FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1929, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

TRAVELLING STOCK QUESTION.

PROPOSED LANDS BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held .in Hawera yesterday. Messrs. E. J. Betts (chairman), L. A. Jennings, H. I. Crocker, W. T. Seed, A. C. Ricketts, J. Cocker, D. M. Cameron, T. E. Bickford, H Wells, J. Pettigrew and W. H. Reynolds Tvere present. The Dominion secretary forwarded the following opinions of the union’s solicitors in regard to travelling stock: — "We are unaware of any law which allows a drover to put stock into a farmers paddock without permission. A provision in the Land Act of 1924 gives the right to depasture travelling stock for a time not exceeding 24 hours upon any unfenced and uncultivated pastoral lands within a quarter of a mile on either side of any road or track commonly used as a thoroughfare and not within a mile of a homestead. There is also a provision in the Stock Act of 1908 giving persons desirous of crossing any land with stock, a right to do so, subject to certain conditions as to giving prior notice, but any such right of passage must be along some recognised route, and a distance of at least five miles a day must be covered.

“Apart from the foregoing, it would seem that no drover has the right to turn his stock on to the lands of any person unless with his consent. If any drover brought any diseased stock into contact with the stock of another person, he would not only be liable for the penalties provided by the Stock Act of 1908 but would also be liable to a civil action for damages at the suit of the party inj'ured.”

Considerable discussion ensued on the serious consequences of land deterioration in the Dominion. Reports were read on the suhj’ect from the Dominion president of the union and from an expert, Mr. J. Livingston. The Dominion president advocated the establishing of a deteriorated lands board.

Tho meeting decided to support the movement.

The executive requested that for students taking matriculation as an entry examination to the Agricultural College the subject of languages be optional and that agricultural science be an additional optional subject in the matriculation syllabus. A campaign would be commenced as soon as possible against the introduction of any further legislation on daylight saving. Members spoke strongly against any reversion to the hour daylight saving and it was unanimously decided to support the Dominion executive in its endeavour to prevent the adoption of daylight saving next summer. Following a resolution opposing the adoption of junior high schools, submitted by the Southland branch of the union, the meeting resolved to adopt a similar attitude.

The South Taranaki provincial conference would be hold on May 19 at Eltham.

FARMERS AND HALF-HOLIDAY.

UNION PRESIDENT’S VIEW. “I should like to point out that the movement for obtaining the Saturday half-holiday does not emanate from business people of the town, the greater part of whom arc strongly in favour of a retention of the mid-week holiday,” wrote the secretary (Mr. R. D. Sage), on behalf of tho Wednesday Half-holiday Committee, to the South Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, in apprising the union of- the resolution of thanks carried by the public meeting for the union’s attitude.

“Owing, however, to the powers given by tho Shops and Offices Act, the question is being again forced upon business people, and the above committee will be glad to receive, not only the moral, but effective support of youi’ union in combating the movement,” continued the letter.

The chairman, Mr. E. J. Betts, who had been absent from the previous meeting, said Hawera had been his place of business for the past 40 years and he had always looked on Saturday as his business day and as an opportunity to bring his young folks to town. It would be a retrograde step on Ilawera’s part to carry it —“Mind you I don’t think they will carry it,” he remarked. Mr. Betts instanced the case of Thames which, after nine years, had reverted to a full day on Saturday.

WOMEN’S DIVISION EXECUTIVE

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The South Taranaki executive of the women's division of the Farmers’ Union met in Hawera yesterday. Mesdames W. E. Carter (presiding), J. Cocker, D. M. Cameron, H. Benton, E. Meuli, W. T. Seed, Smitheran, Oldfield, E. A. Death, C. H. Washer and Miss O’Sullivan were present. Discussion took place on the farmers’ proposed excursion to the South Island at the end of May, when hospitality was to be extended the travellers by members of the women’s division in the South Island. The thanks of the division were extended to those who had given quantifies of clothing for necessitous cases. A suggestion was adopted regarding keeping an emergency list of the names of those available in the district to give help in household duties. The delay in opening the school dental clinic at Manaia was discussed. It was decided to write to headquarters to ascertain the reason of the delay.

Mrs. Seed reported the profits from the recent Matapu ball held by the division were £lO 6s fid. Airs. Seed was accorded a vote of thanks for her work as secretary. A letter was received from Matron Nutsey, from Auckland, expressing appreciation of the kindness shown to her by the South Taranaki branch of the women’s division and wishing the division every sucess.