FARMERS' UNION, WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 120, 15 June 1901, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION, WAITARA.

(pjtOM OUK OWN COBBKSPOKDENT). A well-attended rneeti' g of farmers \v.ih held in tho Forester's Ht.ll, Waitara, on Saturday evening with the object of formim; a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Ut,'on. Mr J. Foreman was elected to t' e chair, and after briefly s'ati- g tho oljecfc of the meeting, called upon 'hose present to elect | a committee. Tbe following gentle i man were then nominated Messrs J. Foreman, J. Itidde'l, S. Elliott, S Knuckey, Wray, G. V.Tate, and R Pigott, and on the nrmes being put to •he matting, were deck red duly elected as a committee. Mr Q. V. Tati was elected secretary pro tern. It wag proposed by Mr. Newbrey, seconded by Mr. Wray, and earned, that Mr B. A. Hignett be elected an honorary member of the Union.

Correspondence was read from the' Stratford branch, asking that a delegate should be appointed to the Conference to be held at Stratford, and Mr. Tate was instructed to attend as dele gate from Waitara. A letter was received from th« M'tnaia bracch, requ utirg that the Government should be appioached on the question of the appointment of comioees to tho New Plymouth Harbour Boird, avid sugg sting that tlie nominees fhould b.t drawn from 'he lcc ilities which contributed the largest amount of revenue in the shnpe of rates.

A r. so'ntion supporting the Maiiaia branch was carried, and tho cha<rmin called on Mr. Signet*, the elected mr-mb=)r.for Cii too Riding, to ezpkin the existing p sition. Mr Hignoti first returned thanka' to the farmers present for the comj'lime'.t they had pud him as an hunoiwy member, and paid tha>, although not a practical farmer, hj) always took a very great intere»t in all matt rs affecting their welfare. A-i reg'rds th« question'of tha appointment of the Government nominees, he heartily supported the conten'ion that the nominees should bid'awn from the locali'i- s which p .id the largest revenue | in the shapo of rat-e, and he gave pir- | ticuUi.B of the rates daived fiom each 'tiding. He iilsi con'ended <hat the ! valuation question w«s one which the farmers should take up vigorously, aid couludol by rxpressiog his enM'rn sympathy with (In aspiiatiors of the Union to relievo the turners of sims of their heavy burdens, arid tm t'd that the Union would m lie itself felt throughout the l<>n°th and breadth of the coloiy. Mr. Wray also spoke oi the for tli • Corference at Stratford t iking rc ion in connection with t l e unaitisfactory aspect of the va'uatiou ques ion ; and Mr. G, Y. Tate also brought up the subject of exeewive fi.e in>urince premiums, bot < of «hich ques'ioos, it was und: rjtooJ, wculd be dea't wi'h the Cjnfui enc\ Mr "Newbi ry favoured tha matters being left open for discus sion'at the C inferei.ca without any binding resolution. A Urge number of memb'rs was enrolled, and the chairman, before closing the micting, impressed up n the members the necessity of loyalty a>id uni'y. Hetrus'ed that p'li'.ica would not be introduced, and tha v . all would work together for mutual benefit. A hearty vo'e of thanks to the Chairman ternruated a very sue e sful me.tiDg.