FARMERS' UNION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14590, 27 April 1918, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

At th© meeting this afternoon a remit from the Nga-tapa branch, of the N.Z. Farmers Union r© straightening and clearing. -N.ga.tapa creek, was as follows : 'That the Cook County Council bo respectfully urgod to obtain «. report from tho Minister of Public Works m regard to this important matter, and have the work carried, out as soon as possible m order to .prevent the continual flooding, yand thus save settlers from the very serious damage incurred every few months."

Mr '■ Watson Baid the remit was the result of a representative meeting of the branch of the Union. The Public Works drew up a -report,, which was forwarded to Wellington, where it was still lying, so far i as he knew. — Mr Bridge : Which body is really responsible ? — Mr Steele : Tho Government is interested because of the railway nearby, the Cook County Council because of the road l , audi the settlers because of their properties Adjoining the creek, all of which would be affected m flood time. A scheme was drawn up on the straightening of the creek by the Public Works engineer, but so far no reply had been received m this matter. — Mr Field said that legislation was introduced! last ..Parliamentary session to the effect that if the settlers will not undertake the work, the Government will take that power.-^Mr Steele said he considered! the Cook Council had', j because that body sent notices to far--1 mers concerned asking them to clear the creek of willows 'wji ere it went through their properties. — The chairman : Do I understand the ; matter is still m the hands of the Public. Works Department? — Mr Steele : The last enquiry I made m this direction was some time ago, and ! before any action was taken I would like litto be found' out whether any reply had been received.— The chairman seconded a motion to that effect.— Mr Field said that all the creeks were becoming blocked, and legislation was being introduced' next session m this matter. At present if the ratepayers did nothing definite then the Government could carry the work out and levy " a. rate. — The chairman : That is now law. It was passed last session. — Mr Field : -Well, that is better. The thing is to get jbhe settlers to be unanimous.— Mr Steele : They are unanimous. — Mr Bridge: Why ! haven't they started on the work? — Mr Steele : They could not gj> any further , with it unless they received a report from the Government. — Mr . Marshall: Straightening the creek would do away ! with clearing- a considerable distance of the existing oreek. — The chairman . said |he sincerely hopedi the settlers would ;work unitedly m the matter. He hoped ( the Government legislation would be given effect to. The ' farmers m the vicinity of the Waipaoa river were being subjected to periodical floods solely because they would not work together m [getting "cuts" made m the bad bends.' He moved) the secretary be instructed to obtain information and also to make enquiries from the Public Works Department 1 as to the scheme, recently forwarded, and that lie then instruct Ngatapa branch. — This was seconded by Mr Steele and carried.

The following letter was received from W. H. Jacombs on behalf of Sims, ; Cooper, and Co. Ltd., Palmerston North : j "We notice from the columns of the local press that at the last meeting of your Union certain resolutions forwarded from Gisborne relative to the control and distribution of New Zealand meat m England, were under consideration. We understand that one of ' the resolutions m question protests against the personnel of the controllers appointed m London, and the Advisory Committee appointed to work m conjunction with , them. In this resolution, it is infeiTed that Mr Cooper, one of the principals of our firm, has been appointed to a position connected with the. control of New Zealand meat m London; We desire to inform you that tliis statement is quite inaccurate. The position to which Mr. Cooper has been appointed, is that of Chief L|ve Stock Commissioner for Great Britain, m which capacity he has the control of the movements'* of. ail live stock. His appointment has no connection whatever • with the meat imported into Great Britain. We consider it regrettable ,that statements of the nature referred to Bhould be widely circulated without steps having first been taken to .ascertain whether they are correct. As we understand that .the resolutions referred to will be the subject of further discussion by your Union we will be much obliged if you will place our letter before your members." . ,

A letter m reply was sent stating that ,tho <fc>rresp*mden'ce would bb placed before the executive, and that the Gisborne branch had been acting upon press cables published throughout the. Dominion. ,

The secretary intimated that a cable had been sent Home for authentic information.—Mr Field said he did not think anything, should be done at present. He moved that the letter be received. — This was seconded by the,* Chairman and carried.

The Gisborne Farmers' . Co-operative Co., Ltd., wrote m connection with the sale of dairy stock at the Kairoro yard's as follows : "Replying to yours of the S&th^ March, we have to state that Ye {ire m entire agreement with your contention that the sale of . dairy stock should be held early, and also to state that at the Kairoro yards they will m future be sold as you, suggest, immediately after the fat stockT"— - Mr Field said lie was pleased to not© the suggestion had been brought up. It was of ereat benefit to the small farmer.— Mr. Bridge urged that the Stpckbrokers' Aspociation should be written to and informed their suggestion of monthly sales was not a solution of the problem. — Mr. Marshall : Why should we chase the Stockbrokers' Association ?— Mr. Field: Well,. I -would thank them for their letter. — Mr. Marshall ! Then I move that the letter be received. — The chairman: I think we should receive the letter from the Stockbrokers' Association, and thank the Farmers' Co-operative Company for falling so readily m with the suggestion. — Mr. Bridge said a letter should be , written to the association, askinc them to reconsider their decision m the matter.-^Members : : No ! — The chairman :_ We made the suggestion, and that association did not see its way clear to do it; therefore the letter should only be Teceived. — Mr. Steele said that alI though the small men deserved consideration the large men were also worthy of conaiderationr-^Mr. Marshall said the association had not concurred with the executive's association, whereas the Gisborne Farmers' Co-op. Company had. — The chairman to Mr. Bridge : Will you withdraw your motion ?— * -Mr. Bridge : , No ; I consider we should ask the asJsociation to reconsider their suggestion, 1 and offer dairy stock once each month. — Mr. Steele said a suggestion might be : made to the association that the dairy stock be sold at 10 a.m. before the sheep. He suggested as an alternative that an earlier hour be set- up for this purpose even if it meant the sale commencing at 9 a.m. — Mr: Henson said he felt \ sure that 9 a.m. for a salo to commence was too early for the small farmer. — The chairman suggested a special auctioneer being set .up to sell dairy stock. — Mr. Field : I believe m competition, and on that principle I consider, it would not be advisable. — On i being put to the- meeting the amendment to merely receive the letter from "the association was carried by four to three, the chairman declining to vote.