FARMERS’ UNION ACTIVITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1934, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION ACTIVITIES

INTEREST IN MANGOREI DISTRICT. LARGE MEMBERSHIP INCREASE. An increase of 40 per cent, in member-, ship during the year and an attendance of nearly 40 members at the annual meeting on Saturday night was evidence of enthusiasm in Farmers Union matters in the Mangorei district. 'Die President of the branch, Mr. A. Busing, presided. Mr D. Le Cren Morgan, provincial secretary, and Mr. C. J. Harris, a member of the provincial executive, were also present. The president in his annual report extended welcome to 12 new members from the Kent Road district. He remarked that farmers had been P^ through hard times of late, and he did not think they had got through them yet.. However it remained to be seen whether the recently-appointed Royal Commission would do any good. The branch had held nine meetings during the year, at which attendances had been good. The membership had increased from 30 to 42 during the year. • Mr. Busing congratulated the members who had won trophies and certificates in the hay and ensilage competition, and also complimented the members of the team that had competed in the recent Farmers’ Union shoot. Members of the team had filled 11th place among 26 teams. » He had attended all but one of the provincial executive meetings and had also attended the provincial conference at Inglewood and meetings-at Stratford and Hawera. He had also represented the executive on the Automobile Association and the boys’ unemployment committee. The' balance-sheet showed a credit of £l3 18s lOd. Officers were elected as follow: President, Mr. A. Busing (re-elected); vicepresidents, Messrs. Geo. Mace and E. J. Herbert; auditor, Mr. D. Le Cren Morgan; delegate to the annual conference, Mr. W. Reader; hon. secretary, Mr. A. Busing (re-elected); committee, Messrs. J. Johnson, A. O. Wells, F. Morris (Upper Mangorei), G. Bennett, Geo. T. Mace, E. Hale (Lower Mangorei), J.Kemp,.W- H. Reader, E. J. Herbert (Kent Road). The chairman was voted an honorarium of £3 3s and it was decided to vote theKent Road branch of the Women’s Division £1 Is., A discussion took place in reference to the district court competition at the winter show, several members feeling that the district could not take part this year owing to the expense involved.. The chairman said that the Agricultural Society was prepared to donate 30s towards the cost of material for constructing the court. Mr. J. D. Pearce said that he had discussed the question with the committee of the Agricultural Society, which was anxious to do all it could to encourage entries. Unfortunately, as the schedule was already in circulation it was too late to make any alterations this year. 'He knew that the district court entailed a lot of work, but he hoped that the district would decide to carry on this year, as the -exhibit last year had certainly done good from the viewpoint of publicity. Mr. A. T. Moore, a member of the executive of the Agricultural Society, said that the whole question would be fully considered by the society during the coming year. The society had appreciated the interest which Mangorei district had shown in tire competition, and he appealed to the meeting to enter a district court again, giving an assurance that new rules would be adopted. It was resolved to enter a court this year. . .. On the motion of Mr. W. Reader it was decided to forward a remit to the annual conference urging that the Agricultural Department institute a system of grading pigs at the works by Government graders.

Mr. Reader pointed out that for some time the Farmers’ Union had been endeavouring to have the system of Government grading of pigs instituted. Mr. Morgan said that there -were Government graders at the freezing works for other meat, but not for pigs, even though the regulations provided that the pigs should be graded. Mr. C. J. Harris held that grading was essential in order to build up an export trade.

Replying to a question the president said that the question of branding of cull cows had been referred to the Agricultural Department. Twenty-eight entries were received for the field competitions, an increase of two over last year. Messrs. D, Le Cren Morgan and C. J. Harris gave interesting addresses at the conclusion of formal business.