FARMERS’ UNION

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 16

FARMERS’ UNION

OKAU-AHITITI-TONGAPORUTU DAYLIGHT SAVING EXTENSION. The keen interest taken in Farmers’ Union activities by farmers of the Okau-Ahititi-Tongaporutu district was shown by the representative attendance at the annual meeting yesterday. Mr. F. Calvert, president of the branch, presided. Mr. D. le Cren Morgan, secretary of the North Taranaki provincial executive, was also present.

The report showed that the membership of the branch stood at 31, one member having resigned during the year. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £7 15s lOd. The Pig Marketing Association’s lecture and picture, on the, pig industry was shown in the Tongaporutu hall in November. The Dominion president, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., had given an address on the Mortgage Corporation Bill. The branch was represented by Messrs. F.‘ Calvert, J. B. Carr and R. Gibbs at the farmers’ rally which was held at Hawera in connection with the Mortgage Corporation Bill. The branch had also entered a team in the annual Farmers’ Union shooting match, giving a good account of itself, and members were loking forward to doing even better this year, but unfortunately the match was abandoned as the range was under repair. The chairman said that it had been very gratifying to see such good attendances at the meetings and he hoped that would continue. There had been a splendid attendance at the Pig Marketing Association meeting and some who did not attend regrqtted it. Farmers should use every endeavour to support co-operative movements, which were in the' interests of the settlers themselves, as had been shown in the dairy industry. The settlers, perhaps, hardly realised the full benefit of having a branch of the Farmers’ Union in the district but as a result of its activities, Mangaongaonga ' Road and Beach Road hafl benefited. Mr. J. B. Carr agreed that the Farmers’ Union had been responsible for initiating the movement that had culminated in the metalling of Road. Officers elected were: President, Mr. R. Gibbs; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Collins and F. Calvert; committee, Messrs. H. D! George, G. W. Stratton, J. Gibbs, W. D. Canhell and S. Kenrick; secretary. Mr. J. B. Carr; delegates to the provincial conference, president and secretary; auditor, Mr. D. le Cren Morgan* DAYLIGHT SAVING, Mr. Cterr moved that a remit be forwarded to the provincial conference urging that daylight saving start ‘on the second Sunday in October and end on the last Sunday in March. Mr. Carr said that from the farmers’ point of view the extension ,of daylight saving beyond ( March 31 was absolutely absurd. He considered that it was a “wash out,” an opinion held -not only by farmers but also by, many', labourers. The Dominion president had stated that it appeared as though daylight saving had come to stay apd would probably bp introduced all the year round. Mr. Carr considered that the fanners should fight hard for their own interests. . It ; had been suggested that dairy factories should be worked to suit daylight saving. That, he admitted, could be done, but they could not work the schools and mails. Mr. J. J.; Chapman said Mr. Sidey had had to fight for 20 years before he could get daylight saving. introduced and the farmers should use every endeavour to have the term reduced as suggested, even if it took them 20 years. He recognised that conceding the half hour during the summer up to March 31 would not hurt the farming community but extending the term was causing the farmers considerable inconvenience.

Mr.' O. J. McGregor seconded the resolution which was canned unanimously.

Replying to Mr. Chapman, Mr- Morgan stated that as the county councils were not wholly wRh the Farmers’ Union in regard to. derating. A conference had been held between the two bodies as the result of which a compromise had been arrived at, with the object of securing an allocation of the highways fund towards the maintenance of by-roads as well as to the main highways. That, by easing the rates, would be a step towards de-rating. It was a case in which it was necessary to go slowly. Mr. H. Collins moved that the meeting urges the Dominion conference to move in conjunction with the Counties Association witli the object of having a greater proportion of the motor taxation allocated to /•oads in relief of rates. That was seconded, by Mr. |G. W. Stratton arid carried unanimously. A review of the. activities of the provincial executive was given, by Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan urged individual farmers to take an interest in the activities of their own branch and get behind their president and secretary. The local president and Mr. G. W. Kendall had worked hard during the past year in the interests of the branch. Farmers should realise that the was out to help them individually as well as collectively and that the provincial executive was always willing to assist, The executive had appeared before the Transport Board m an endeavour to hflve the mail time-table desired by the district restored. Mr. Morgan urged the farmers of the district to take a part in the field competitions which, as the. experience of other districts had proved, had a definite educational value. Farmers must realise that they had to farm better and more scientifically if they wished to progress, and competitions helped, Mr. Morgan , gave members simple and valuable advice on the filling in of the. various returns required by the Government. . As one of the delegation that had waited on the Transport Board with Mr. Morgan in connection, with the restoration of the mail service, Mr.. Carr expressed appreciation of the thorough manner in which Mr. Morgan had presented the case on behalf of the settlers of the district, showing a thorough grip of every phase of the question. The district had been very- fortunate in its advocate. Mr. Morgan was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks. , The retiring president stressed the value of the competitions and, with a view to encouraging them, offered to provide a cup to be known as the Refresher Gup. Members were entertained to luncheon in the hall by members of the Okau-Ahititi-Tongaporutu branch of J™ 3 Women’s Division of the Farmers Union, which was represented by Mesdahtes J. Jemmieson, J. J. Chapman, <J. Gibbs, w. S. Burton and Miss E. O’Sullivan (honorary secretary). They were accorded a vote of thanks and it was also decided to vote the division £1 laVotes of thanks' were accorded the retiring president end secretary, both of whom declined nomihatidh.