FARMERS’ YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 94, 23 April 1940, Page 3

FARMERS’ YEAR

ANNUAL MEETING OF MARTON BRANCH

REVIEW BY PRESIDENT

The annual meeting of the Marton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Friday, Mr. A. C. Birch presiding over a good attendance of members. The chairman, in his review of the past year, slated that they had passed from peace to war and New Zealand far removed from the storm centre, finds itself called on to help the Mother Country with not only combatants but also produce. Farmers and farm workers have as readily as ever before offered their services in considerable numbers to the Forces and these departures are making awkward gaps, which are not easily filled yet Great Britain has emphasised in unmistakeable terms the urgent importance of maximum production. This more especially applies since the events of last week, when Denmark was overrun, and thus a strong source of supply of foodstuffs was cut off. This is where we should step intp the breach. A noteworthy activity has been that the committee appointed to go into the question of transport costs has not been entirely successful in reducing costs. There is no doubt though that were it not for reasonable energy displayed that costs would have increased more than they have. A strong case for actual reduction of rates was presented before the licensing authority in Wanganui. The outcome of this was that costs were adjudged to have risen 5 per cent. Users were called on to pay two thirds of this and transport interest one-third. We are represented on the Primary Production Council, and our representative has attended all the meetings of the Chamber of Commerce and also the meetings of the Young Farmers’ Club. Finally in the matter of skins and hides, owing to the lamentable inaction of the Meat Producers’ Board, the taking over of the whole marketing by the Government with a general pool was narrowly averted. This was prevented by our Dominion secretary stepping into the breach and by hard work achieving what must be regarded as a satisfactory arrangement. The statement of accounts showed a credit of £5 on the year’s operations.

Election of Officers. The ' .'l'owing officers were elected: Presk. , Mr. A. C. Birch (reelected); vice-presidents, Messrs. J. A. Harris and R. T. Kelsey; secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. B. S. Dudding; committee, Messrs. H. H. Richardson (Chamber of Commerce); A. P. Howard, D. A. Cameron, P. Friedrich. F. Johnston, J. Griffin, J. G. Harris, H. G. Stewart, G. R. Lovelock. Representative on Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. B. S. Dudding; hon. auditor, Mr. B. Cochran. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Cochran for past services and a bonus of £lO 10s to the secretary. Remits Carried. The following remits were carried: That the Provincial Conference carefully review the relation of the Meat

Board to the Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners* Federation and consider the advisability of securing a closer touch with the Meat Board, and, if desirable, a wider measure of representation to include dairy and pig farmers. Furthermore we recommend the selection and nomination of suitable men who have the Farmers’ Union support for election in electoral colleges and on the Meat Board. Finally, we suggest the appointment of a committee to go into the whole constitution of the Meat Producers’ Board and the objects for setting it up in its inception, its powers, and the way these powers have been exercised, with a view to widening the scope of its activities and so increase and extend its usefulness in the future.

That strong representations be made to the Farmers’ Union to investigate and, if possible, thoroughly overhaul the present system of lamb and mutton grading, with a view to eliminating glaring inconsistencies and inequalities in grading lambs, and also the securing of the greatest possible measure of efficiency veiwed at from the angle of war-time volume and economy.

That, in view of developments during the past 12 months, notice of motion be given to rescind the resolution passed at the las: Dominion conference to increase the union's subscription. Appreciation Mr. J. A. Harris spoke in eulogistic terms of the service rendered by Mr. S. A. Mair, Rangitikei County engineer, on the occasion or the recent floods in Rangitikei, when he telephoned all farmers in all parts of the country notifying them that there were heavy floods in the rivers and advising them to remove their stock on low-lying lands and moved “That a vote of appreciation be accorded Mr. Mair for his courtesy in advising the farmers of flood dangers, thereby saving farmers disastrous stock losses,” which was carried by acclamation.

held at Ohakune and was presided over by Mr. S. Sims. Also present were Miss I. Walton, Miss G. Scarrow and Messrs. J. H. Hardie, W. T. Slater, J. Murray, L. G. Harris (secretary).

A committee was set up Io consider the ways and means of preparing a directory of the local area in connection with schools and school residences. Another committe was set up to collect information relevant to the drawing up of a remit for the 1941 conference concerning the conduct and scope of the annual conference of the N.Z.E.I.

It was decided to hold the next general meeting at Mananui on Saturday, April 20. The meeting will consider remits for the 1940 conference be given a lecture by Mr. Cox (headmaster of the Mannui School) on aspects of the intermediate school system and visit Messrs. Ellis and Burnand’s veneer factory. Mr. S. Sims was appointed the branch delegate to the 1940 conference of the N.Z.E.I.