PRICES FOR THRESHING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11498, 3 February 1903, Page 3

PRICES FOR THRESHING.

MEETING AT ASHBURTOtf. A special general meeting of members of the Asbburton Branch of tiie Farmers' Union wna held on Saturday afternoon. The notice calling the meeting invited the varions tilireshing machine owners of the district to ibe present in order to discuss the prices for ifchresu.ng for the ensuing season. The machine owners, at a meeting held about a iweek ago, decided' to advertise their prices, and this was accordingly done. Mr O. W. Leadley, president of the Union, was in the chair, and after stating the objects for which the meeting was called, expressed' regret at the action taken by the mill owners in advertising ; their prices before the meeting of farmers had been hdd. He oouli- etate that farmers were all agreed that a rise in the prices for threshing should be given, but was not prepared <to ear what the fliise should be. Faranera were more for their duce, and what rise the farmers got should ■be handed on to the men. Mr J. Oliver, who represented the machine ownere, said that prices had been arranged some time ago, and at the. time :t was thought they were doing right in fixing a uniform rate. Mr J. ocmdholme, jua., considered that the demands . were ireasonabJe. It would have been better to have held a "conference between the machine owners and the farmers, and arrive at a decision that way, instead of the machine owners coming to their decision witaout coneu-ltuiir the ■farmers. Mr Oliver pointed out that the primary reason for the increase was that the machine owners had to pay lrigher wages. After a desultory discussion, att the request of the Chainman, the machine owners withdrew while the matter wae considered in committee. The following motion was proposed: — "That this meeting of farmere regrets that the machine owners have not consulted the farmere 'before publishing their prices; at tie same tame, under the cdraunataaces the farmere agree to accept their terms as published, and request that Qfe marine owners consult the farmers before deciding on the rates "So be charged next season. . Following upon thie an amendment wae propoted as follows:—"lihat thie meeting is of the opinion that the prices for threshing should be £10 per 1000 for oate, and £11 per 1000 for wheat out of the stack. Stoak threshing as per arrangement cc between machine owner and farmer." Tb* amendment was earned by 34 to 6, s .majority of 29. "* A deputation of the mill owner* then reentered ike room, and after hearing the resolution, stated that they would not give a decided) answer until after ell the machine owners had bbsn consulted. Probably » decision wtmid be come to in about a week.