FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1930, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

ANNUAL MEETING AT URUTI. OPENING OF NE’W ROAD. Two important resolutions were passed at the annual meeting of the Uruti branch of the Farmers’ Union in the Uruti Hall last night. Air. A. R. Alpe presided over a good attendance.

When Mr. J. Mcßean said he had received communication from Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., to the effect that the first batch of unemployed would be cent out to do the Ngatimaru Road work considerable discussion ensued as to whether or not the Clifton County Council had been treating them fairly. Some members thought the council was against the opening of the Ngatimaru Road because it already had under its control many new roads. A resolution urging that every effort be made to induce the Government to use the £5OO already granted and hurry’ the work through is to be submitted to the provincial executive.

The time taken in securing telephonic communication with New Plymouth caused another resolution to be passed asking that the position bo placed before the Post and Telegraph Department.

Mr, Alpe introduced Mr. C. J. Harris, vice-president of the North Taranaki provincial executive, who had come from Oakura to attend the meeting. ,

Mr. Harris expressed disapproval of the scheme for dealing with unemployment. He said that it would lead eventually to the introduction of the dole system. It was difficult enough for farmers to obtain labour at the present time. He told of five farmers who wished to employ men and who had advertised the fact throughout the summer without success. The speaker urged the members present to see that they used their weight to stop the adoption of any such scheme. A voice: It would create a race of spongers. Touching upon the matter of weeds, and the mixture which would allegedly kill ragwort, Mr. Alpe said it would be a great thing for Uruti if it were .successful and he believed it would be. It would also eradicate what was an even greater curse to the district penny royal. This weed was particularly flourishing and constituted a real menace. The mixture .had to be imported, said Mr. Harris, and it was .proposed at the Stratford meeting that it be sold to farmers at cost price. The balance-sheet showed a credit of 16 s lOd, the year 'being started with a credit of 8s lid. The branch was heavily in debt to the president, Mr. Alpe, over the buying and engraving of medals for the calf-rearing competition, also for expenses involved in attending meetings on behalf of the Uruti branch. Before moving that the report and balance-sheet be adopted Mr. Alpe gave a resume of the executive’s report on last yar’s activities. He said that organisation was proceeding apace, * a strong sub-provincial branch having been formed at Stratford with over 150 members. Gratification was expressed at the good work done by the president, and it was thought that strenuous endeavours should be made to clear the debt to Mr. Alpe. It was decided that members should donate 2s 6d each and settle the matter. The fund to keep alive the calf-rearing competition was be separate for, while they could ask for the support of the other farmers for its maintenance, the balance owing Mr. Alpe was purely their concern. Officers were elected as follows: President. Mr. A. R. Alpe (re-elected); vice-presidents, Mr. S. S. Butt and Mr. F. Weeton; secretary, Mr. S. 8. Butt (re-elected); auditor, Mr. J. G. FitzGerald; committee, Mr. D. S. Musker, Mr. R. Thomson, Air. R. Radcliffe, with president, vice-president and secretary ex-officio. Regarding his re-election to the office of president, Mr. Alpe said he thought it time that some other had a turn as he considered it would be for the good of the branch. No further nominations were received and Mr. Harris expressed the pleasure it gave him to see the reelection of Mr. Alpe. Messrs Nops, Lange, W. Murray and G. C. Reid were elected members. The president and secretary.were appointed delegates to the provincial executive. At the close of the meeting the president in moving a vote of thanks ,to Ajr. Harris for his attendance, made eulogistic references to his work for the union and the farmer generally.