FARMERS’ UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 1 June 1923, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION

provincial conference. The- South Canterbury Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union was field in Timaru yesterday. Present— Messrs J. Bitchener, M.P. (president), J. Trotter. J. Macaulay, YV. J. Bassett, J. Talbot, P. R. Talbot, A. Copeland, J.- ■Sl.cCort, J. Cleland, J. A. Patersoil, j. Paterson, R. O. Cleland, J. Drinnan, G. L. Twentyman, A. Dale, J^H-“Sinclair, AY. Bell, W. R, McGrath, L. V. Talbot, S. H. Midgley, A. Ward, and J. R. Flint. The report and balance sheet (which have been already published in the “Herald”) were taken as read. /MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. The president made feeling reference to the death of the late Mr Geoige Steven, who, he said, had been an active member of the Union, and one who had endeavoured to the very best of his ability to forward the interests of the farming community, and of the people in general. Mr Bitchener moved a motion of sympathy with the widow and family. Mr John Talbot also expressed his sincere regret on account of the death of the late Mr Steven who, he said, had. been a gentleman in every sense of the word, and a highly valued member of the Union, and of the community in general. The motion was carried in silence, all standing. • 'A motion of sympathy was also passed with Mr John Trotter (vice-presi-dent of the Union) on account of the recent death of'his brother. PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT. The president made a brief statement regarding the activities of the ttmmam i ■ -

Union for the past year. He welcomed the new members who were present and assurred them that their assistance in conducting tho affairs of the Union would be very welcome. There never was a time in the history of New Zealand when the Union was called upon to do more important work than at present. He had tried in his printed report to give some genoral idea of what had been done during the year, but it was impossible to get much in such a necessarily brief report. Too often it was said that the Union was not of much value, but this was quite erroneous. The Dominion Executive of the Union was composed of an exceedingly live body of men who watched the interests of farmers at every point. They were real workers, with no drones among them. The Union should not be Judged solely on what could be seen of its work; there should also be considered what it did in the way of preventing undesirable legislation, etc. Mr Bitchener paid a warm compliment to the Dominion president (Mr \Y. J. Poison) for the time,

energy, and ability which he put into the affairs of the Union, and appealed to Farmers to rally round the Union and support it in every possible way. The setting up of the Wheat Board by the Union this year justified the existence of the Union even if it had done

nothing else. For this, the Ashburton branch was entitled to special credit and thev owed a debt of gratitude to Mr J. Macaulay for his splendid work as a member of that Board. (Hear, i hear.) Farmers would not now be getting nearly so good a price for their wheat had a Wheat Board not be formed. From the point of view of tho agriculturist the year had not been as good as they could have wished, but it had been a good year for the pastoralist. The president went on to refer in complimentary terms to the activities of the Meat Control Board, and said that this was of inestimable benefit to farmers in general. An attempt >vas being made to set up a Dairy Control Board, and he sincerely hoped that this would soon be accomplished. Only

! the proprietary concerns were up : against control; the co-operative conj corns would welcome it, and he was ; confident that it would operate in their | best interests. The chief work of the : l : nion during the year had centred 1 round the setting up of the Wheat [Hoard, and no more important work ! could have been undertaken for the I wheat growers. ; Mr Uitchener also made reference to the recent disastrous floods, which he said had encompassed the ruin of many i farmers; and tne sincere sympathy of the Union would go out to all who'had suffered. He thanked the vice-president (Mr Trotter) for the great assistance which lie had given him during the year, and the secretary (Mr Thoreau) for the courtesy ho had at all times

shown him and the able way in which he had carried out his duties. Ihe ■ executive had been very loyal to him ' also, and .he thanked them for this. He hoped that during the coming year the membership of the Union would increase and that its sphere of usefuii ness would be extended. It was always | making headway, and this being -c it I was perhaps fulfilling its mission, j though it would please him better if " its progress was a little more > apid. ! Farmers would consult their best inter- • ests if they rallied round the Union, i which he wished the fullest possible I success in the future. Mr Bitchener j thanked one and all for the generous j support throughout the years he had | been president of the Union, and said it had been a pleasure to him to do whatever he could for the farmers, i' ll : his interests were in the land, and he j would, always be glad to do all that he | could for farmers in general. (Ap- ! plause.) i In reply to Mr J. Paterson, fhe Seej retary said that if the Oran-mes muin- | tained their present lnemberuiip it j would be possible during '.be coming j year to pay off the debit lr-.'-ii-c-* of £29 10s 8d in the domestic account. The report and balance sheet were then adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICE US. Mr John Talbot said that a me?.ill ■ ago Mr Bitchener had said liar, he ■ could not see his way to again stand ' for the presidency of the Immi. If Mr Bitchener adhered to this decision it would be a serious blow to the Union and the best thing the meeting < •. old do was to prevail upon Mr Bitchener to offer his services for a further uim. Mr Bitchener had presided over tho meetings with tact, patience, perseverance and ability, and it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to get a better man. Mr Talbot then asked the meeting to indicate whether it would like Mr Bitchener to continue further i.n tho president’s chair. The meeting decided unanimously fhat Mr Bitchener should be asked to reconsider his decision, and he was so asked. Mr Bitchener expressed appreciation of the compliment paid him, and said j that if it was tho unanimous wish of '■ the meeting he would consent 'o serve

