FARMERS’ UNION.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16736, 12 March 1926, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

NEWS FROM HEADQUARTERS

A WELL-ATTENDED MEETING

STRENGTH OF THE UNION.

(By R. Alexander, Official Reporter.) AUCKLAND, March 12. The last meeting of the Executive was exceptionally well attended, and members threw much enthusiasm into their work. Efforts were stimulated By the decision to adopt new and juore effective methods of organising. Some good men are available for selection for the -position of organising secretary, and a big series of rallies has been arranged by the Provincial Secretary (Mr.. W. Huey). The task has not been an easy one, but it has been accomplished, and the Executive looks for good results. At all these rallies, members of the Union, and farmers generally, should not tail to ask questions. and thus get a thorough understanding of tin? objects of the organisation. it is only by understanding the Union that farmers can appreciate its usefulness. That is what tiie rallies are for—to clear away misunderstandings amongst members and bring now ones into the fold. The Coming Conference.

Linked up with the new spirit of organisation is the forthcoming Provincial Conference, and the President, in his reference to the matter, expressed the wish that all branches and individual members would be welcome to file conference. A committee was also set up to consider remits to the conference from the executive; and at the same time an earnest wish was expressed that branches would not fail to send in their remits at an early date, so that they could receive proper treatment. Branches who do not avail themselves of this suggestion will not act wisely. Growing Strength.

Those who try to discredit the Union and declare that it is losing strength will be surprised -to learn that since the new organiser (Mr. Keegan) started work, no fewer than 467 new members have been enrolled, including 60 in the last month. That is a most effective reply to those who contended that political action would damage the Union. Every day the farmers are learning the benefit of combined influence, and hopes are entertained of great progress this year.

Noxious Weeds.

A great deal of time at the meeting was taken up with the discussion of the noxious weeds problem, with special reference to blackberry and ragwort. The opinions of members with regard to the spread of blackberries varied considerably, except that all agreed upon the necessity for eradication, but a serious warning was issued with regard to the danger from ragwort. Several members mentioned cases where clean pastures were now infected, and that the pest was spreading. Farmers were strongly advised to watch the weed carefully and see that it was pulled up and burned. Unless this were done, grave danger was ahead of the country.