FARMERS' UNION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11863, 29 May 1909, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

The annual meeting of the Gisborne Branch of the Farmers' Union was held this . afternoon. There was a good attendance, and Mr W. D. Lysnar (chairman) presided. ..'- y The chairman presented the balance sheet, which showed a credit, -balance- of £6 '2s 5d- Tho total membership numbered 157; the arrears totalled £42. Reviewing the year's work, the chairman said that eleven meeting had been held' r He enumerated' the various subjects that had been discussed, and the satisfactory results that had generally followed. Several addresses had also been delivered during the year. - He could not help regretting the farmers did not support the movement better, especially in the retaining of the services of a veterinary surgeon. He moved the adoption of the balancesheet. This was seconded by Mr W. Bell. Mr. A.- G. Cameron, in supporting the expressed regret that the Union was nol receiving that , financial assistance that it should from the farmers. Mr G. ■- J. Parker declared that but f or ' the energy of the chairman and assistance of Mr A. J. Cameron, the branch would have died long ago, D: 'Lvsiiar was re-elected chairman. The following committee was appointed: Messrs A. J. -Cameron, E. Cameron, W, 17. Bel'l, J. C. Field, W. W. 'Smith, E. «Lungford. W. Bruce, C. J. Parker, R. Little, Candy, W. G. E. .Tories, and H. H. Wall. Mr Wittct 'was. re-appointed secretary. .' .Mr A. J. Cameron was appointed delegate to the annual conference, and a resolution was adopted supporting the appointment of a Rabbit Board.' „ The Chairman proceeded to introduce the question of the broad tyre by-law ui vogue in the county. Tho proposal of the Cook County/Council, he stated, was to increase the width of tyres on metalled roads for Yehibles drawn by three horses and! over, up tb six inches, irrespective of springs or riot, and to remain in force the whole, year : also to suspend, heavy, traffic from May 1 to September 20. This, he said, would limit the load to three tons per waggon, between May arid September. y .' Mr S. Oxenham spoke of the' disastrous effect this would have upon carters, declaring that his experience was that wide tyres did as much damage as narrow : tyres. , If it wus insisted* upon, he urged ihat all the carriers in .the district should stop work to force the voice of the people to make the County amend that bye-law. Mr S. 'Scragg explained that tho. alteration of the tyres to 6 inches would compel most of the carters to put in new. axle bars. The. Council Was. doing its' inest "to force "the carters to form a Union, as hack been done in Hawke's Bay, to the expense of the pastorab'sts ana ratepayers. If the change was effected he would do his best to form a Union or sell out. It' was finally decided tliat a depute.; tion should approach the Council.

(Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, this day.. At the annual conference of delegated to the Southland Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the president, Mr McQueen, in his opening address referring to the cause of the depression, pointed out that speaking particularly bf stock in the sheep-carry: ing countries the past year had been a very, fine fattening year all over the wofJd.V and more ; stock was fattened. Th0 1 result": was- .that the English market was with mutton , ; arid the New 2j,e^land export trade, had suffered a little bv -th^t.- .There' had also been a depression''in' ;wb6l. ; which, strange to say, hadr^veied. He' aitributed. that to people c^'riomidiiig "'.in' their food, ' and wearing their iclothes '• a.' little t longer, but being fofped to start •biiying clothing some mpntjts ' later, with' ; the result tliat wool Werit.up. 'The' prospects df farmers were by^'no jeans', gloomy. ••_• These would recover iii- a short ; time, for .the reason tliat,with' the gradual redutition in stock and the', increase 1 in people, a -.higher rate of .'"values must .coriie 'about.' The Conffoence* had, to deal with .39 remits on Vjarjotis. que^tiohs of^ more or less .intercut .to ■ 'farmers.. , .. '. -_-^___-___-_-^^