FARMERS’ UNION

Southland Times, Issue 18945, 19 May 1923, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION

SOUTHLAND EXECUTIVE. MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Southland Executive of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union yesterday morning the chairman, Mr P. Arnott, presided over a full attendance of members. The chairman reported that together with other members of the Executive he had attended a meeting at Tuatapere with the object of establishing a branch of the Union there. The meeting was well attended and the outlook for the establishment of a strong branch was very promising. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Dominion Secretary, Mr J. Pow, advising that Mr Polson would not be able to attend the conference at Invercargill, but would be pleased to address the fanners in the Southland district on some future occasion.—lt was decided to invite Mr Polson to visit Southland on a suitable date. The Dominion Secretary forwarded a copy of a remit from the Canterbury Executive. The remit was as follows:—That the president, vice-presidents and members of a provincial executive be elected by the various branches in a district, the basis of voting being two votes for the first 25 members and one vote for each succeeding 25 members, with a maximum of five votes. Nominations signed by candidates seeking election to be in writing and in the hands of the provincial secretary 21 days before the date of election fixed upon by the Provincial Conference.—lt was decided to refer the remit for consideration to the forthcoming Southland provincial conference. A cony of proposed amendments to the rules was also received from the Dominion secretary.—The rules were referred to a committee, the recommendations of the committee to be referred to the various branches.

The following remit was received from the Waikaka branch: “That attention be drawn to the fact that commercial firms have increased the charge to 2}d for the use of new grain sacks. We consider this increased charge of Ad is only the thin edge of the wedge for a further increase at no distant date.” —The remit was referred to the Grain and Manure Committee. A letter was received from the Otama branch stating that at a meeting held on April 14, it was decided to support a remit approving 1 of Southland being proclaimed a separate agricultural instruetorate.—Received.

The secretary of the Woodlands branch forwarded a report of the annual meeting of that branch. The report stated that the balance-sheet for the year showed a credit of £5 7/9A. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr W. Clark; vice-presidents, Messrs S. Caird and R. McKenzie ; secretary, Mr W. F. Sadlier.—The report was received. The Waikaka Valley Branch forwarded the following remits for consideration at the forthcoming provincial conference:— (1) “That it is desirable that greater efforts should be made to improve flocks and herds.”

(2) “That the time is opportune for the establishment of a Dairy Pool along lines similar to those of the Meat Pool.” The following remit was received from the Lumsden branch:—

“That whereas a great waste is resulting from the destruction of truck tarpaulins, which would still be of use to farmers, the Union be urged to continue its efforts to make these available under proper safeguards and conditions, namely: That a register be kept of all condemned covers sold to farmers, the remains of such covers to be returned to the Railway Department on making application for a fresh issue. That covers be issued in the order of application and that prices be reasonable.”

A letter was received from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union stating that the union desired to push the pig-raising and the bacon industry, as it considered that vigorous and systematic work had not been carried out on a large scale throughout the Dominion. The Meat Producers’ Board had recently obtained a reduction in freight to England from l|d, plus 2£d per cent, to Id net per lb.—reduction of 40 per cent. Moreover through the representations of the Board a reduction of 20 per cent, had taken place in railway freight on frozen pork consigned for export. In order to give would-be growers an opportunity of receiving up-to-date advice, it had been arranged with the Agricultural Department for Mr Gorringe, Government expert, to visit branches of the Union in Southland during July.—The secretary was instructed to advise the branches of Mr Gorringe’s visit and to ask them to advise if his services were required. DAIRY COMMITTEE.

Prior to the Executive meeting, mem bers of the Dairy Committee met to con sider a circular from the Dominion Executive in regard to herd testing and a proposal to establish a system of dairy produce control.

As a result of its deliberations the Committee submitted the following resolutions, which were adopted by the Executive:— “That the circular re herd testing be referred back to the Dominion Executive for revision in the direction of giving due prominence to the necessity for feeding our herds up to their full producing capacity, and we are of the opinion that our present herds are quite capable of producing a much larger return of butter fat under proper feeding.”

“That this Committee recommends to the Southland Executive that they affirm the principle of Dairy Produce control and thinks it advisable that the Southland members of the Dairy Council should arrange to have the proposal thoroughly discussed in Southland.”