FEDERATED FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 40, 13 June 1947, Page 6

FEDERATED FARMERS

BAY OF PLENTY AFFAIRS SUB-PROVINCIAL MEETING There was a full attendance of delegates from all parts of the Bay of Plenty at the quarterly sub-provin-cial conference of Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) held at Whakatane on Tuesday. Mr R. W. Dunning, sub-provincial president, was in the chair. Power For Ruatoki The need for speeding up the reticulation of the Ruatoki district ha-d been taken up with the Bay of Plenty Power Board, stated the Provincial Secretary. The Power Board had given an assurance that every consideration would be given to the possibilities of the area as soon as there was an easing of the present acute shortages of material and labour. “We will keep the matter in hand subject to an occasional prod from the Ruatoki branch,” commented the president. \ Housing at Ruatoki

The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in his capacity of Native Minister, wrote stating that the Native Department was taking steps to remedy the housing position of the Ruatoki Maoris as soon as possible. Mr Te Whetu (Ruatoki) said a start had been made with repairs to houses. „ Wharf For Te Kaha

The sub-provincial executive is pressing for the construction of a wharf to serve the Te Kaha district. This would result in a great reduction in freight charges to settlers, who are now dependant on road transport. Proposed Fertiliser Works A remit from Tauranga asked for support for the proposal to establish a fertiliser works on the shores of Tauranga harbour. 1 Tauranga delegates explained that a committee set up at a previous meeting would report at a meeting to be held in a few weeks’ time. It was desirable that the eastern end of the Bay of Plenty should be well represented at the next meeting.

After considerable discussion the conference passed the following resolution: — i

“This conference does not agree to the establishment of a fertiliser works at Tauranga if such a proposal would impose any financial loading on the land in the Bay of Plenty area.” The executive was instructed to watch the position. The Dairy Commission The president reported on the discussion at the Auckland Conference on the Dairy Commission. After hearing his report the conference passed a resolution as follows: — “This conference accepts the finding of the Auckland Conference in regard to the Dairy Commission recently set up, and we accept the Commission on the information presented to us and undertake to implement it as far as we are able.” Derating of Land The subject of removing the burden of .road rates from farm land was again discussed and the following resolution passed:— “That the Sub-Province supports the Dominion Federated Farmery in its campaign for derating.” The opinion was expressed that there was now more widespread support for derating throughout New Zealand than in former years when the issue was first raised in Auckland Province. Rehabilitation Committee

The rehabilitation of servicemen was discussed and a resolution passed re-affirming the appointment of Mr C. R. Wilson (Edgecumbe) and Mr C. Harrison (Tauranga) to the Rehabilitation Committees in the eastern and western parts of the Bay of Plenty. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Messrs. Wilson and Harrison for the work which they have already done in looking after the interests of servicemen. PRESIDENT’S REPORT PROVINCIAL PROBLEMS The report of the president, Mr R. W. Dunning, on the recent Auckland Conference and dealing with local conditions was accepted unanimously at the quarterly meeting of Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) at Whakatane on Tuesday.

Mr Dunning also took the opportunity of thanking members of the Bay of Plenty delegation who had accompanied him to the conference. They had “been on deck all the time,” he said, and had done their work for members in the Bay faith-fully-and well. All remits from bran-

ches were competently attended to. The president’s report was as follows: —

I left home on Saturday, May 17 in order to attend the Auckland executive meeting of the Farmers’ Union on Monday morning and the meeting of the F.F.A.P. in the afternoon. Busy Time For Delegates On Tuesday, May 20, the Meat and Wool Section held its annual meeting. Your delegates attended. As a dairy farmer I am not-eligible to attend this section conference. I escorted a party of our East Coast delegates through our own building, stores, etc., and also over the P.M.A. offices and bacon factory. They were very interested in all they saw 4 In the afternoon I attended with others the annual conference of the Dairy Section. Next morning the annual conference of the Farmers’ Union was held. Officers were elected and audited balance sheets of every department were passed. These balance sheets showed a very satisfactory and healthy year’s working.

In the afternon the annual meeting of Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) commenced and continued until midday on Friday. During the course of the conference Mr K. Melvin gave an address on New Zealand’s present financial position. He is a gifted speaker and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr J. Rouda, public relations officer for Auckland, also spoke very well. Meat and Dairy Boards Reports from Section conferences were given, also reports by a member of the Wool Board, Mr Briscoe Moore, and a report on the work of the Rehabilitation Committee by Mr Keam.

Neither the Meat Board nor the Dairy Board couid see fit to attend the conferences and I understand they will not be attending the Wellington conference. ' I consider that this is most unfortunate as both boards are of vital interest to us farmers and could well be closer to us and as a result would have more of our confidence, understanding and support. The Retiring President New officers were elected and there were quite a few changes. Mr Scott Davidson is the new president. Captain Rushworth did not stand for re-election. He was given a very hearty vote of thanks and appreciation for all that he has tried to do for us formers. He will be greatly missed because he has attributes which few men in New Zealand have today. Remits were discussed and passed. There were remits from all parts of the Auckland Province. The conference was very representative, delegates coming from Rotorua, Waikato, Southern, Thames, Bay of Plenty. Our sub-province was well represented by 11 delegates and five others. '

All other districts had full representation right up to North Cape, and I was particularly pleased to see that even the isolated farmers of Great Barrier Island were represented. Delegates For Wellington The findings of conference delegates will be presented by a very carefully picked team elected to attend the Wellington Conference which is to be held very soon. At midday on Friday the conference closed on a good note. The new executive then sat, finishing its business in the evening. On Thursday evening the annual meeting of the Trading Society was held and was well attended. Audited balance sheets were passed and a very satisfactory position was shown.

Balance Sheets Audited

I want to stress this fact: all our balance sheets were duly presented and were audited and they all showed a very - satisfactory position. I make this emphatic statement in order to refute certain statements which I understand are being made to the contrary. Mr Dunning declared that no member of the Auckland Executive had any private stake in any of these trading departments. No member of the Executive made any money whatsoever out of the work he did. This includes himself. Another agreement had been tabled at the conference concerning the local position. This should clear the air, although it seemed that those who have been opposing the organisation for nearly three years were still determined not on unity but on destroying something which could be, and he was sure would be, of great benefit to all the fanners of New Zealand as a whole.