FARMERS’ UNION

Southland Times, Issue 21949, 25 February 1933, Page 20

FARMERS’ UNION

SOUTHLAND EXECUTIVE. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held yesterday when there were present: Messrs.P. Arnott (president, in the chair), T. Major, W., H. Ward, J. J. Crampton, D. McDonald, W. Couser, G. Earwaker, F. J. Linscott, W. B. Hopcroft, T. Hanning, A. H.' McLean, T. McCann, S. Shaw, A. McKenzie, D. J. Heenan, W. Ford, H. Smith, G. S. Stevens, W. J. A. McGregor, E. K. Sim, L. Hill, R. Sim, E. Cameron, J. O’Shannessey, George Edie, J. H. McLeod, A. McEwan, J. Middlemiss, J. Mcßain, J. D. Clouston, W. Young, J. B. Birtles, N. Mclntyre, G. Stroud and F. W. Lokan. The following remit from the Nightcaps branch was referred to the Meat and Wool Committee:—That the Southland Executive be requested to approach the freezing companies in Southland with a view to obtaining a further reduction of freezing charges. The following remit from the Nightcaps branch was carried:—That the executive take steps to increase the muber of hooks ip the Southland freezing works by 100 hooks, to cope with the congestion caused by insufficient hooks being available in rush periods. The West Plains—Otatara branch sent forward the following remit.— That as our production costs are out of all reason in proportion to the selling price of our produce, we ask the Southland executive to endeavour to bring about a system whereby members can buy direct from the manufacturers or wholesalers. The remit was carried. Organizer’s Report. The organizer (Mr O. E. Niederer) reported as follows:—“I have completed a successful thorough canvass of the area between Invercargill and Winton. It is only natural, under present circumstances, that a spirit of unity and a desire for co-operation amongst farmers is growing stronger as prices of farm products go to lower levels with no proportionate reduction of costs. I have already reported on the formation of a branch of our union at West Plains, with Mr F. Lokan as president, where we have 62 members. We formed a new branch at Makarewa on the 16th inst. There was a splendid attendance at the combined meeting and the new branch has a membership of 75, which takes in Grove Bush and North Makarewa. Mr V. Verity was elected president with Mr W. Mortimer - and Mr McAdam vice-presidents, Mr C. C. Horman secretary, Mr C. Wilson auditor. Mr Covei.ey and Mr J. N. Maloney, with the officers, form the committee. “On the 21st inst. at a well-attended combined meeting at Ryal Bush we formed another branch with 66 members, taking in Wallacetown and Tussock Creek. Mr Norman Mclntyre was elected president, with Messrs A. W. Clark and George Gray vice- presidents, Mr J. J. Blakie secretary, and Mr Russell Gill auditor. Mr John McLean and Mr D. Smellie with the officers elected form the committee. A branch of the Women’s Division was also formed at the Ryal Bush meeting. Mrs John Gray was elected president, with Mrs Myron, Mrs G. Gray and Mrs Collinson vice-presidents, and Mrs J. J. Blakie secretary. “With the assistance of Mr John McCallum, Mr Smith arid Mrs James Robertson, the membership of the Lochiel branch was raised from 21 to 73, and we had an enthusiastic rally meeting there on the 23rd inst. About 80 members were present and a branch of the Women’s Division was formed. Mrs J. Irwin was elected president with Mrs Shaw, Miss Murdoch and Mrs Thompson vice-presidents, and Miss McConachie secretary. Mrs W. H. Ward, provincial president of the Women’s Division was present at the Ryal Bush and Lochiel meetings, and Mrs T. S. Smith, president of the Winton branch attended the meeting at Makarewa, where they already have an . enthusiastic branch of the division with Mrs McDowell as leader. “Mr P. Arnott, provincial president and Mr J. O’Shannessey represented the union at Makarewa and Mr Arnott and Mr J. Johnston at Ryal Bush. At the Lochiel rally meeting the union was represented by Mr A. McKenzie and Mr R. Sim and Mr W. Ford. In the Ryal Bush' district many thanks are due to Messrs A. W. Clark and D. Smellie, also to Messrs W. Clark, Tussock Creek; W. A. Gray, Wallacetown; and Mr Norman McNeill and Mr Verity, North Makarewa, for their co-operation, and to all for hospitality. The result of the organizing campaign just completed in the area between Invercargill and Winton was instrumental in the formation of four new branches of the Women’s Division, three new branches of our union, and an increase in our membership from 71 to 276.”