Farmers’ Union

Southland Times, Issue 17083, 4 November 1902, Page 2

Farmers’ Union

A meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union of Southland was held in the secretary’s otllce on Saturday. Present : Messrs J. McQueen (chairman). Marshall ,(Waiuniwa), A. Tapper (Wailacetown), J. MeKereliar (Woodlands), T. Patterson (Winton), 11. J. Middleton (Fortroso), H. McCall (Mataura. Island), and D. Gilchrist (Waikaka)» A letter from the President of the Commercial Union Insurance Co. stated that owing to luck of support from the farmers their special oiler of insurance was withdrawn. They hud been promised the lire insurance of all members of the Union on expiration of their present policies, but out of 23,000 members, only 27G4 proposals hud been made.—lt was explained that the proposal had not had a fair trial in Southland, as, for the first six months of the year allowed, the farmers scarcely knew of the arrangement.

’ A lengthy communication was received from the General Executive in regard to joint action in securing fresh markets for produce.—lt was resolved that no action could be taken. The secretary reported that, the list of questions for Parliamentary candidates* hail been sent to all local candidates, and that replies hud been received from .Messrs Janies Kelly, W. Fraser, and I. W. Raymoml, Mr R. McNab wrote that he had dealt with the questions from the public platform.—lt was resolved to notify the secretaries of local branches of the replies, and to request them to call meetings to consider the question of Parliamentary representation. James Beattie, Gore, sent a pamphlet dealing with the action of a Government Commissioner in depriving him of the water rights on his farm.—Received, the sender to be thanked for making the matter public, so that the possibility of such a thing being done again would be avoided by legislation. A communication from u Wellington firm stated Hint steps were being taken to form n Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and asking the Union to defer taking any action till they were able to put the matter before the public. —Received.

Replies were received from Government departments in reply to resolutions from the lute Provincial Conference -That the resolution requesting the discontinuance of co-operative labour on Government works would receive careful and earnest consideration ; that the request for the services of Government vets, to be available for all cases required, on payment of a fee, would be considered, but the Minister was afraid it could not be granted, as there were certain duties to be performed by them which could not be left at a moment’s notice ; that legislation would be introduced parly next session dealing with the sale of manures under guaranteed analyses. It was announced that the Invercargill branch had arrnnged for Mr A. Al. Paterson, M.R.C.V.S., to give a lecture in town at an early date on the “Scientific Application of Alanures to Soils of various Kinds, and in relation to various Crops,” and a general invitation was extended to members to attend. Notice was given that at the next Executive meeting the question of the desirableness of appointing some suitable and energetic person as canvasser and general travelling agent in the interests of the Southland I’rovince Unions, would be raised, and the Chairman was requested in the meantime to ascertain if a suitable person was available.