE FARMERS' UNION.

MR R. M. BIRRELL FAREWELLED. The Gisborne Farmers' Union tendered a complimentary social last evening to Mr R. M. Birrell, one of their oldest members, who is on tlie eve of his departure on a visit to the Old Country. The gathering was held in the Furine.-s' Union club-room. Mr W. D. Lysnar, President, was in the chair, and' tlio assemblage of over tliirty included a number of members of the Caledonian Society, local bodies, and those interested in the various i movements with which -Alv liirreU has' identified himself during his long stay in the district. Apologies for nun-attend-ance were received from Messrs. Cameron, ' Vincent Pyke. A. . F. Kennedy, and Holdcn. The Cnairman, in" opening the proceedings, regretted tuat the veiy unprotitious state of the weather prevented many from attending. "The King" having been loyally honored, the Cnairman said he hud great pleasure in proposing the. toast of Mr R. M. Birrell. He was especially pleased to do so in view of the part taken by the guest of the evening in the woi-k of the Jnion. Mr Birrell was one oi the first to support the Union when Mr Glass 1 came around here, aiid since then he had been a consistent supporter. Mr Birrell was always a strong lighter. Many of _ them might differ from liim in lus platform, but he had the courage of his opin--1 ions, and was never afraid to express them. _ On the Gisbome Union he was very use- _■ ful in debates. « Besides the Union, Mr j Birrell had token a prominent part in \ many piiblic movements, and his friends ' thought it only right it-hat they should | meet together and -extend their ; best [ wishes for a pleasant trip. In his pro^ ■\ gramme Mr Birrell included a visit to * i jJeninark, and he no doubt would be able 1 j^to tell Gisboi*ne people on his return something as to the way dairying and other industries were carried on in that ' country. The said he had i been requested to present. toT Mr Birrell, as a- 'parting gift, a handsome rug, which. ! would help to keep him in mind of his r friends and add to his comfoit on his * travels. Continuihg,' Mr Lysnar referred j t 0 the gogdwork Mr Birrell had done in J', connection with the Poverty Buy Oale--5 doniah. Society. 1 ... Mr A: J* Cameron apologised for the ! absence of -his brother, who greatly re--5 gretted his. --inability'. to-. be present, and 1 wished Mr, Birrell a pleasant voyage, j Mr C. J. Parker, said, as. one wlio liad * been connected with .the Farmers'Union, * he knew the time Mr Birrell had given to its objects^ and he could confirm the 5 best, the Chairman had ssjid of Mr Bir- , rell. Their guest liad helped along the Caledonian Society and a number of social movements. ' 5' Mr J. A. Harding said he could not * allow the f evening to pass over without referring ... to the keen interest which he ' had noticed Mr Birrell took*^ not only in . farming, but, in every matter which had to do with.'the welfare of the district and I town. r . Mo Birrell was always on the spot, not only in local politics, but out- _ side politics as well. He took no rel si)onsibility on liimself without giving it due consideration, : and tliat responsibility _; he fe]j> was for the welfare of the place i he had come to call his home. A keen * supporter of the present Government, Mr * Birrell .was a in spirit and heart. t Mr Harding regretted be was not able ' to join him on his trip, wliich he was sure ' would result in Mr Birrell acquiring a _ fund of information likely to -prove ..qf .' use t<> residents here." '; ; . 'X.- < ' '''*' _ Mr W. Belf -said tliat since,'.- toe • 'com--' ' mencement of the Farmers' Union lie and, ' Mr Birrell had worked liand-in-hand. " With Mr Clayton, they' were some 'of the I first'members o'f the Union. -Mr'.-Birrell,'' _ ut his request, liad hcted as secretary : to j" the Gisborne Union when it started. . *Mr W.: L. Clayton said ;Mr Bell was ( the first inan -and Mr Birrell the third^ "man he hacTmet in Farmers' Union mati ' ters '"after Mr Glass came round. ..Mr " Birrell l/ecame one of the mbst,.indefati- : . gable \vorkers. He and the speaker had _ not always been on the , same side, and he.:- was sometimes glad of thift, as .;' he ; thought opposition was the life of eyery- ! thiiig. '.'Mr; -Birrell *lirfd* taken the; very J progressive side, and tlie speaner the . moderate, -as lie- had fayored evolution . rather, than revolution, "j Mr Birrell had r been one of the most Vusef ul men in the community m v stirriiig\. up diseassion. ' Publicly he had .seldom: agreed with', Mr' . Birrell, but privately they were tho best of friends. .' > . . Mr Ewen Cameron said the Caledonian Society had. been kept moving mainly by Mr Birrell's perseverance, and he .'looked * forward to his speedy return to tfgaih stir ; things up. ; A few more like'lnm were •' wanted in Poverty Bay. Tliere were' a lot- of Scotchmen rfn Poverty Bay,, but ;i .they wanted livening. up. He wished M;r ' §very success in his trip. ,: , [ .'. Mr Parker said Mr Birrell's sympathies _ had even extended W Home Rule, and many thanked him heartily for his- kelp* *:■ The health of Mr and Mrs Birrell -and „ family was heartily toasted, witli mimical ! honors'. .