FARMERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 April 1927, Page 11

FARMERS’ UNION.

TIMARU BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. Tiie annual meeting of the Timaru Branch of the Fanners’ Union was held yesterday. Present—Messrs P. R. T'nlbit (chairman), W. B. Jones, W. J. Black, P. Porter, C. McPhedran, J. C. King, D. T. McPhedran and H. G. Kteven. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. The chairman, in referring to the yenr’s work, said that after the last annual mooting, they had amalgamated with the St. Andrews Brandi, and everything had worked out satisfactori ily. The branch had also done a great deal in reference to manures, and had , succeeded in inducing the Government |to retinae freights. Quotations were I secured from the North Island, and as I a result of their efforts, prices had ! come down a lot. For this the local | branch, together with other branches i throughout the district, were deserving iof great credit. In the matter of in- : sura nee, the total last year was £250,- ! 000. but now they had topped the | £3oU,iAhJ mark. Recently, tne secre- | tary had added another big policy, which showed that farmers were taking an interest in the scheme. About £35 had coming in from the working of the scheme, and this showed that the branches were going to beneliu to some extent. Referring to the work whicii lay ahead, the chairman said tlrit the Government had some big hurdles j to overcome. One of the i most outstanding was the unemployment question, and another was the big fall in produce. They, of course, wanted protection, so that they could carry on, tint it was up to them to help the Government all they could. The Arbitration Court was not satisfactory, and some better scheme would have to be adopted. So far as lie could see, every award that had come out had shown an increase in wages, and that in spite of the drop in production. The farmers had to bear the brunt all the time, and he. thought that the only thing was for wages to come down. Ho did not want to make points out of labour, but some re-arrangement would have to bo made. The farmer would also have to help himself a little, and it would be necessary for them to retrench. In connection with the work on the farms, Mr Talbot said that they had had one of the worst autumns he, could remember, for the growth of food had been ,poor, and the weather most unsatisfactory. The chairman also excommittee, and the secretary for the committee, an dthe secretary for the assistance they had given him during the year, and he also thanked the Press for the assistance it had given farmers. The statement of accounts for the vear showed a credit balance of £l6 7s lid. . , , Mr Porter said that looking back on the year, he did not think that they had accomplished a great deal. They had certainly done a little so far, as wheat was concerned, but wheat was not everything. Something would have to be done in regard to the cost of production generally, for it was far too high. Years ago, the Government charged for the carriage of time on railways, but latterly, they had. carried it free for TOO miles, and it must be paving them, for they had not gone back on it. He thought they should approach tho Govornmctit to do something similar in regard to manures. If that wore done, the merchant could lower their selling profit, and that would he one their selling profit, and that would be way of lowering the cost of production. The farmer also had to pay £1 a year for his rural delivery, and sometimes had to go two miles for at. Then he had to pay for his electricity, and all these things had to come out o, the farm. „ , , . .. Mr Black: The taking of electricity is optional. „ .. Mr Porter: Yes, but wo all realise the great benefit it is in the home, but it has to ccnie out of the farm m the long run. ~ , , The c-liairman said that that was what lie was driving at when he said that they should help the Government all they could. , , . v Mr Porter said that a lot of peoplic lan nwav with the idea that when they spoke of the cost of product ion, thev were referring to v.ages. that was* not the case. There were manv things necessary on farms which naa ,-isen in wriee, and it was they which were making the cost of production hl The report and balance sheet Were adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. . Prior to the election of officers being proceeded with, a letter was received from Mr Bruce Gillies suggesting that the office of chairmen should be an, annual one, for in that way, they; would get fresh ideas. There v, ere j several members who would accept offico if they knew it was to be for one j year only. Sometimes a chairman got “stale,” and that was not in the best interests of branches. | The chairman said that there was a i good deal in what Mr billies bad said but it ofen happened that they had a j good man in the chair, and when he was displaced, ho dropped out altogether, and they would never get lvim back. In his own case, it had taken him twelve months to get into

