FARMERS' AFFAIRS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14608, 18 May 1918, Page 4

FARMERS' AFFAIRS.

i « • .'•; UNION, MEETING. The Poverty Bay sub-provincial branch of ;the New Zealand Fanners' Union was held this afternoon, among those present *" being : Messrs. Gilbert .Jones,. J. G. " Field, E. J. Williams, A. E. Kent, T. §hexratt and Hensen. An apology for ; absence was received from Mr. K. S. ' Williams. Mr. Watson intimated: that he would W unable to act as delegate to the conference at Auckland. — Mr. Bridge was asked to accept the position, which, he '<• consented to to.— The chairman asked consented to do.— The chairman aslc^d any of the five appointed found they . A letter was received from the northern Waiapu -branch,. enclosing the follow- " Ing resolution : "That subscriptions for ■ ; year, be levied by head office for tha ■ whole- Dominion." Also that strong support be given- to the Manutahi remit : "That the ■Government be urged to buy ■. ..all' meat on. the hooks, and should this ' request be not conceded to by July, a deputation of farmers from the whole Dominion, wait upon the Government to urge the matter." The folI lowing, resolutiqn had also, been passed : • "That Hhe Government bei 1 urged to intern all enemy subjects throughout the Dominion, and that their services be utilised upon useful Government works, ; at military rate of -bay." --'••" ! The chairman ~s*id -^he ; second part of * the remit -^as v coming 'bef tore the lcotiference at Auckland. The .present remit fiad come to 'hand rather late- W be Jplaced-befbre > the conf i eTericei i; — Mr. FieW itefced why; it TJdiild not be^put on the BUpplementaTy Est. The' remit' "could 'aren be introduced at the c6nfereftee.;He 'nitbVed in' ihat direction, which 1 waV sec--onded by Mr. Hensen, *and the motion was carried. Mr. Field said the motion re the interned prisoners 1 labor being X&iliised was \a stejp m the right direction. ~Mr'. r Williams questioned whether the proposition would be a wise one from the p'birit r " of View of public safety.— Mr. Hensen said he did not! see what danger, icould conic of it unless they organised, and obtained firearms. ''..'.' . "A: remit, from the Waimata branch' re Second Division men was 'as follows y — **liT having been brought to the iibtice <dfthe t unioVi ths,t the production of the c6tintry . will seriously; suffer through the last riven on the farms and . others ebnriactfea; with the farming industry who are iridispensib'lej Such -as carters, ; etc., being, called up, arid that the Farmers' Union/be given the right to appeal for any man they' consider indispensible. It is well' kiiown that the best class of men will not lodge an objection on their bwn' account:"' ' • v-- , Mr. Bridge asked whether it meant that the: 1 Farmers' Union would appeal oil' behalf of the men concerned.— Tha ; chaitman 1 announced that itr was' insult- ~ atit on the increasing . number; being called up whose services would ba "v^ry hard to replace. 1 — Mr. Field held it was »•' matter for v the Efficiency Board. — Mr.; Hensen' said it opened^ up » very bi^ question" if tftbe union decided to take this step.— Mr. Field moved that the Efficiency Board b& informed of thja contents of the remit; and when the appeal came up the executive furnish 'in- ■ formation concerning (these Imen— the subject of the remit.— lt was also decided that the secretary should represent the Appeal Board at the sitting. — On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. ' Field, 'rjt! was decided to ask the branch conoswied to appeal for these individual 1 men, and that the; executive give their entire support m the matter. — Mr. Field ' said part of the cause of the remit was that ii carter who wns engaged by most ' of the settlers m the Waimata had been- < called up, and it had been found im- i possible to replace . him. ; ' (Proceeding.) .; •