SOUNDS AND DISTRICT FARMERS' UNION.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 27, 9 April 1918, Page 2

SOUNDS AND DISTRICT FARMERS' UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE.

A meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Pelorus Sounds and District Farmers’ Union was held in the Public Library, Havelock, on Saturday. The following members attended: Messrs G. Anderson, President (in the chair), J. H. Saunderson (secretary), F. C. Fell, E. F. Healy, R. D. Fell, Johnston, W. P. Henderson, Stratford, A. Simp- f son, and J. Miller. Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Messrs J. C. M. Grccnsill, J. Fulton, and 0. Harris. The chairman referred to several bereavements that had occurred since the previous meeting, and a vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of the late Mrs Arthur Simpson, Mrs J. Duncan, Capt. Ed. Kenny, Mr John Gould, and Yen. Archdeacon Orace._ A communication from the Minister of Public Works stated that instructions had been issued for the construction of a 12ft. road along Ronga Valley to Croixelles, but the Minister regretted that the money available at present will only allow of a short distance of dray road being constructed. The secretary’s action re the appointment of Mr H. V. Vavasour to represent the Executive at the Hides and Skins Conference in Wellington was endorsed. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Vavasour, and the secretary was instructed to write for a report of the business done at the conference.

Reference was made by Mr Healy to the reduction made by the Government in the fixed price of hides, which made a difference of 30s a .bullock. He considered this unfair reduction, especially as the Government had stated that they would continue to take heavy hides but not light hides. This meant a big loss to the country. The chairman stated that he had seen it stated that hides were being paid for above their value, and that was why the price had been reduced. He understood that sheep-skins remained as before. As no information was before the meeting as to what had been arrived at at the conference the matter was allowed to drop. ■ 'ill MEAT TRUST. The report of the committee set up to draft a policy to deal with the meat trade was then read and discussed. Mr Pell, in speaking to the report, said he regarded .the scheme outlined as a wide and ambitious one. He thought that every country in the world should combine to fight the Meat Trust. He referred to the hold the Trust had in the Argentine, where it controls railways, etc. Mr Massey had expressed doubt as to whether the Trust was operating in New Zealand, but he could assure those present that unless the farmers adopt a very drastic method the Trust would get as big a hold in this country as' in America. The whole question devolved, to his mind, on how to get the Government to cooperate in fighting the Trust. He would like to see the prices fixed by a controlling board, and the Government would look after the consumers' interests.

Mr Healy said the thanks of members were due to Mr Pell for the manner in which he had drawn up the report. He drew attention to the fact that of the three men appointed on the Board of Trade, two were big Trust men. The chairman said he thought they were all of one mind as to the recommendations of the Parliamentary report and of the necessity of putting them into action. He suggested that the meeting should consider the scheme clause by clause, so that no point may be missed. Mr Miller said anything the farmers hero could do would hardly be likely to shift the Imperial Government. Mr Saunderson said that out here we have Settlers' Associations and other associations for the protection of mutual interests and he thought they should form an association to fight the meat trusts. He was of opinion that things would be very different after the war than they were before. There will be a people who will not pay the Meat Trust, or any other trust big prices. The clauses were then discussed and considered one by one, and with slight alteration the full report was adopted. It was decided that copies be printed and forwarded to the various branches for consideration. SEEDY WOOL.

After a short discussion on the varying prices of seedy wool, the following motion was carried: “That it is the opinion of ths Executive that the New Zealand Government should at once take steps to establish works for the treatment of seedy wool rather than the matter be taken in hand by a private firm, in view of the latter probably forming a monopoly to bleed the producer.” ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The date of the annual conference was fixed for 25th May, at Havelock.