FARMERS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 69, 28 April 1914, Page 11

FARMERS' UNION.

LOBURN. There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Loburn branch of the Farmers' IJnioii. Mr C. H. Ensor presided. The chairman in his address stated that it was satisfactory to record that the branch had now a roll number of 60 members. He referred to the threshing mill hands and mill owners' dispute, to which the farmers were practically a third party, and as such had •no legal right before the Court, though he believed farmers would be allowed to give evidence. There was a likelihood of a new union, the Farriers' Union being formed, which would embrace all farriers within a fifty mile radius. The Labour Bureau was doing very- good work, but there was a pressing need for farm workers' homes, since many married men desired to go into the country, but : there were not enough homes to house their wives and families.

Messrs R. Bailey" and R. M 'lntosh were appointed delegates in connection with the threshing mill dispute. The election of officers resulted as follows:-—President, Mr C. H. Ensor; vice-president, Mr R. M'lntosh; committee, Messrs M. J. Fitzgibbon, H. ,T. Metherell, T. W. Barwell, R. Bailey, J. Henderson, J. Brady, J. Hiatt, R. Smith, H. Barker, E. Chambers, S. Todd; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. E. Cook. Messrs M'lntosh and Cook were appointed delegates to the Provincial Conference. Notices were given of the following remits to the conference:— "That the Government be requested to amend the law so that the third party affected by an Arbitration Court dispute shall have legal right to be heard." "Recommendations from this branch to local bodies to consider favourably the application of workers for farm labourers' homes.'' "To ascertain from the Agricultural Department what lecturers will be available to give lectures during the winter." "That the tariff on wheat between New Zealand and Australia should be uniform." . "That a porter be put in charge of flag stations during the grain season."