FARMERS’ UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21052, 2 June 1938, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION

SOUTH CANTERBURY UNION NEW PRESIDENT IS MR C. LEY Mr C. Ley. Pleasant Point, was elected president of the South Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at the annual meeting in Timaru yesterday. Mr W. Buchan presided. Those present were Messrs W. Buchan (president), C. Ley (senior vice-president), A. J. Davey (junior vice-president), P. Talbot and A. W. Barnett (life members), and C. Wynn and V. Wilkinson (Mid-Canterbury Provincial delegates). The following branch delegates were also present: Messrs D. France, J. J. Dickson, A. Ward, B. E. Evans. A. H. Cookson, and G. L. Murray (Timaru-St. Andrews’ Branch); G. Blakemore, J. Cleland, and R. Crombie (Pleasant Point); H. L. Adam, C. V. Leslie, I. H. Smith, and P. Kidd (Albury), W. M. Black (Fairlie) ; G. A. Davey, A. E. Dobson, A. Bisdee, W. H. Stahiland. A. E. Johnstone and L. V. Talbot (Temuka), W. Hay, P. McNeil. W. Fletcher, J. Foley, A. Robinson, J. Dempsey, and J. C. Hay (Waimatei; G. Wooding, C. W. Lynn. F. Charles, A. J. McLean. P. G. Withers. W. S. Crotty and R. Mcllwrick (Geraldine >. and B. Trdmper, Mulligan, R. McCully, J. Woodhead, R. G. Barker and C. R. Barnett (annual conference). The meeting recorded its appreciation of the work of the retiring president during the past 12 months, delegates paying a tribute to the creditable manner with which he had occupied the position during a difficult year. He had been very kind and considerate to branch representatives on the executive at all times, it was stated. “Before vacating the chair I would like to thank the secretary, Mr A. B. Struthers, and the staff for their excellent assistance,” said Mr Buchan. “No man should be afraid to accept the position of president as long as he has Mr Struthers at his side.” Election of Officers The ■'lection of officers resulted as follows: president, Mr C. Ley; senior vice-president, Mr A. J. Davey; junior vice-president, Mr J. Lynn; treasurer, iMrP. R. Talbot; delegates to Dominion conference. Messrs C. Ley. A. J. Davey and A. B. Struthers; timekeeper, Mr B. E. Evans; representative on South Canterbury Employers’ Association, Mr A. B. Struthers; representative on Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. Cleland; emergency committee, president, vice-presidents and chairmen of the branches; executive, Messrs A. Johnstone, B. Trumper, G. A. Davey, L. V. Talbot, A. E. Dobson, and W. H. Staniland (Temuka); J. Cleland, R. G. Cleland. G. Blakemore, and R. Crombie (Pleasant Point); H. L. Adam, C. V. Leslie and C. Norton (Albury); D. France, J. Howell, J. J. Dickson, A. Ward, B. E. Evans, A. H. Cookson and G. L. Murray (Timaru-St. Andrews) J. Dempsey, J. C. Hay, A. Robinson, P. McNeil, J. Foley, W. L. Hay, W. Fletcher, and G. Cleland (Waimate); W. M. Black and E. H. Pike (Fairlie); G. Wooding, C. Lynn, H. P. Withers and W. S. Crotty (Geraldine.) and R. Mcllwrick and F. Charles, A report on the deli Derations at the last group conference was presented by Messrs A. Ward, A. E. Dobson. J. Cleland and C. V. Leslie. Appreciation of the work of Mr O’Regan as group delegate on the Dominion executive was expressed, it being announced that Mr O’Regan had relinquished the position. Mr Buchan reported that accompanied by the vice-presidents he had attended the annual conference of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive at Ashburton recently. The value of unanimity of opinion was stressed bv Mr C. Wynn, president of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive who thanked the meeting for its invitation for the Mid-Canter-bury Executive to attend. He thought that better understanding was being brought about by the group conferences, and that the Farmers’ Union was gradually becoming a powerful organisation, which would continue to grow in membership and power. Women’s Division “I think we should express our appreciation of the work of the Women’s Division, congratulate them on their success and thank them for the cooperation they have always given the Provincial Executive,” said Mr A. G. Davey. Various reasons had been put forward for the increase in interest in the affairs of the Union. It had rightly been sugested that the organiser had had much to do with the matter, and a second and equally correct suggestion was that it was being realised that the present condition of the farming industry demanded unity among the farmers. However, he thought that another reason was the excellent influence of the Womens Division Throughout South Canterbury the movem?nt was well organised and was doing excellent work. The meeting decided to record its appreciation and congratulate Mrs W. Buchan upon her appointment as president of the Women’s Division. "The Young Farmers’ Club movement will be the backbone of the I Farmers’ jhiori of the future,” said Mr I D. France, who moved a resolution congratulrting the movement on the progress it had made and the good work that had been accomplished. Remits were passed as follows: From Pleasant Point branch—“ That where the zoning of areas for the benefit of the industry takes place steps be taken to see that the producing section of the dairy industry is given full power to approve or disapprove the management, methods and scope of the factory’s business, and thus put the producing section in its proper relationship with the manufacturing, by removing anomalies which exist in the matter of the control of the produce by the manufacturing section while it is still the property of the producers. “That when a zoning of an area takes place for the benefit of an industry, those who will be affected by that action in that they will have no choice, should have a voice in the

nomination of the firm or company (as the case may be) which is to be allowed to operate in that territory.” ( Moved by Mr A. E. Dobson: —“That this conference reaffirms its support to any National Superannuation and Health Scheme, which conforms to the principles laid down by the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union, namely—(a) That such a scheme be financially sound, contributory, universal in application and all contributors to benefit the same; (b) That the finance and administration of the Health and Superannuation schemes should be entirely separate and each should be complete in itself; (c) That the administration of the scheme be carried out by an absolutely independent body entirely free from political control of funds which must be vested in tliat body.” Moved by Mr Dobson:—“That this conference approve ol the attitude adopted by the Dominion president, Mr W. W. Mulholland, in connection with the National Health mJ Superannuation scheme.”