FARMERS' MEETING AT CHERTESY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1247, 26 May 1886, Page 3

FARMERS' MEETING AT CHERTESY.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT ]

A meeting of some importance and significance to the farming community was held at the Chertsey Hotel on Monday evening, for the purpose of establishing a Farmers’ League for the conservation of the vested rights and interests of agriculturists through out the district. There were about twenty farmers present, and Mr W. Straohan occupied the chair. The Chairman in his opening remarks said it would be patent to most of them that farmers for years had been laboring under grievances and drawbacks which they had not in most cases brought on themselves, but which were due to removable causes from abroad ; and were they only to combine for mutual protection and co-operation the drawbacks complained cf would soon vanish, if not altogether, to a very great degree. Apathy had prevailed too long, and unless some vigorous and united line of action were mapped out and acted opon with decision and promptitude, farmers would soon have to go to the wall and relinquish their pursuits altogeter. Farmers, for instance, should co-operate to build storesheds for aSording facilities for dressing and grading grain, as it was acknowledged on all hands that, generally speaking, grain was almost as a matter of necessity sent in a very imperfect condition to market. The possession of stores by the farmers themselves would obviate the necessity of any too hurried sale of grain, and would enable them to wait and watch, as it were, the “ ebb and flow” of the market quotations. For these reasons, and many more which he could adduce, he thought it was high time a Farmers’ League should be formed by all concerned in farming pursuits in the Chertsey district. A conversational discussion of an very animated nature was then engaged in by Messrs Dent, McDonald, Copeland, Alexander, Wilkinson, and others, and the pros and cons of the whole matter at issue were fairly weighed and discussed. It was then proposed by Mr Dent, and seconded by Mr Quigley— ■“ That a Chertsey Farmers’ League be formed to co-operate with the Ashburton County League, and to be united to any other kindred association throughout the country.” As an amendment, it was proposed by Mr Wilkinson, and seconded by Mr Welsh — “That a branch of the already existing League at Invercargill be formed at Chertsey.” On being put to the meeting the motion was declared carried. Office-bearers of the League were then appointed,—Mr W. Strachan, Chairman and Treasurer, and Mr H Btringfellow Secretary. Circulars were ordered to beprinted and posted to settlers who had been unable to attend the meeting,asking them to join the League. A subscription of 2s 6d each member was levied for initiatory expenses. Ajfce of thanks to the Chairman closed the psßedings.