CANTERBURY SHEEP-OWNERS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 78, 8 May 1914, Page 11

CANTERBURY SHEEP-OWNERS' UNION.

MEETING OF GENERAL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the General Committee of the union was held on Tuesday. Present: Mr L, C. Gardner (vice-presi-dent), in the chair, and Messrs H. D. Acland, J. Deans, John Grigg, T. S. Johnstone, W. W. M'Rae, W. F. Parkinson, F. H. Smith, M.P., and F. H. Labatt (secretary). .... The chairman said that before dealing' with the business of the meeting he had . ta 1 refer with, nuich regret to the loss the union had sustained by the deaths of Mr B. D. Macfarlane and Mr Walter 'Macfarlane. Both the deceased gentlemen had,, been members of the | executive since the foundation of the I union in 1902, and had worthily occupied the position of president. He moved the following resolution: "That this committee record with much regret the deaths of Messrs Duncan and Walter Macfarlane, and desire to place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by these gentlemen since the inception of the union. The committee desiresXto express their deepest Sympathy with the families of the deceased in their bereavement." Mr H. D.' Acland, in seconding the resolution, said that the loss the union had sustained extended beyond the work of the association. The late menibers had with characteristic thoroughness supported many movements which' had tended to improve the various interests of settlers. The motion was carried, the members standing. The secretary was requested to convey the resolution to the families of the deceased gentlemen. . Correspondence was read from the director of the Christchurch Technical College, stating that the date for election of members of the Board of Governors would probably,be altefed to June instead of the present date. An, application was received for compensation in a recent conviction for sheep-stealing. It was decided,,that no compensation would be made from the j union's standing reward of £IOO, as the j applicant in question was not a member , of the union. . I Mr A. L. Moore, the director of the Ashburton Technical Association, submitted a report on the work done by students of the shearing and ing sections during the past season. Thirty-two students had attended the Ashburton and Methven shearing classes, and 41 had attended instruction in wool-classing. He hoped that the union would increase its donation t.o £SO for next season's work. Mr Frank Pawson also submitted a report on behalf of Mr T. Mawson and himself, as-the union's representatives on the Board of Managers. Mr Pawson stated; that he would like to mention the great assistance that had been given the directors of the association in Methven by Messrs Miller Bros., by allowing the classes for shearing to be held in their wolshed, and for the use of their also farmers for providing sheep for the classes. It was resolved to acknowledge receipt of the reports with thanks, and to intimate that the committee would consider same after the next annual meeting of the union, f

A letter was received from the Secretary of Agriculture, by the direction of the Prime Minister, intimating that the Government proposed to ensure a sufficient sum in exhibiting the primary pro* ducts and manufactures of this Dominion at the Panama Exposition, which is to be held in San Francisco in February, 1915, and offering to arrange space for exhibitors. A central committee for the Exposition would be set up in Wellington, and advisory committees in the principal cities. letter was received from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, on the same subject. It was decided to appoint Messrs Leo. Acland and W. F. Pafkinson as representatives of the union of the loc&l advisory committee.

The demands of shed-hands, received from the New Zealand Shearers and Employees' Association were considered. The meeting was of opinion that the present shed hands award, which was made three years ago, should be adopted for a further term. It was decided that no date could be fixed for a conference with the Shearers' Association (as requested by them) to discuss the demands until the N.Z.' Sheepowners' Federation had received replies on the subject from the other affiliated sheep-owners' unions. The president and secretary were authorised to sign the shearing agreement on behalf of the union, and which would, after "being signed by the Shearers' Union, be submitted to the Arbitration Court for the purpose of an award to cover the next three seasons.