FARMERS’ UNION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16340, 14 May 1927, Page 15

FARMERS’ UNION

P.B. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT THE ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Provincial District ol' the NZ 1- armors' Union was held Ibis afternoon, the president, Mr. M. T. Trafford presiding over Messrs. R. F. Jack-son (Motu), C. H. Bridge (Puha), It. H. AVicksteed (Ruatorih), W. H. Ghute (Gisborne), J, Hutchinson (Otoko), J U. Graham (Waimtiia), 11. Adair ( AI ji nut nkc* i, J, E. Benson (Ormond)., and E. Richardson (Wharckopae). The balance sheet showed a surplus ol income Over expenditure to the extent of £133 8s <9d, after £ll2 of subscriptions in arrear had been written off. Subscriptions totalled £.834 11s, and donations £lO (id. Outstanding subscriptions totalled £Bl5. A liabif’ty of £l2l 10s existed in the nature 61 tlie Dominion levy on outstanding subscriptions and was not included in the accounts, The bank overdraft amounted to £424 5s 6d, as against £4OB 12s fid at a similar period the. previous year.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. In Ills address, the president said:— “The agricultural and pastoral products are the most important in this country, but the farmers' organisation is not as influential as the organisations of the professional, trading and other sections of the people. Still, ir is most important that; the Farmers’ Union be kept in existence for the benefit of all classes of farmers, and this can only be Gone by the farmers themselves taking an intelligent interest in the workings of their'own union and paying their subscriptions as promptly as possible, so that the executive fan meet their obligations as they beeothe due.

“I have now completed my fifth year as your president, and during the whole of the time it lias been' a pleasure to mo to know that the executive hhs at all times accepted my ruling and discussed all masters before it in a most friendly spirit. Oiie of our most prosperous undertakings during the past year was the farm» school last winter, when a very large number of farmers availed themselves of the opportunity and which we hope to have a ropidtitioil of again this winter. “tTn'fdftundtCly for the farmers, wo were not able to prevent an increase in wages to tlie shearers arid slffidlihrids,, and the sam'e applies as regards the butchers and freezing works’ employees, this increase representing a large amount of. riioiiey which tlie farmers could dll afford to part with. (Proceeding.)