FARMERS' UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16884, 4 August 1919, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION

TIMARTJ BRANCH. thf^"^"?l > he Emai ' u Branch-of daj. Present: Messrs A. G Hart (charinian). W. j; Bassett P R tT bot, G. Elliott, c. 2f. Harl and the secretary, A. Thoreau. lJie chairman referred to the ' termination of the war and' the peace celebrations, and said that farmers, like other people, were heartily glad to see the" termination of the great struggle it was matter for regret however, that bloodshed and strife were still <r o i n <r on m some parts of the world, & and tnat there was so much industrial unrfw" „f Were J n , ow iA the ' second day of spring and they could congratulate themselves on having had such a good winter—almost ideal Although feed had not been abundant stock had come though the winter welland its condition, from "now o n must improve. lliere was not a great deal of growth yet, but the weather' had set in fine and good progress could soon be expected. According to reports there were 8,000,00) carcases of frozen meat in store in the Dominion, besides a large quantity of 'cheese, and a seirous position would arise if' they could not get boats to take away a sufficient portion of "this meat and j cheese to make room for next season's ! supplies. Only one boat was expected next month. Shipping" for nearlv 1,000,000 carcases a month was required till the end of the year if they were to get a satisfactory "clearance 'before the, start of th« new season. Mr Hart also referred to the dislocation of the railway service owing to the coal shortage, and said that this had been the "cause of putting off the Dominion Farmers' Conference for a month. One of tlie most important remits to come before' the Conference was one to give the Farmers' Unions power to enter more fully into the political arena. There was no doubt but that farmers were just as keenly interested in politics as anyone else. - Messrs A. 13 Dobson, J. Brown. AY. Black and L- G Smith were elected of the Branch. Mr AY. A. Morrison wrot9 resigning his seat on the committee, and Mr John Bron'n was elected in his stead. .Mr J". Smith wrote undertaking to get sufficient sheep for the shearing classes. He had secured the promise of 1000 already. It was decided to notify the Technical School authorities that the sheep will '3e forthcoming if a shearing class is held this season.

Mr Hart proposed that the attention of the- Government be drawn to the tact that the Freezing AYorks are full, and expressing the hope that more ships will be got to take 'away the meat in store before .next season. This was carried unanimously.

Mr Bnssett reported that under the new appointments to the Technical School Board of Managers, the Education Department had taken away farmers representation. In future neither the Bevels City Council, the A. and P. Association, nor the Farmers' Union'could elect a representative to the Board.

This was considered: a great injustice, and it was decided to write to the Government, protesting against it.

It was decided not to hold the proposed tractor trial until the railways resume normal running.