WAIKAHI SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11592, 30 October 1901, Page 4

WAIKAHI SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the Waikakahi Settlers' Association was held at Morven on Monday evening. Between forty and fiity members were present, and Mr Beer, president of tiie association, was in tne cnaxr. He stated that the business was chiefly to consider a resolution, reported to nave been carried unanimously at the Ashburton meeting of the. Faimeis' Union, to the effect °hat the. rebate to Crown tenants ahonld be granted to all alike or be abolished. Mr Corrigan, delegate to the Ashburton meeting, asserted very strongly that the resolution had not been, carriea unanimously, as he had voted against it. Opinions were freely expressed that the resolution was utterly inimical to the interests of Crown tenants, and, while some were inclined to regard it ai simply a blunder into which the Union had unintentionally fallen, others pointed out that it had been carried on two distinct occasions at Waimate and once at Ashburton. Mr Boreham, as a representative of workmen wishing,to get land, maintained that the Crown tenants on Waikakahi were paying the Government 7j per cent, on the cost of the land .after deducting 10 per cent-, all round. Mr Dixon held that the Farmers' Union ■was- simply an offshoot of the Xational Association, formed for the purpose of destroying the land policy of the Liberal Party. Mr Sides moved, and it was seconded by Mr McMaster, "That this meeting protests against the resolution carried at Ashburton." Mr Corrigan moved, and. Mr Menzies seconded, as an amendment: "That the resolution be protested against as one of the most conservative and. selfish resolutions ever formed by a body of ipen who put themselves forward to forward the interests of farmers." The amendment was carried by 19 votes to 12 votes." Before the vote was taken, the chairman drew attention to the fact that when, a few years ago, 1 large concessions were made to ranholders for losses sustained during a severe winter, no objections were offered. Mr Dixon moved, and it was seconded by Mr Forsyth, "That a copy of the resolution just passed be sent to the Speaker of the Eoase of Representatives and one to the member for the. county." A motion by Messrs Duke and Comgan that the President resign his position as chairman of the Waikakahi branch of the Farmers' Union, was negatived ;on which the President and others expressed the opiuion that the Union should be supported, and everything done to secure from it the advantages it is capable of affording. The next business was a. motion by Messrs Corrigan and. Menzies : " That a* meeting be called at an early date to consider the advisability of forming Waikakahi into a county, and that meantime the chairman and secretary obtain all necessary information as to area, boundaries, rateable va-, lus, etc." In supporting this motion, Mr Duke, among other grievances, mentioned the exceedingly harsh and unfair manner in. which settlers are treated in the matter of impounding cattle. They are not only charged the ordinary fee, "but are summoned to Waimate and heavily fined, and made to pay solicitors' fees. While this happens to a settler who merely allowed

his horse to go for a drink, a big farmer it J° r week ? heen grazing 2000 sheep on all the roadsides of the district. On the question of holding a picnic or district sports, it was decided tiiat a meeting be caJea for that- day three weeks to Sate arrangements for the, latter to be held on & date* co be fixed later on.