N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16949, 13 May 1929, Page 10

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION

POVERTY EAY DISTRICT THE ANNUAL MEETING The annual mooting of members of the Poverty Bay sub-provincial district of the Now Zealand Farmers ’ Union was hold on Saturday afternoon. A groat deal of interest was displayed, and there was a large attendance of, between 30 and 40, headquarters beingj well represented by the Dominion secretary, Col. Pow, the Dominion treasurer, Mr. Ohadwick, of Dalinevirke, and the Dominion organiser, Mi'. L: H. Me Alpine, while an additional interest was an instructive address on feeding,! breeding, testing and production by' Mr. G. Purvis, of the Dairy Division. 1 The president, Mr. F. 8. Bowen, ad- 1 dresed the meeting in the following terms: — _ _ i “Owing to the Short time since the closing of: books at April 30 we are! unable to present a properly audited! balance-sheet, and therefore only placej before you at this meeting a, statementof receipts and payments which show, that whilst our bank overdraft is down j some £32, we have also cleared off £IOO j of the previous year’s debts. This is •largely due to our altered office arrangements, and assistance received outside of subscriptions by many of our' members. Your executive has greatly appreciated these donations towards liquidating our debt. Your executive has also received during the year several letters of appreciation from several members of work done by the union. I would like to take this opportunity of pointing out to members, of our union that the head office at | Wellington is paying very considerable attention to all’matters affecting the J farmers’ interests. Provincial executive members meet every three months; and deal with various departmental i heads and prepare and place before! Parliament such Acts and amendments to Acts as affect our special interests.

“During the year we have dealt with the following .matters: Duty on maize; marketing of meat, wool and butter; noxious weeds; diseases in stock of all descriptions; agricultural labor; transport of produce and manures; prices of stock in this district as compared with all other districts throughout New Zealand; financing of farmers on, long-dated loans; and agricultural banking is receiving special attention in conjunction with the head office, and this matter must be in the near future develop to our advantage.

“Mr. Me Alpine is at present reorganising our district, and we would appreciate the help of our farming friends by joining and assisting in their own organisation. We have recently adopted a flat rate of £1 per member, and we can only carry oa by the wholehearted support of all farmers in our district. This subscriptions is lower than that of any other organisation.” Commenting on the decision to construct the railway from Gisborne'to Wairpa, Mr. Bowen stated that there was also a possibility of railway connection to the north, and such improvement would reflect, to the benefit of the farmers.

Whep the balance-sheet had been read, it was stated that the audit had not 'yet been carried out. Mr. W. W. Bridge then raised the question with regard to the having the balance-sheets audited prior to the meeting. At last year’s annual meeting, he said, it was reported that there had been no audit up to the date of the meeting. He claimed that the meeting should not be held until the auditor hud had an opportunity to go through the accounts. 'Mr. L. 11. Me Alpine, the Dominion organiser, said he was responsible for the meeting being held prior to the audit. He had to leave the district to-morrow, and he had urged that the meeting be held even though it were not possible to have the balance-sheet audited. There 'wa| no further discussion on the matter.

The following officers were elected .—President, ’ Mr. F. 8. Bowen (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. ,1. E. Benson (re-elected); and G. V. Smith; executive, Messrs. W. McCullough, W. Sadler, E. McDowell, H. ,1. Lougher, C. Clayton. E. Bull (representing (Jairying and maize interests), and Messrs ft. 11. Wiekstead, ][. S. Briant, W. If. Adair, .T. C. Field, w. Turnbull, D. J. Gumming, A. F. Geliert, A. M. Newton, F. Tombleson, D. Caldwell, J. C. Wilson, W. W. Shanks, J. C. Graham, Erie Richardson and J. Hutchinson.

It was decided, that the duties of treasurer lie combined with those of secretary, carried out by Mr. 0. Blackburn.

The Dominion organiser, Mr. L. H. Me Alpine, said there was a wrong impression as to what the union was. The impression in this district was that it was.a sheepfarmers’ union, but he said this was an erroneous one. The sheepmen showed a great sympathy for the dairymen, white, speaking general) v, he said that fully 80 per cent. of. the members of the union were dairymen.