them further. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr Bassett, seconded by Mr Trotter, Mr Bitehener was then unanimously re-elected president I of the Union for the ensuing year. Other officials were elected as^ follows , —Vice-president, Mr John Trotter; I executive —W. Bell, A. It. Flint (Waii mate), J. Drinnan, 8. 1:1. Midgley, and 1 A. Ward (St. Andrews), R. G. Cleland 1 (pleasant Point). W. R. McGrath and 1 J. A. Patc-rson (Temuka), R.. Murphy 1 and A. F. Campbell (Fairlie), P. R. i Talbot and C. N. Orbell (Timarn), A. Dale and J. McCort (Albury), M. J I Bassett. Copeland, J. Henderson, and I John Talbot: delegate to the Dounnion ! Conference, W. J. Bassett; lion, treai surer, G. L. Twontynmn ; lion, auditor, i J. It. Lack; representative of the executive on the Employers’ Association, J. | Drinnan ; representative on the Chaintier of Commerce, J. Cleland. MR W. J. POLSON. At noon the Dominion President (Mr W. J. Poison) attended the meeting, and was accorded a hearty welcome on behalf of the fanners of South CanterMr Poison, in acknowledging the i welcome, said that there was quite a 1 boom in the Farmers’ Union, the niemi bership of the Union having been ‘ greatly increased lately, especially m j -the North Island, and the enthusiasm , was now spreading to the South Island. ‘He had been having extraordinarily i successful meetings, and at his last I eight meetings lie had addressed more j than 1500 farmers. It would be seen, therefore, that farmers were waking up to their interests and appreciating the work of the Union. (Hear, hear.) CLOSING HOUR FOR SHOPS.

With regard to the closing hour for shops on Saturdays, Mr Bitehener said that noon would not be at all convenient for the farming community, who found it already most inconvenient to have the Saturday half-holiday. .Lheir i business time was curtailed sufficiently ! by closing at 1 p.m., and they resented j the proposal to close at noon, i Mr Bassett thought the Union should take no action in the matter. Mr Bitehener said that Employers Associations throughout the Dominion were i'i favour of I o’clock closing. I Mr J. Talbot said the matter was one to be settled betrveen the employers and i the employees, and he did not think , that the Union should interfere in it. | Mr J. Drinnansaid lie thought that i the closing hour should be 1 p.iu. on i Saturday, and he moved to this effect. The motion was seconded by Mr Cope- | land, who advocated a universal halfholiday for the Dominion. The motion avus curried with two dissentients. WHEAT PRICES. Mr John Talbot moved: “That this ! meeting of the Farmers’ Union agrees to give full power to the Wheat Board in connection with the fixation of prices for the whole of the wheat-growing industry. That they be requested to meet the Prime Minister as soon as convenient to discuss the'whole position with him. That this meeting requests other branches of the Union to pass a , similar resolution,” I The motion was seconded by Mr BasI sett. Mr Talbot said that Mid Canterbury ■ had asked that such a resolution should

‘ be passed, and he understood that North Otago had already complied with the request. Mid Canterbury had taken a considerable interest in tills matter, and it would be quite safe to follow its lead. It might be said that it was early to be talking about next year’s prices for wheat; but in the past they had left the matter too late, and there could be no harm in getting in early j for next season’s crop. ! Mr Macaulay spoke in support of the motion, and said it was most desirable that New Zealand should grow enough wheat for its own requirements. Mr Trotter intimated how in liis opinion l the present wheat-buying scheme could be improved upon. Mr J. Paterson said that he did not approve of the motion, as he did not think it wise to endeavour to fix the price of wheat so far ahead. Moreover, the Wheat Board had only been appointed to fix the price for this year; it had no mandate to deal with next year’s wheat, and it would be unwise to leave it to half a dozen men to fix the

price of next year's wheat without consulting the grower?!. The President said it was not proposed to fix the price for . next year’s wheat immediately, but the Wheat Board was in possession of a lot of useful information, which would enable it to arrive at a fair price when the time came. They had every confidence in the Wheat Board, and knew that it would not do anything to detrimentally affect the interests of wheat-growers. In any case, the motion would not commit the meeting to anything. Mr Talbot said that some indication should be given to farmers as to whether anything was to be done in regard to prices for next season, ns this would influence the area to be sown in wheat. He agreed with Mr Paterson that it seemed early to fix prices for next vear’s wheat, but that was not proposed for the immediate present. The motion did not commit the Union to anything, and it would tend to encourage a larger sowing of wheat than might otherwise be the case. . f Mr Paterson said he was quite willing that the Wheat Board should negotiate, but it should not bo given power to fix prices. Mr Talbot’s motion was earriei unanimously.