WANGANUI AND THE FARMERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 122, 26 May 1938, Page 6

WANGANUI AND THE FARMERS’ UNION

GLANCING BACK ON ORGANISATION OF THE PAST

The sitting of the interprovincial fonferenre of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Wellington, this week recalls some of the early organisation of the union in the Wanganui district . In days long before the war the union was led by that stalwart the late Sir James Wilson, of Bulls. For many years he was Dominion president" At that time Wanganui did not enjoy provincial status within the union. Originally, Wanganui was a branch of the union, with direct representation in Weilington. Sir James Wilson’s activities, of course, though from the Wanganui district, were linked more directly with Manawatu. In later years, when the late Mr. Tancred Cooper came to the Wanganui district as provincial organiser, the union here was resuscitated with sub-provincial status, branches being reawakened in each of the outlying country centres Fordell, Oko’a.

Mere, Brunswick and Waverley. Wanganui retained its status as a branch within a sub-provincial district of the Wellington province. Provincial Status. Not long afterwards the constitution was altered to give Wanganui provincial status, with direct representation on the Dominion executive. At that period Mr. W. J. Polson, of Wanganui, was the Dominion president and was a particularly live one. Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wellington Central (Marton-Feilding and

Main Trunk areas), were granted provincial status at the same time as Wanganui. They had all been subprovinces of Wellington prior to that. The rise in status enabled them, if they so wished, to hold annual conferences of branches separately, but it was readily recognised that it would be a better plan to hold a combined conference of the four centres. Thus the practice was adopted of meeting, once each year alternately at Wanganui, Feilding, Palmerston North asd Masterton. Those conferences were unique, in that this was the only district in the Dominion to combine in an effort to obtain greater unanimity before the holding of the Dominion conference in Wellington each year. Three years or so ago another alteration was made in the constitution of the union, the purpose being to reduce the size of the Dominion executive. Groups of provincial districts were formed, Wanganui being merged with what is now known as No. 6 group, embracing, in addition to Wanganui, Wellington Central, Manawatu i and South Hawke’s Bay, the latter I having headquarters at Dannevirke. • Wairarapa, a prominent part of the I was severed from the No. 6 group and | old combined districts of Wellington. • merged with a newly-formed Hutt- ' Makara province. Mr. Lloyd Hammond, of Rata, a member of the Wel- ' lington Central executive, was chosen to represent the No. 6 group on the (Dominion executive. The Wairarapa--1 Hutt area also was granted a representative. Thus the Wellington pro- ! vince. which previously had a representation of four on the Dominion [executive so far as Wanganui was i concerned. Mr. Thomas Currie, the j Wanganui provincial president, did 'great service during the many years :he represented this district on the Dominion body. Although representation on the Dominion committee was reduced, the ’ practice of holding a combined confer--1 ence each year was not abandoned, I and the Hutt-Makara and Southern Hawke's Bay areas were embraced at that annual gathering. Names of Prominent Members. Mr. Claud Smith, of Brunswick, was prominently associated with the administration of the union in the days when Wanganui was lifted to provincial status. He and the late Mr. E. Parsons (Waitotara), the late Mr. A. (“Sandy”) Howie (Waverley)’ Messrs. W. ?.lorrison (Maxwell), T. W. Howie (Fordell). J. Allison (No. 1 Line), J. R. Franklin St. John’s Hill), T. Alexander (Maxwell), the late J. Hodges (Rapanui), the late H. G. Lewis (Fordell), the late H. Dykes (Wangaehu), .A. R. Sommerville (Okoia), the late .James Higgie (Okoia), Gregor* McGregor (Waverley), A. L. Elmslie (Waverley), were all prominent in the days when Wanganui first assumed provincial status. j To-day the union in Wanganui Is still led by Mr. T. Currie and in membership it has never been stronger. ■The advent of the Parapara Road re- ; suited in the Raetihi district being I merged with Wanganui and there are branches in all the original centres.