FARMERS UNION

Southland Times, Issue 19516, 16 May 1922, Page 2

FARMERS UNION

WAIRARAPA ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the executive of the Wairarapa Farmers’ Union was held on May 10, Mr Hugh Morrison presiding. The discussion on the report and balancesheet was taken in committee, as they had yet to be submitted to the District Conference at Wanganui. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman said the work done by the local branch during the last year had more than ever impressed him with the necessity for a strong Farmers’ Union in the Wairarapa. They had conducted inquiries concerning the Crutchers’ dispute, and the shearers’ dispute and freezing worker/ dispute, and had come to arrangements with the drovers and the thrashing mill owners. In addition, successful meetings concerning the Meat Pool had been held throughout the district. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr Faulknor submitted to the meeting his system for ear-marking sheep, and it was decided that the scheme should be brought under the notice of the Director of Live Stock. It was decided to forward a remit to Provisional Conference in support of a universal age mark for sheep. Mr Tilyard brought up the question of the growing of soft turnips as a fodder, crop for milch cows, and stated that the Agricultural Department had made a recommendation in this direction. Practical experience had shown, he said, that if cows were fed on turnips the cheese made from their milk was given bad marks for flavour by the Government grader. He moved that the matter be referred to the Provisional Conference, with a request that the Agricultural Department supply a list of fodder crops suitable for feeding to milch cows. The meeting carried a vote of thanks to the secretary, Mr D. Hebenton, for his services during the previous 12 months. The chairman stated that Mr Hebenton had been successful in collecting all the subscriptions and in keeping down the expenditure.