FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 December 1932, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. The final meeting for the year of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers 7 Union was held to-day. Mr H. Morrison presided. The secretary, in his report, says: — “ I regret to report that Mr A. Tomlinson. of Eketahuna, has given up fanning and left the district, being at present on holiday in Christchurch, and will not again attend our meetings. Members of the Union and residents of Eketahuna tendered a farewell to Mr Tomlinson, and no doubt members will wish to refer to his departure at this meeting. • • Thirteen meetings have been held ■since last Executive meeting, as follows: —Relief workers, sheepowncrs 7 committee, millowners 7 conference, branch meetings at Carterton, Greyand Tiraumea, lantern lectures demonstrations at Tawaha, Dyerviile and Pihautea, and rural credits 4. I also visited Paliiatua and Eketahuna, but owing to executive members not being available, my canvassing of those districts has been postponed until January.

*• An agreement was made with the Masterton threshing mill owners, but South Wairarapa mill owners would not subscribe to the northern agreement for pressing of hay and straw. A general agreement was reached on rates for threshing and chaff-cutting, which have been published. “The following letter accompanies a circular on co-operative meat marketing: ‘Dear Sir,—l see by the newspapers that Borthwick’s have acquired the Fpilding freezing works, also that your executive did not approve of same. I -think that you are perfectly right in your objection, as I think that these overseas meat concerns are assuredly striving, slowly but surely, to gain a iXdopoly. They come here, put up and -■fe,freezing works, squeeze out all j'oor fanners’ works, practically collar your country and produce, and the farxiiers stand by and allow this to go on. Why. or how, it seems a mystery to me, losing millions every year. It seems to me, although the farmers have their Unions, they are still all individualists, and, as such, in my mind, a\ ill never get anywhere. *W hat is wanted is a thoroughly sound co-operation, then you producers could snap your fingers at them. ' “ ‘lt is five years last month since I put a scheme before your Farmers’ Executive of Invercargill, and of which I am sending you a copy. Everyone who has seen it is in favour of it, even some of the heads and members of Parliament, who said it was 50 years before its time. I should hardly think this if it is any good. I claim it is the onlv wav to beat these big trusts without trving to fight them with capital. I also' think, or feel sure, it would bring millions more bac-k per annum to you producers, and I should like your members to give a careful study to these j'l-oposals. and let me know what is your real opinion, even if it is an unfavourable one. •* ‘Have you seen the figures of profits bv three of the big five for last vearffs output in meat alone, of course, mjfcall from New Zealand: —Armour’s, 000; Swift and Co., £5,300,000; Wilson and Co., £3,1200,000. These are fairly solid figures, and I should like to know how much was made out of your farmers’ produce from New Zealand last year, and I claim my scheme would prevent all this without taking any undue risks. It must be done bj strategy, not capital; diamond cut diamond—Yours faithfully, .J. Brown, 133 Tweed Street. Invercargill’.” A letter, asking assistance by_ way of transport for pupils of the W airarapa High School to attend stock demonstrations, was before the meeting from Mr S. A. La Roche. Members spoke highly of the work being carried out in agricultural instruction and decided to do everything they could to A letter suggesting that the Union should register a protest against the Railway Department issuing free passes to employees and their families aaus briefly discussed. It was decided to reply that the executive is not in sympathy with the ■sugg^fcon. A 1 meat marketing scheme outlined by Mr J. Brown, of Wyndliam, Southland, was received. It was decided to defer consideration to another meeting when Mr W. Perrj could attend.

“PIFFLING.” The chairman, Mr Hugh Morrison, described it as “piffling” and saw no reason why tho Union should object to the Department giving its employees concessions which did not cost the Department anything. On the motion of Mr J. L. Heckler it was decided to forward a request to the Dairy Control Board for an explanation of the disparity between the price of Danish and New Zealand butter. A complaint from Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners’ Union regarding neglect of-research in the N.Z. meat industry was discussed. It was decided to refer the matter to the. Meat Board and the Scientific. Research Department. At the time of going to Tress business was t not completed.