FARMERS' UNION.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170269, 14 July 1920, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

FAIRLIE BRANCH. A general meeting■'.-■of the Fairlie branch of the Jj'aniiors' 'Union was held on j'Tiiia.y evening in' the .r"airhe 'Tecunicai Sc.iiooi, Mr J. Trotter presiding. A letter was received "from the umaru branch asking members 01 the Fairlie branch to guarantee a sum towards securing the services of a veterinary surgeon tor booth Canterbury. The request' was favourably considered and it was decided to ask the '' imam branch to ■ convene a conference of delegates from each, of the branches of South Canterbury to prop.iuni'fr- a suitable scbenie in, connection with the request.

The railway stationmaster at Fairlie wrote regarding the-.,, -Fan-lie—■ >. ::naru service, and stated that the- question of the restoration of the former service was receiving consideration. It was pointed out that the service iiad been, restricted owing to Avar conditions and shortage of coal, but now that these conditions did not exist it was considered that the pre-war service should be reinstated. The Minister of "Kailways had promised a report- on the service, and the branch decided to wait until the report came to baud.

The Mackenzie brancn of the R.S A. forwarded a resolution . passed by the .Association urging that 'be Soldiers' Settlement Act be. carried out until all soldiers..have been given aa opportunity under its provisions.—it was decided to endorse the motion, but. to inform ilio U.S.A. that the provisions of the Act were not being curtailed, but the trouble was want 6t money. The branch would assist the Association.. to have the benefits of the Act extended to the last man. Mr C. J. Talbot was re-elected to represent the branch on the Fairlie ■Technical School Board of Managers. The question of rural mail -deliveries was discussed and it was decided to assist any efforts which might be maris to ensure free deliveries to settlers in closely settled districts. The chairman referred to the unsatisfactory condition ot the Fairlie railway yard for holding stock, and it was 'decided to write to the Jf'airiie stationmaster asking that the level of the yard should be raised by about two feet. It was also decided to advise .members that when they were likely to 'requiiro trucks they should make inquiries well ahead. it was stated that the Department of Agriculture proposed to cease the Ending-of rabbit poison to Fairlie, and it was decided to protest against this. A discussion took place.-upon, the

advisability of holding a conference between employers and employees, as was suggested by the New Zealand Welfare League, but no decision was arrived at. The question of the purchase and resale of the freehold ot a converted L.I.P. was discussed, and it was -decided that where a settler exercises his option in converting his D.I.P. into a freehold, he should have the right to resell his. lease.

The chairman gave a detailed account of the recent conference in Wellington, concerning the meat industry, and was accorded a- vote of thanks.