WORK OF FARMERS’ UNION

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 11

WORK OF FARMERS’ UNION

NORTH TARANAKI EXECUTIVE BANK ACCOUNT CHARGE INCREASE GOVERNMENT CANNOT INTERFERE The monthly meeting of the North Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held at New Plymouth yesterday. The chairman, Mr. H. E. Blyde, presided over 13 branch representatives. Reporting, on the Dominion executive meeting held at Wellington on January 28 the chairman said that in reply to representations from North' Taranaki the Director-General of- Agriculture had written that .it was difficult; to see how more care could be exercised in the preparation of vaccine than at present, and that there was every reason to believe that the field officers of the Department had been very careful in its use. The Dominion secretary had stated that since the last meeting of the Dominion executive 4003 calves ; had been inoculated and of these three had died. On account of the fact that a substantial donation was being made by the Dominion executive towards the earthquake relief funds on behalf of provincial executives, the executive decided to take no steps in the matter. ' x ln reply to the executive’s inquiry the secretary of tire Taranaki Education Board, Mr. H. W. Insull, notified that the number of dental clinics in Taranaki was' six. Dental nurses attended Waitarh as a sub-centre. Pupils were treated from 37 schools. Of 1200 children examined only 24 were recorded by the school medical officer with perfect sets of teejh and six of these were Maoris. During the past year new dental clinics of the A type had been opened at Courtenay Street, New Plymouth, and at Hawera, providing better accommodation than the previous ones. The secretary suggested that the executive apply to the Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, Wellington, for particulars regarding, the increase in service. DENTAL TREATMENT. f The ehairman stated the inquiry had been made because there were some country places where children could get no dental attention at all. At Urenui the school committee had offered to build a clinic but a nurse cbuld not be provided. He understood that certain Wairarapa schools had had greater success in their efforts, which showed that the experience of Taranaki was not general. The town children could easily visit a dentist but even if the country children were brought to town they, could not receive attention at the clinic. It was pointed out that the lack of provision at Urenui was due to. the fact that a nurse had not been available. The matter, was left in abeyance. Residential accommodation for the. postmistress at Uruti could not be provided by the Post and Telegraph Department in view of the financial position, wrote , the Postmaster-General, .the Hon. J. B. Donald. There were many places in the Dominion at which the conditions were similar to those existing at Uruti, and the provision at such places of residential accommodation at the post office would impose a severe strain on. the finances of the Government. It was left to the Uruti branch to further consider the position. Its representative stated the matter would again be pressed upon the Government. There had previously been accommodation provided. The matter of bank charges for keeping accounts was entirely one between the hanks .and their customers and it was felt that the Government could not directly interfere, wrote the Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in reply to a letter from the executive. These charges were increased by the banks to offset increased taxation which they were called upon to bear as a result of the budget for the current year, and any representations from the Government would merely be met with a request for a reduction in taxation, and that, of course, was impossible in view of the present financial position. As the New Zealand Farmers’ Union directly represented a large proportion of the banks’ customers it was suggested that representations in the matter should be addressed, to the Associated Banks.

The chairman reported that at the Dominion executive meeting it had been decided to again approach the Government and to point out that as the Government had a large controlling power in the Bank of New Zealand, and as the Bank of New. Zealand was the strongest bank, in the Associated Banks, something remedial should be effected by the Government.

. Four out of six of the governing body of the Bank of New Zealand were Government members, said Mr. Blyde, and as that bank was the controlling factor in the Associated Banks the Government dominated the banks of the country. INCREASE; IN MEMBERSHIP. A branch of the union had been formed at Tarata, wrote Mr. C. J. Harris. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. J. Askew; secretary, Mr. C. W. Goodwin; committee, Messrs. F. A. Muir, G. 0. Rutherford, J. Smith, H. George, S. George, G. A. George, J. W. Burgess, A. J. Webb, H. B. Wiggins, L. A. Wicksteed and J. Drummond. There were 39 members and only seven men in the district, ■who had not been canvassed, had not enrolled. Mr. Harris reported that he had secured 167 new members in South Taranaki. He had been informed that a branch could be formed at Matau. He has addressed nearly every branch in North and South Taranaki. The total number of new members secured for North Tara-' naki was 49. Mr. Harris was authorised to .visit the Matau district for the purpose of forming a branch of the union and organising the district. The acting-district inspector of weights and measures, Mr. C. P. Smith, replied to the executive’s inquiry that in the past it had been customary for pig buyers to have their scales tested by the Department of Labour. If there were any machines which in the opinion of the union were not weighing correctly

the department would .arrange for an inspection. The Stratford sub-provincial executive notified that the following motion had been passed by them: —That as a means of alleviating the distress caus-ed-by the Hawke’s Bay earthquake this meeting of farmers urges on the Prime Minister the necessity of obtaining a supply of flour from Australia for the immediate benefit of the people in the affected area and in order to permit of its rationing and distribution as economically as possible that the tariff regulations relating to the importation of flour be waived or amended to allow of the free importation of flour for the purpose.

The Stratford reresentative, Mr. H. Hunt, explained that it was thought such, a step would result in a great saving to those in Hawke’s Bay. It was estimated that fourpence a loaf would be saved and that would mean a difference of at least £lOOO a week to the district. The z suggestion was brought forward only as one that might relieve the suffering of the people concerned. Mr. Blyde expressed the opinion that the total cost of bread was not in the cost of wheat but in the cost of flour. It would be a dangerous question to raise. There were many other things needed in Hawke’s Bay on which there was a tariff, such as boots and clothing. Most people were now out of the district and the scheme would be impracticable. He thought the union should not emphasise the duty on wheat alone at that stage. Other members thought the Government was doing everything in its power to lighten the burden of the sufferers and the remit was withdrawn.

Thanks for the executive’s co-opera-tion and assistance in organising the farmers’ rally at Hawera in December were sent by the South Taranaki provincial executive. The northern executive’s help was much appreciated and went a long way to making the rally a success.

A strong committee had been set up to further the union’s economic and party (non-political) schemes, said Mr. Blyde. A mesage of thanks from the leaders of the British Empire Farmers’ Party whi-eh visited New Zealand about a year ago for the welcome they received was read by the chairman. Th© letter was a personal communication from Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Whitley, Reading, England. The chairman stated the credit was due to the executive. The letter said th© party looked back with great pleasure on the time spent in New Zealand and recognised that it was. the personal touch they had had with those of like mind and occupation that made th© tour so enjoyable.

Mr. B. VtTiite thanked ths chairman for his efforts in reviving the MangoreiiHurworth branch.