FARMERS' UNION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12402, 18 November 1908, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

' ' . «c» .. . The monthly meeting of the Wakefield branch of the New Zealand " Farmers' Union was held in the Oddfellows' Lodge room on Tuesday, when Mr F. Kinzett presided. The buyers of birds and eggs reported that both were coming in freely. It was resolved to apply to the County Council for another instalment of bird rate. The Provincial President reported that representations had been made to Mr Edwards, manager of the Nelson railways, as to the need of a weekly passenger train between Belgrove for. the benefit of settlers living at a distance from the line. Mr Edwards had signified his willingness to run .such a: train on Mondays, leaving Belgrovp. about 9.30 a.m. and arriving 'in Nelson about 11 a.m., for a month or two as' a trial. It was considered by those present that such a train would supply a want, and would receive a -fair amount of patronage if tried. A resolution in support of the proposal was unanimously carried, and that a copy of the same be forwarded to the Provincial Council for endorsement. . . The meeting then adjourned. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. A meeting of the Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union was held at Richmond on Friday. The delegates present ' were :— I. Tunnicliff (President), in the chair, P. Higgins (Vice-President), and Messrs C. Drogetnuller, senr., G. : W. ■ Bensemann, J. Hagen, G. S. Haycock, B. H. Turner, and the secretary (W. D. Harkness.) Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs C. J. Ruffel,"~J. Corder, N\ A. McLaren, N. Win, T. McCarthy, and J. W. Hagen. '.' Replies were received from Messrs Graham jand McKenzie to. representation s?re ; the' Shearers' Accommodation Bill, Dairy Regulations, and the Second Ballot. Bill. Circulars were read in reference to the proposed testimonial to Messrs Jones and Evans for the part taken by them in the great fight with the Canterbury Farm Labourers' Union. It was agreed that an effort be made to secure subscriptions in aid of the fund? ..">■*■ , Resolved, on the motion of the, President, seconded by Mr Bensemann, that branch secretaries be informed that all remits passed .for consideration by the Council should be sent in writing. The question of a weekly passenger train was discussed, and delegates were unanimously of opinion that such an arrangement would be of great convenience to the travelling public, especially to settlers in districts such as the Moutere, Dovedale and _ surrounding districts. It was unanimously resolved to endorse the proposal. The President was authorised to again approach Mr Edwards on the matter. The President read some extracts from the "Farmers' Union Advocate- relating correspondence which took place between a holder of a L.T.P. section and the Minister of Public Works, which went to show that this much-landed tenure is not such a good bargain to the settlers as its champions would make them believe, the case in question being a proof. The incident referred to ocoured on tho Orenuki-Waiau railway oxtonsinn. The Government resumed land required, paving compensation for freehold and O.R.P. land, but in the case of an holder of an L.I.P. section no compensation whatever was paid. The settler concerned was not only the loser of about 17 acres of heavy milling bush for which he had been paying rent for nine years, but was charged rent right up to the end of the present year, although the land was taken previous to June last. Most people would naturally ask where the justice of treatment comes in. It would be interesting to hear tho matter explained by a leasehold advocate.