SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2026, 12 August 1920, Page 22 (Supplement)

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Shcepowners' Union was held yesterday, Mr L. A. Rutherford presiding. ■ The eighteenth annual report, which was presented by the chairman, stated that the financial membership of the 'union had been increased by 130 new members since the new secretary had been appointed, the roll of financial members now standing at 966 and the total at 1536. The committee had met the representatives of the Canterbury Musterers' and Packers' Union before the Conciliation Council in Christehurch, but no agreement was reached in the case and the matter was referred to the Arbitration Court at Christehurch on June 14 last, when an award was made, which was considered satisfactory by the exeutive. As a result of representations made by the executive the Government had authorised a comprehensive campaign for the destruction of the kea. The question of the allocation of the surplus profits on wool had been ex- ' haustlvely gone into by a sub-committee enpointed by fhe executive. In this tonneetion the committee felt that a prompt payment on account of these profits should be made, to enable sheep- . owners to meet the very heavy taxation Imposed on land, etc., since the War ended, the new taxation, in some cases, more than equalling the amount of the extra turnover. Drastic alterations had been made in regard to the affairs of the ■union during the past year. It had now taken- offices, and had a secretary and office staff of its own. The question of an outlet for Canterbury frozen meat had engaged the earnest attention of the committee, as the possibility of a grave difficulty was foreseen as regards the disposal of meat subsequent to the ending of the meat commandeer on June 80. In view of the position regarding frozen meat at Home, and the urgent necessity of keeping prices of meat up to, at 1 st, their present level, the committee had petitioned Parliament with a view to allowing free competition for the exportable produce, especially as regards frozen meat. The union had continued to follow the policy of encouraging blade-shearing classes in different districts. The sub-commiteee set up last year to deal with the question of the continuation of the business of the labour exchange decided to carry on the exchange for one year from July I. 1919, and, at the end of that time, the affairs were gone into very carefully. The finances of the exchange showing to no better advantage, however, it was unanimously decided to close the business of the exchange as from July 31 of this year. The cost to the .union .to date on the Exchange Account approximated £750. The committee hoped that those nwrroers interested would be able to make an arrangement for the continuance of the exchange on a new basis. The Profit and Loss Account showed V credit balance, carried forward, of . £1049 11/11. Cash at the bank stood it £362 9/6. On the motion of Mr Rutherford, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr J. Studholme«said that he very much regretted the action of the committee in closing the labour exchange. It had taken a very drastic step in stopping such an important part of the work or the union without first giving members an opportunity of expressing ■ -their views on the matter. He would like to move that the labour exchange lie continued. Mr Rutherford pointed out that the exchange should have been shut some Ten before. The union never had a legal right to run such an exchange, and as soon as the position had been placed before him, it had been closed at once. Mr Studholme, later, moved: "That,it be a recommendation to the incoming committee, (1) that immediate steps be taken to ascertain whether members would undertake to give sufficient support to the labour exchange to ensure its becoming a financial and self-sup-porting institution; (2) that, if the response by members would, in the opinion of the committee, justify the opening of the labour exchange, it be continued during the present financial year." The recommendation was carried. "—r" The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr L. A. Rutherford (re-elected); vice-presi-dent, Mr M. Bethell; hon. treasurer, Mr E. Hay (re-elected); auditor. Mr A. McKellar; committee. Messrs R. M. I). Morten. L. R. C. Maefarlane, T). W. Westenra. B. Seth-Smith, G. Fulton, 11. Ensor, Geo. Murray, H. Acton-Adams, -w-. N. D. Campbell, W. Hanmer Atkinson, T. Masefield. A. J. Murrav, L. C. Latter, G. O. Rutherford, G." X. McLean, 11. Elworthy, J. D. McCrneken, S. E. Rutherford and W. Macintosh.