FARMERS’ UNION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18072, 10 January 1921, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION.

OKOIA BRANCH. The January meeting of the Okoia branch of the. New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Friday last. There were present—Messrs A. D. Macintosh (chairman), M. Hirst, lan Higgle, A. N. McLeod, R. Sommerville, J. McGrail, Frank Jones, and D. Strachan. DROVING CHARGES. A discussion arose over the recent decision of the Wanganui drovers to increase their charges. The chairman said that, the cost of living had apparently influenced the drovers. It was regrettable that the rise had taken place at such an unfortunate time. The farmers had no market for wool and fat. sheep were down in price. Mr M. Hirst said that the drovers in the Wairarapa had been offered and had. accepted a rate of 25/- a day. If they could work on that in one locaytv they should be able to do so in another. Mr Sommerville said that if the matter was properly gone into the increased charges might not seem so bad as they had at first sight appeared. The only objection seemed to be that drovers charged a full day's pay when perhaps only a few hours’ work had been done. Charges should be arranged on a sliding scale. It was finally decided to send a remit to the executive, urging that a committee be set up to confer with the drovers in order to have their side of the watter thoroughly ventilated. MOUMAHAKI STATE FARM. The special committee set up by the Sub-Provincial Executive forwarded for the branch’s consideration five resolutions, which outlined a scheme for the reconstruction of the Moumahaki State Farm. The scheme embraced many important points regarding the reconstruction. Three of the more important urged: (I) That a hostel be erected at Moumahaki to accommodate thirty boys to learn agricultural and pastoral farming: (2) that the farm be so reconstructed that it becomes the central development farm for all demonstration farms from Marton north; and (3) that winter schools for farmers be organised as at Rualura farm of instruction. The chairman said that the scheme seemed very sound. He hoped, however, that if fees were to be charged for instruction they would be on as low a scale as possible. Mr Sommerville was in favour cf the scheme. It was all a question of finance as to whether the Government would adopt it or not. Mr Jones moved that the branch endorse the scheme as outlined. This was carried. RIFLE TEAM. The Waitotara branch urged in a remit that the Wanganui Sub-pro-vincial District organise an annual rifle-shooting competition. Mr Sommerville said that he favoured the idea in preference to a competition for the Colonial Ammunition Company’s trophy. Mr McGrail urged that the branch make every endeavour to form a team to compete. The chairman said that the only difficult was a range to practis<e| en. A motion in support of the remit was carried, and it was decided that every effort should be made to form an Okoia team to compete. TELEPHONE CHARGES. .Mr McGrail asked if anything could be done in the matter of increased telephone charges. In the case of party lines subscribers signed a contract to cover a period cf five years. If the Department increased the charges before the expiration of that time it seemed as though they were breaking the contract. Mr McLeod said that the matter seemed very unfair to subscribers. They signed on at a certain annual charge, and in mans cases hardly a vear had passed before that charge had teen increased. The chairman did not think there was any use in the Union taking the matter up. The Government had increased the rates all over the Dominion. Mr Jones said that the contract referred to was merely a signed statement by subscribers agreeing to nay the annual subscription for a period of years. The matter of an increase in charges was not mentioned.