FARMERS' UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16282, 9 July 1917, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION

[. TIMARU BRANCH: A meeting of the Timaru branch of , the Farmers' Union was held on Saturday - Present—Messrs A. G. Hart, G. L. Twentyman, R. Davie, C. N. OrbefU R. J. McKeown, and J. Smith. An apology for absence vas received from the President (Mr John Talbot), and in his absence the "Vice-President (Mr Hart) oueupied the chair. PRICE OF .."WHEAT. Mr. Hart said that the farmers had done thejr.best to put in all the wheat that it was possible for them to put in, and from WJaat he could see there would he a larger area an wheat "this -year than for some years .past. If the season continued favourable therei should be' a,n abundant harvest, and Jo was time the Government got to work and showed that they .would be in a, position to handle the grain in a, businesslike way. In view of the fact that the Government were getting 6s a" bushel for the sweepings of °the imported Australian wheat it was but fair that New Zealand farmers should get as much for their good milling wheat. The cost of production had' gone up all round and he thought tliey should ask the Government to give tliem 6s a bushel or take it at 5s lOd. on trucks, country stations, instead of f.o.b. It was hardly fair that the Government should expect New Zealand farmers to accept less for their wheat then they were charging for foreign wheat. They should tell the Minister for Agriculture that 5s lOd f.o.b. was not a fair thing. The Minister h«* not the knowledge of agriculture that he would have if he represented a South Island constdtu- ? nCy i! x was nmv clear that farmers in the North Island could grow wheat enough for their -own requirements if they chose to do so, but they preferred to grow what paid them best and depend upon the South Island to supply them with grain. Mr Twentyman said he did not think it would be wise to ask for a definite price for-next season's wheatit might be. worth more than 6s later on, and they shoiild wait and see how the world's market stood when their grain, was ready for sale. Mr Davie and. Mr Smith endorsed this view. '

Mr-Twentyman said that his grandfather had sold wheat at 15s per bushel, and they did not know what the price miglr& be next season. He certainly thought 5s lOd too little; how much too little he could not say at present. Fixed prices were only applied to farm produce; other things were going up.all the time. It was decided to write to the Minister for Agriculture informing him that in the opinion of this branch" of the Union 5s lOd f.o.b. is too little to offer for next season's wheat. ,

["When this matter was being discussed Messrs Orbell and McKeown were at another meeting.] DRAFT ON .WOOL. The chairman saidj he had asked the secretary to write to the North Canterbury Union asking if it were oorrecb that they had information that the draft on slipe wool had been remitted. A reply had been received which was indefinite, but it seemed that the Imperial authorities had agreed to remit this charge at Home, and it should b.i remitted here. He proposed that this branch should co-operate .with the North Canterbury branch in an endeavour to get this charge abolished. Mr Twentyman seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr McKeown remarked that the charge was quite unjustified. DAYLIGHT PARADES. The Defence Minister wrote that, it was impossible to differentiate betweentown and country units in connection with daylight parades. In cases of undue hardship exemption from parades could be obtained.

In this connection a discussion topk place when some new information was elicited, namely that by applyng to the Advisory Board for each district exemption could be obtained, from month to month, for all men employed in essential farm work.

The secretary said that the Efficiency Commissioner had assured him that exemption could be secured in this way both for cadets and territorials.

This was considered Tery satisfactory nnd it -was 'decided to write ■to Mr Frostick and get the position definitely stated in writing. The chairman said that the Otaio Advisorv Committee were already «rantinp: exemptions, and if AdvisoryBoards had this power it could not be too widely known.: (Hear, liear.i

FEDERATION. Discussing the membership of the Union the secretary said that during the past year the Auckland Branch had increased its membership by 900. It was decided thai; the Timaru Branch should suggest to the Executive that the' Farmers' Union, the Dairy Association, end the Sheepowners' Union should federate. GENERAL. A discussion took place concerning the carrying on of a shearing class nest spring, and it was decided to carry on the ciass provided support is iorthcoming. £ ~v -.-■«■ . . .Messrs R. S'eay and'W. i-F. -Bennett were added to the committee of the branch. - r f ., ' ■'- Messrs W. v (Fariview), and W.' A. Morrison' (Tycho) were elected members of the branch. Accounts amounting 'to £3 12s were passed for payment.'