ITEMS OF INTEREST

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6143, 1 October 1945, Page 4

ITEMS OF INTEREST

to the Man on the land, FROM FARMERS UNION MEETING The monthly meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union (Auckland Province) was held last week and several items of business relating to the man on the land are given below. RAILWAY FREIGHTS A request was received from Whangarei that an enquiry be made with regard to the railway freight on wool which from Tauraroa to Auckland, a distance of over 80 miles, was over 1.0,s a bale. In a following discussion it- was stated that receipts from wool per ton-mile were the highest of all classes of traffic by rail, with the exception of benzine. Mr A. E. Robinson stated that the only remedy was a complete revision of the whole railway tariff rates from top to bottom. The policy should not be what the traffic will bear as at present but what is its real cost. At present goods had to pay for the passengers, their stations, carriages, conductors and other staff. The cheapest freights of all, about Id. per ton-mile, was for goods mostly sent to the cities, the 3d. to 4d. per -ton-mile stuff was mostly live-stock and other farming requirements. Mr A. McConaughy interjected that the farmers were usually called upon to do their own handling on and off trucks. The secretary was instructed to investigate the position and report. DE-RATING FARM LANDS The Auckland executive of the Farmers’ Union is persisting in the campaign for the de-rating of farm lands. Mr R. W. Strugnell moved that a sub-committee be appointed to go further into the matter to see what action might be taken in view of latest developments. Supporting the motion, Mr A. E. Bryant said last year’s subsidy for the Waikato hospital was £314,000 and it was planning a programme involving an expenditure of £1,500,000. Mr Robinson said they were doing the work that the Dominion body should be doing. Mr Scott Davidson said he was at last Counties’ Conference when there were over 400 present with an average age of the executive of about 75. What results could be expected? If the proposed sub-committee was appointed it would have to go right forward to the time for selecting representatives for the next County elections. He had sought an undertaking that another conference would be held after the Parliamentary committee had reported, but the only promise he could get was that one would be called if the committee’s report seemed to indicate that this was advisable. Mr. Bird read a telegram just received from Mangonui stating that its rate ■ notices were on the’ same basis as last year. Resolutions were carried appointing a local sub-committee as moved by Mr Strugnell and also that the Dominiqn executive be asked for a report on the progress to date of the subcommittee set up at the last Dominion conference to actively further the derating campaign in regard to hospital rates.

FARMERS MISLED Attention was drawn to the activities of certain individuals in canvassing farmers with the statement that only by first joining the Dairy Producers’ Association could they become eligible for membership in the Federated Farmers of New Zealand. The President, Captain H. M. Rushworth, said this statement was entirely false and, he felt bound to add, it was being circulated with a deliberate intention to mislead. Several members reported on a campaign for membership in the D.P.A. that was being conducted on the basis already mentioned with a prejudicial effect amongst Union members. It was stated that an official disclaimer had been received from the Provisional Council of Federated Farmers of New Zealand. The executive agreed to take appropriate action to combat the campaign. DIVIDING AUCKLAND PROVINCE The recent action taken in Hamilton with a view to the formation of a Waikato province of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand came before the executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union when Mr Hallyburton Johnstone sought a discussion on future relations between the Waikato and the rest of Auckland organisations. “There is,” he said, “going to be a separate province in the Waikato, recognising that is so, to ensure future co-operation we should get cooperation now from this executive.” Another organisation was working hard to get members. Mr Johnstone said. It was using unscrupulous methods to attain its ends, but the Farn|ers’ Union had the men who by reason of their experience and long service could best assist the new setup. If the organisation was brought about on a goodwill basis this would ensure support for trading activities. “We have taken steps all along to let you know what we are doing. Now we want your co-operation and will give 100 per cent, co-operation in return.”