FARMERS' UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11686, 1 May 1916, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

ASHBURTON BRANCH.

The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union tvrs held on Saturday afternoon, when Mr J. U. Simpson presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £1 14s 7d. The subscriptions received during; the vear had amounted to 314$ 10s, and the sum of £35 had been paid to the executive in levies. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, said rh;a farmers had gone through a mo*". phenomenal year, and those in _ ti:e lower parts of the district especially had' had a. very trying time, owing to the crops in a number of instances having been a failure. Still, there had been compensations, and the autumn rains had come in time to ensure n good growth of winter feed. He made reference to the conference which had been held in Ashburton on December f). when Sir Joscwh Ward and the Commissioner of Taxes were present to explain matters in connection with the Jankers' income tax. One good effect of the conference had been the removal of the embargo on the slaughtering of cattle under •eighteen month.; owing to the drought "and the continent, shortage of feed. •• The energies of tne iarmors ought t,o be devoted during the coming year to assisting: our nation a.nd our Allies in the wc.sent struggle/ continued the, chairman, "which cal tor creater sacrifice when some of our Allies are almost bleeding to death. On that account, we should expect much from the. Government by way of fn-sn legislation/' The farmers of tne Ashburton Conntv, he continued, onht io efiuio into line with other parts ot Canterbury in local government matters. It was an advantage in other parts o: the province to have the roads managed bv the County Councils, ana' Ashburton should adopt a similar system. The branch had been making steady progress, but ** * ho « ld h . kc To &e& the membership still further increase. Mr C. Reid said be thought they hacl madb a mistake in fixing the subscription so low as 10s a year lie had moved at the conference that :t be raised to £l, but his motion had not been carried. Mr G. W. Leadley said members should make an effort to increase the members. The, Farmers' Union did a lot of valuable work, and it was discouraging to drag along vear after year as they had beeh doing." The union was a most valuable institution, and farmers should do more to support it than they had done in the past. The chairman and Mr W. Harding also spoke of the good work of the union.

7ho report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr S. H. Lill was elected a member. Officers wore fleeted as follows: — Chairman, Mr -T. Brown; vice-chair-man, Mr J. "Williams: committee, Messrs J. R. Simpson. \V. Moses. H. Wells, W\ Oakley. W. T. Li]]. J. Cupland, W. Harding, R. Gilmore. W. J. Moses, A. Hirsey and G. W. L-ondtev; treasurer, Mr C. Reid; secretary. Mr J. B. Christian; auditor, Mr Bowdcu ; delegates to the conference. Messrs J. Brown. C. Reid and W. T. Li!].

It was decided to send the following • remits to the conference:—That it he a ;' recommendation to the Government to ! alter the Mortgages Extension Act so as to give power to call up overdue j mortgage, moneys to enable deceased - estates to he wound up; that ihe far- ; mors' year in r?spoet to the income tax ] should be from July 1" to" June 30: that : an extra, tax bo put on luxuries for j war purposes: that when an employer • hns insured his employee in tiny reput-=* able accident insurance cssco in the ■ joint, names of the mortgagor and the \ mortgagee sub-sections 1 and o of see- : tion -!1 of the Workers i Act. 19GS. should nor. applv." j