• v", I 'Mr Birrell, in reply, said \lie . thought Of the distance several of his oil friends had travelled that night to be ; present he felt a proud man, and to hear ! the - ' 'anld songs" . again had greatly a f*fected him. It was 18 years since he . came here, and though friendless then he [ was not friendless now. He , thought I he was going to help to found a new Utopia, but this had not eventuated. He . had not taken a pessimistic '.'.'view.-' «*t ! things, however, and he never regretted coming to New Zealand. He. regretted \ m going back to Scotland he could not . tell them what a powerful organisation the Farmers' Union had become/ and he hoped farmers would become more alive to the necessity of standing together. As [ to the extreme views that he held, there were reasons why he took such views. ' For 35 years he had lived in the great J centres of humanity, where there was ;" such a great gulf between the people, bef tween those who had and those who , had not, and he had made a vow to assist 5 humanity where he could. It was hardly \ possible for anyone to live in the great , cities without becoming tinctured wi'Ji this spirit. While he was away he would ■ be happy to do anything which in any I way would help to further their inter- " ests. Mr A. J. Cameron proposed the "Farmers' Union." He regretted that it had not been a very prosperous body. \ Farmers did not take the same interest } in it that they were expected to do, bnl he hoped they would get over all Jiffi.---i culties and combine to make it a strong ,' organisation. lvlr Birrell, with whose name the toast ' was coupled, pointed out that what \v is ' good for the farming industry was good lor the whole community. The Union * should not be a*political body, and did _■ not require to be. The Government of the day would have to respect them ii P they were, united. Air Bell also replied on behalf of tho ' Union, and agreed that the Union should " not be a political one. 6 "The A. and P. Society" was given by Mr Clayton, who emphasised the need P* for more of sheep and cattle at the annual gathering. At present it . was largely a horse show. _ Mr VV. D. S. MacDonald, in ackno.v---f ledging the toast, said he wished one ol the prominent members of the Society [, could have been present to reply. He thought that considering the fact that , the horse was the only means of locomo-'- --_ tion in this district, and its importaii'.-e jto settlers,; that it deserved the.■piedoraint aiing position it occupied at the show I AUhough small a 'few years ago the entries of . sheep and cuttle were lncreas- . ing, but the duliculty here was that the «>€itlers of the district were so scatterci t tluit it was difficult to get the exhibits _ down. Stock, could not be railed as was clone, to- Palmerston North and other , shows. At the same time farmers gener- _ ally should take a keener interest in the L gatherings, and not allow a few of the [ leading members' to undertake the whole burden of the show, i "The Ladies," proposed by Mr Nealc, _ W'is responded to by Mr Isurtpu. '-Mr A. J. Cameron gave "'The Press," which [ was acknowledged by the representatives j present. i "The Chairman" was given by Mr ! Harding, who referred to Mr Lysnav's , energy in connection with local dairying, \ bacon factories, and sheepf arming. In all public movements Mr Lysnar had . taken a prominent part, and though he had been opposed to the Chairman in municipal matters, he felt Mr Lysnar s time was coming in the near future. He hoped that Mr Lysnar would sec h*s way to represent them in something higher than local politics, and he leli sure he would receive the support of the progressive sections of the community. Mr Lysnar in reply returned thanks for the hearty manner m which his and his wife's -health had been toasted. Referring to Mr Harding's remarks, he said 1 ho valued these all the more as he had been at opposite points in regard to municipal aiiairs. He had his all, and intended to keep his all in this district, and he regarded this district as the finest in the colony. Ho was not looking for Parliamentary honors. They had a good representative in Mr Carroll. (A voice ; There is another electorate now). At present he was content to gave his aid in connection with . paroehuil niat- ; ters, and assist advancing the prosperity of the district. "The Host," was given by Mr Birrell, Mr Harding responding jn appropriite terms. ' ; During the evening a capital musical programme was gone through. Mr J. A. Nicol recited "Christmas Day at the Workhouse," and "A Night at the Burns i and Scottish Society" wiili his usual buc- - ! cess, and Mr W. L. Clayton contributed ■ a whistling solo, yongs were rendered jby the following gentlemen: — Mr Uloore, "The Smuggler,'' "Good (Company, "The Yeoman's Wedding" •, .Mr UaUQ>yay| ';'4'hr_A__^^

"Annie Laurie," "March of the Cameron Men" ; Mr Hogg, "The Barrin' o' tha Door"; Mr Birrell, "Willie Brewed a Peclc o' Maut," "The Laird o' Cockpen"; Mr Bell, "John Peel"; Mr Laurenson, "When I was a Boy at School."/ "Anld Lang Syne" brought a very pleasant evening io a close just before midnight. Mr Gittos was an efficient accompanist. The arrangements for the gathering were supervised by Mr Graham Johnstone, who left nothing undone to secure its success.