FARMERS’ UNION

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION

SOUTHLAND EXECUTIVE. MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Invercargill yesterday, the president (Mr Peter Arnott) presided over an attendance of the following: Messrs D. Dickie, E. K. Sim, H. Smith, C. S. Stevens, A. McKenzie, A. R. Johnston, T. Major, T. McMath, W. G. Mac Kay, R. Sim, T. McCann, S. Shaw, F. J. Linscott, G. Earwaker, W. Couser, A. H. McLean, T. Hanning, L. Hill, W. H. Ward, G. A. Hamilton, O. E. Niederer, W. Ford, J. O’Shannessey, D. J. Clouston, J. Middlemiss, John McCleary, T. McLean, J. R. Haigh and J. J. Crampton. The organizer (Mr O. E. Niederer) reported that the recent rallies had been most successful. He had attended 22 meetings at which the average attendance had been above 80, a total of 2000 people having attended. As a result, he had secured 112 continuous dairy factory orders and 173 bank orders, and 104 new members had been enrolled. The president said the rallies had been most successful. A fine spirit had been evident at the meetings. He was certain that the meetings had raised the prestige of the union. Very valuable assistance had been given by the members of the Women’s Division and he had been astonished at the remarkable ability of some of the ladies. It was decided to communicate with the Railways Board and request that the tariff on live stock be adjusted to the 1914 scale. It was decided to support the representatives of the Gore Sub-Execu-tive protesting against the proposal of the Transport Board to enforce omnibus regulations on rural mail contractors who carried occasional passengers and parcels. It was stated that the proposed charges would involve contractors in an expenditure of a further £ll over the sum of £7 paid in license fees as mail contractors or deprive rural residents of a very valuable and convenient service. , The closing of branch railways and the proposed lifting of the rails of the Glenham railway was discussed, and it was decided to support the representations of the Glenham district residents that the rails should not be removed. Remits Considered. Remits from branches were considered as follows:— From the Aparima Branch: That the Government be asked to reduce all mortgage interest on all farm lands to 3$ per cent, for the coming twelve months. Mr Clouston moved that the remit be referred to the Economic Committee, but the motion was lost. From the Lumsden Branch: That whereas the fertilizer companies allow only 3/- per ton when bags are supplied, freight paid, which price is below the cost of same, this branch requests the Southland Executive to take this into consideration and take the necessary steps which in its opinion will be of assistance to farmers. In moving the adoption of the remit, Mr Hamilton said he thought that the bags should be worth more than threepence each when sent by the purchaser of manure to hold his manure. The remit was carried.

From the Aparima Branch: That the executive support the proposed exemption of the heavy traffic license to farmers who use their own lorries solely for their own carting.—The remit was carried with the addition of the clause “until such time as derating of faim lands comes into operation.” From the Aparima Branch: That a sub-committee of the Farmers’ Union in each district be appointed to inspect all Crown lands being open for selection to see that the rent is within reason with the producing capacity of the farm.—The remit was lost. In committee the executive considered the following motion, notice of which had been given by Mr A. R. Johnston: “That the remit moved by the Balfour branch and carried at the August meeting of the. Southland Provincial Executive reading as follows: ‘That the time has arrived for the writing down of farm accounts, and failing that, that there be a drastic reduction in bank, and stock and chattel interest’ be rescinded.”—Mr Johnston’s motion was carried. Power Board Rates.

Replying to the executive’s remit protesting against the extra charge of three-sixteenths of a penny in the £ on country property over that levied by the Power Board on town nroperty, the secretary of the Southland Electric Power Board (Mr Charles Campbell) wrote as follows: “I am instructed to advise you that at the meeting of the Tnembezß of this board held on Tues-

day of this week the board adopted the following reply: (a) At the time the board levied the 1932-1933 rates the reduced revaluations had become effective in the country, but not in the city and boroughs. This meant that the board’s rate had to be levied on the reduced valuations in the country, but on the non-reduced valuations in the towns. (b) The ratio of the amount naid by the town and country has always been, as nearly as may be, as 17 to 83. It was decided to maintain that ratio in respect of the 1932-33 rates. The only way to do this was to levy a general rate of |d in the towns on the non-reduced valuations and ta levy a general rate of 3d plus a separate rate of 3-16 d in the country on the reduced valuations, (c) In the year 1930-31 the country rates were £49,819 and the towns’ rates £9646; in 1931-32 the country rates were £46,883 and the towns’ rates £9563. This year 193233 the country rates will be £34,652 while the towns’ rates will be £7060. The respective ratios work out at 84 to 16 for 1930-31; 83 to 17 for 1931-32 and 83 to 17 for 1932-33. (d) Of the total amount of rates outstanding and impaid 7 per cent, lies in towns and 93 per cent, in the country area.”