tho running of attains, out nu quite, willing to pull out and let someone. olso have office. Therei weie h o sides to the question; sometimes tliej gained and sometimes they lost, but he would leave the matter entirelj to members. If he did not go back again he would take just the same amount of interest in the Union as lie had alwajs d °Mr Black said that the branch should pass a vote of thanks to Mi Talbot, for all he had done. He had spent a good deal of time, and a goo deal of money in the interests of the branch, and he was deserving their host thanks. Mr King said that he would like to see Mr Talbot put back into tho chair for thev had a lot of work ahead ot them and they wanted all the guidance t.my could get. He would like to. see the branch adopt tho scheme of changing the chairman annually, and thev Should appoint Mr lalbot then first chairman. He seconded Mr Black s motion of thanks to Mr Talbot, which was carried unanimously. Mr Jones said that there was no doubt that Mr Talbot had done a good deal of work. He did not agree with Mr Porter, that they had not done much during the year To his mind, thev had done a lot of woiK. Air Porter: What I meant was that we* had not accomplished it. Air Jones said that they too much wheat to his mrnd, but even of other work. Ho moved that. Mr 'Talbot be re-elected president, which was carried unanimously. rc It was also agreed to make the office of chairman a rolling one in futme Other officers elected were Vieecl.airman Mr P. Porter.; delegate to the ex'eeiitive, Mr P. B. Talbot; executive members, Messrs AV.® T» Porter 1 treasurer. Mi P- r ’ Mrf.JLU*; Smith, A. Fraser, 'll. a. Hart, T). T. MoPhedrau, A P. Holland, -T. O. King, J. Nicol, .T, B. Buwis_ B. At . Oalnsford, It. Hammond, W. H. Orbell, TO. Hurt, C. McPhedran and AN. J. Black. THB AVTOSAT OXTPRTTON. The chairman said that, a meeting was being held in Ashburton that

afternoon in reference to the brokerage payable under the new wheat scheme. Jt had been reported that he had said that the fanners should pay the brokerage, but that was not so. His opinion was that tho millers should pay the brokerage, for they were getting enough out of it as it was. Mr King said that if they sold direct to the miller, the brokerage could not be charged to them. The chairman said that a lot of farmers had to sell through tho firms, and if they had to pay brokerage, they would be deprived of an extra, penny. He considered that they should pass a resolution to the effect that the brokerage should bo paid by the millers. The scheme had been fixed up sufficiently to carry on, and it fixed the minimum price for wheat at 6s f.o.b. ,mt being so, they should nob bo asked to pay broke, age. Mr King said that the price of flour at the present time was nominally £l7. The averago price for New Zealand cam© to about £lO os to the miller. He understood that for the next two' months, tiie millers wero prepared to carry on at this figure. The chairman saiil that after the expiry of tho two mouths, the price would go up to :hr I cl 1 * Jl7. Mr Steven: Does wheat that has been sold already, come under the scheme ?

The chairman: No, it can’t. We, itt South Canterbury, tried to get that, but the millers would not have anything to do with it at all. Mr Black said that the millers could not be blamed for that. They bought the wheat, and the farmers were willing to sell, so that was all there was to it at all. Mr Black said that the millers could not be blamed for that. They bought the wheat, and the farmers were willing to sell, so that was all there was to it. Mr Black then moved, and Mr Jones seconded, “that this meeting is of the opinion that millers should pay brokerage on all wheat purchased.” the motion was carried unanimously.

FARMERS’ EXCURSION. The secretary of the South Canterbury Branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote stating that the Railway Department was organising an excursion to Lincoln College about the middle ol June next. The train would leave Timaru about 7 a.m., allowing for 5 hours at the College. It was asked that the branch make the trip as publio as possible among members. It was agreed to‘ support the proposal, aud to make it known tkioughout the district.

POLES IN RAILWAY YARDS. The Acting-Minister of Railways (Hon. F. J. Rclleston) wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter from tiie branch, drawing attention to the inconvenience caused owing to the presence of a number of poles in railway yards. Mr Rolleston stated that lie would be glad to have the matter investigated, and the request given every consideration.

WHEAT CONFERENCE In connection with the recent wheat conference hob) in Timarn, it was . keided to make a grant of £lO towards the expenses. _ It nlc the various speake s at tho meeting, especially Mr 1. D. Buinett, M.P. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3 5s bd were passed for payment.