N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

WAIKATO-SUB-PROVINCIAL DISTRICT. ANNUAL MEETING. Th? second annual meeting of the' Waikato Sul>-provincial district of the New Zealand Farmers' Union took place in the farmers' room, Hood street, this morning. The president, Mr R. D. Duxfield. occupied the chair, and there was an attendance of 25 delegates. Annual Report. The president read the annual report as follows: The * balance-sheet discloses a deficiency for 15 months of £379 17s 8d after providing for the following items, which will not be recurring, organising expenses £177 10s sd, opening expenses £sl 14s, total £229 4s sd, leaving au actual shortage on the vear's working of £l5O I3s 3d. Travelling expenses, £215 5s lid. In eluded in this item is 'an amount rd £27 10s, being the loss on the sale of the motor-car.

Unpaid subscriptions, £BO 10s. Provision has been made for possible bad debts under this heading. Subscription Rate.—To place the finances on a satisfactroy basis, your executive has fixed the annual subscription for the current year at £1 10s, with an appeal to those members who are in a position to pay a further amount up to 30s.

Debentures.—With a view to giving members a greater interest in-the affairs of the Sub-provincial District, £5 debentures, repayable in five years and bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cenr,., are being issued, of which 1&% have been taken up. Trading—A good deal of time has been devoted in the past year to extending the business of the Trading Company, which has not been attended with that success your executive looked for, and it has been found inexpedient for the present to do more than preach co-operation in matters of trading, as it cr.nnot be carried on successfully without a representative stock, involving-a large Capital, but since sentiment plays a very important part in the success of co-operation I consider it not unreasonable for the executive to expect a quid pro quo.

It is now 1G months since this district was inaugurated, and during that time much useful work has been accomplished, and although the financial aspect has been clouded I have full confidence in the future outlook if only members will realise what thorough organisation will mean to them. More momentous times have neber been, and the need of careful husbanding of our resources never greater, and the times ahead aie fraught with big problems, which will require all the watchfulness of tho Union to solve in such a way as to minimise the consequences. The chairman said the Union had done a lot of work during the year, boing instrumental in bettering' the conditions of returned soldiers, and securing better facilities in stock trains, as well as other benefits affecting the farmers. It had been a strenuous year in many respects. There were many expenses on the year's working which would not occur again. The balance-sheet showed the assets £2511 16s lid, and the liabilities £2891 14s 7d. The revenue account gave the income as £995 10s Id, and the expenditure 11375'7s 9d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Votes of Thanks. Votes of thanks to the president, the Advisory Committee, and Miss Furze (secretary) were carried by acclamation. The president said Miss Furze had done marvellously good work. Election of Officers. President: Air E. H. Hammond, of "Tamahere. Vice-president: Mr J. S. Fisher, of Mona.valc. Advisory Commiitee: President, vicepresident, Messrs R. D. Duxfield, W. Seavill and Ran stead (Matangi). Auditors: Messrs English and Luxford. P mncialExecutive Representative: The president. i:i vacating the chair, the retiring president (Mr Duxfieldj, said he had derived much pleasure from the work during his office as president. He v.idled the new officers every success, and assured them of his hearty co-op-eration during the coming year.