THE FARMERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3568, 30 September 1916, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION.

NEGLECTED BY FARMERS

MR LKADLEY DISGUSTED

Tho monthly meeting of the Ashbur- : ,oji branch of.tho Farmers' Union was icld in the A. and P. rooms this aJ'ter--10021. Mr .1. Brown presided. Tho chairinim said it was time steps vero taken ti make farmers toko- a greater interest in the working of the. • inion. -At ■ present farmers had lost, personal, touch to a largo extent with ;he union. He 'thought that instead of iontralising in Ashburton., they, should 50 a. certain extent de-contraliso and jstablish nioro branches in the County, [n tho LoweliiTo district the farmers bad now established a new branch, frith n membership oi' 30 and promises from others to join. If oach district worked up »• branch roprecitatives 2ould then bo Bent to the. Ashburtan ■ mooting?,. -- Mr .1. Simpson said a number ot farmers kepi outside tho Union altoKothor and adtnired some things tie Union did. and criticised others & great deal. Tho Union had been formed to benefit the fanning community generally, ami therefore should be. supported by every farmer. The farmer who did nothing had the most criticism to offer, and those who met frequently n.nd administered the- affairs of the Union received very little thanks. Mr G. W. F.eadley said a branch had been established at Methvon, but he lia-1 not noticed anything appearing in tho papers lately about it. Branches could bo former/ with advantage at. Kakaia, J)orie, and other parts of the County, ;uid this could be done if farmers in Uio.m> localities would interest themselves in the movement. He realised, however, that ihero were many matters that could not be de.uk with by Mir.ill branches, a.s thcw> would have to bo handled by the executive in order that tlr> recommendations would carry jnon» weight. The. branches could deal wiih a. number of minor matters, and ideas, and suggestions would be of material assistance to the executive. On the. other hand, he did not think that the multiplication of branches was essential to tho welfare of the Union. If the Ashburtmi branch could have retained its original membership it would bi> just as offeetivo as having branches all over the County. To hi.; mind, many of the fanners w>re too selfish —they made him disgusted sometimes. Members of tho executive had to spend a great deal of time and their own money on matters affecting the Union, and yet farmers .showed so little gratitude tha.t thoy would not .send in their 7w 6d subscription, and many wore in arrears. 'Farmers who did not interest themselves in tho Union were quite propared to stand by and take all the advantages, and pay nothing to keep the Union going. He had boon so disgusted sometimes that he had felt liko giving up working for the Union. If farmers would only .send in their , subscriptions, 20 men could then ■' rim the whole show. ; The chairman agreed that it waw necessary to have a central branch. I Tho siilnbranehes would help to create ■ personal interest. At present the- in- ' terest had slackened off, and it was necessary that tho personal touch witb the head branch should be restored. At Lowcliffe it was the intention jto get lecturers to visit the district monthly,! and keep farmers interested. «, Instead of having 100 members in the.;/ Asliburtori ;; County the union should have 400 members. It was resolved to recommend to the executive that favourable cohsideratiok be given to a reduction oi* fees where new branches are formed, on account of the preliminary expenses incurred in forming such branches. -; . ,^- The chairman said the reduction should encourage farmers to form new branches! The secretary reported that Ashburton branch had contributed £225 12s 6d to the executive during the' past seven years. The next Inchest contribution* in Canterbury' was made by Oxford branch;.' which paid £139 165." The chairman explained that Lowcliffe branch had decided to send its recommendations "direct to the 1 executive at Christchurch. Mr J. Simpson moved, and Mr ■). A. ■Flemiriff seconded, that Mr A. Macpherson. Fields ■ Supervisor, be asked to deliver an address to farmerG in Ashburton upon the growing of lucerne and other ma tiers.—The motion was "arried.