FARMERS’ UNION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3930, 23 July 1937, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION

TE AWAMUTU BRANCH. M’ONTHLY MEETING HELD. Mr A. T. Bryant (president), occupied the chair at the monthly meeting, on Thursday, of the Te Awamutu branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, and there was a good attendance of members of the executive. Mr A. S. Wyllie was accorded a hearty welcome back after his healthrecuperating trip to Australia. Mr J. D. Hislop, State Placement Officer at Hamilton, attended by invitation to explain the objects of the employment subsidy scheme, with particular application to the farming industry. THE DINNER PROPOSAL. The president reported that the local Chamber of Commerce suggested co-operating with the Union in promoting a dinner at an early dat when speakers from other districts ’would address the assemblage on matters of interest to both organisations. He suggested that a sub-committee be appointed to confer with the Chamber’s representatives in arranging details. Mr G. O. Jourdain, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, gave more details. The date of the function would be fixed by a joint committee, as also would be the choice of speakers. He added that the idea was intended to bring the two bodies closer together. Messrs Bryant, Crawley and Flay were appointed to i epresent the branch in arranging details. SUB-PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. Mr Bryant reported briefly on business transacted at the last meeting of the Waikato sub-provincial executive, mentioning the bobby-calf trade, the address by Mr F. B. Stephens on industrial and scientific research, etc. BOBBY CALVES. The chairman tcld of the progress cf negotiations between interested booies working for the rationalisation of the bobby calf industry. At last Monday evening’s conference a special committee had been set up to work out details, so that the Transport Authority’s objective could be reached. Since then the Authority had announced that cartage charges for the next six weeks would be Is 3d per calf. All parties concerned were working heartily to reach agreement, and it was the Government’s intention to make the farmers’ liable if immature calves are placed at the farm gates to be picked up. If the carrier picks up such calves he would be held responsible. This would, it

was contended, prevent abuse of the system. A member said he understood carcases of immature calves would be picked up, and paid for at 4s per head. Continuing, Mr Bryant said a proposed charge of Is 6d per calf carried was objected to strenuously, and Is 3d agreed upon for the present. Representations had also been made to the Government objecting to alleged exploitation by the carriers, and ’ asking that the whole industry be ; placed in the hands of the Dairy , Board, as an established authority, ;■ competent to control it. ‘ Mr Bryant said he had attended the 5 last meeting of the provincial execu- ! tive, and placed before it details of 1 the agreement tentatively reached by 1 the Te Awamutu branch. 5 TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. Commenting on the agreement 5 with the district carriers as to the : latter’s schedule of charges for gen- ’ eral goods, Mr Bryant said the sche- ■ dule was based on the class 4 roads, I and was subject to review when road - classification was altered. He still " thought some of the charges were ‘ rather high, but generally they were • acceptable to the farming Industry. To Mr Signal, the chairman said the carriers’ charges for pigs were based on loads of 15 pigs. That number was the minimum, and h e believed neighbours could combine to make a full load, the charge to each r farmer to be pro rata. * FARMERS’ RALLY. ‘ The secretary, Mr C. J. Flay, reII ported that as a result of the “rally” ? to enrol new members seventy-seven , new members had been enrolled. The ’’ whole district had not yet been can- ® vassed. He had received a note from L the provincial secretary extending 7 congratulations to the branch upon the 11 large increase in membership. e The Auckland executive notified a .1 conference of all parties interested in transport, at Auckland, on August 12th, and asked all branches to refrain from entering into agreements meantime. THE PIG INDUSTRY. The Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, writing in regard ’O the control of the pig industry, advised that the various matters discussed at the branch’s last meeting were being considered by the Direc-tor-General of Agriculture and his officers. d n WAIKERIA LAND. is d To a question, the secretary said no a reply had yet been received from toe Minister of Justice in regard to the d representations made to have a furx ther area of the Waikeria Borstal Ini’ stitution Estate made available for ie closer settlement. The secretary reported that the “ receipts from the dance held last month in Te Awamutu totalled £23 „ 16s, and expenses £l7 18s 7d, leaving a credit of £7 17s lid. That sum had L been handed over to the Women’s Di- ' vision, tor which a letter of thanks had been received. RADIO “B” STATIONS. ’'J Members expressed regret at the h. apparent intention of the Government n . to severely restrict the activities o£ t the radio “B” stations, and it was suggested that a Listeners’ Club be ie formed in Te Awamutu district tn n . combat the tendency of the Governrs ment, it being contended that it was Hi essential to maintain the freedom of >y the air for radio “B” stations. th It was resolved to encourage ail ly well-wishers to join a Listeners’ CluJ, and thus provide a fighting fund to

preserve the privileges of the “B” stations. Mr Cavers commented that there were difficulties. H£ realised that there must be controlled broadcasting. Other interests, besides those of the farmers, were entitled to consideration. If the farmers wanted one station to advance their views, there should also be one for the trade unions, and another for the employers, and so on. Personally he thoug ’.t too much was being made of the position and expressed the opinion that very many owners of radios will not listen to broadcasts of lectures or addresses. This brought the comment that what was chiefly objected to was Government censoring of programmes to keep the lectures favourable to the Administration. Mr Crawley said that so long as there is party government it was r o be expected that the party in power would monopolise the radio stationfor its own propaganda, and thus tend to dictatorship a position he was very much opposed to. It was decided to give encouragement to the Listeners’ Club objects. YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS. Discussion followed on the formation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, and’t. was mentioned that one is iti process of formation in the Hairini district. Mr Crawley read the circular issued on the subject, and already published in the “Courier.” The president said the Young Fanners’ Club movement was functioning in several other districts, and he believed one or more in Te Awamutu district would be productive of much good. Really the Young Farmers’ Clubs seemed to -be a junior department of the Farmers’ Union. Approval was given of the formation of a club in the Hairini district.