Federated Farmers Review Past Year

Chronicle (Levin), 20 April 1948, Page 4

Federated Farmers Review Past Year

The annual nleeting of .the Levin branfch of Federated Farmers was held ih th'e Oddfellows' Hail on.; Ffiday night, Mr. C. E. C. Webbj presidin'g. ApolOgies were. ree:iy-t ed from M'essfs. E. Cresswell, B. W., Boddy, F. G. Malcolm, J. HeWitt and . B. A. Barthol'omew. ■ Durin'g the pas't year there had ' been ten branch execu'tive meetings, sald Mr. Webb in his report.5 Attendahces had beeh much the sam'e Us i"n the past, 'aird it was> fortunate that the Federation's i soflicial paper, Straight Furrow, Was circula'ts'd to all members a's by this meahs they Were in a position to know mUCh of what Was beihg accomplished ih their interests.! The 'dairy SectiOn had bleeh doing good work uiider th'e chairmah,'' Mr. F. G. MalColni, an'd his' codelegate tp th'e dairy exeeutiVe, Mr. R. Sutcliffe. All executivO , ahd; dairy sec'tioh exeCutiv'e meetings- ; held in Palmerston North had been; attended by btanch deleg'ates. ■ Farming coh'ditions -during the' past year Were sUch that in thej final bal'anCe farmers Were not. receiVing the equivaleht reward for their seryices to the community tha't their production o'f g'oods' entitled them to, cOhtinued Mr.' Webb. In spite of farm priCes being! higher, costs had risen Consider-; ably, many necessafy requireinents; such as manures an'd fencing; Imaterials particulafly so. The Iwork of 'the 'federation pUbliCity campaign appeared to be bearihg' fruit, and many more urban dwel-, lers were beginning 'to realise that a: prosperous farming commUnity was. absolutely necessary for a prosperous New Zealan'd. tn conclusion, Mr. Webb paid a tribute to the branch secretafy, Mr. j. E. Fullarton, whose servic'e had proved invaluable throughout the ysar. fie extended his bes't wishes to the branch for the com•Ing year, and thanked those who had" so capably assisted in the alfairs of the federation during the previous yea.r. The seqretary reported that there was a balance o'f £73 3s ,5'd in the Post Office Savings ' jBank. Interest had not yet been added to this. Before the election of ofSeers was commen&ed, Mr. Webb said that he felt that he had held the office of president for "too long. If any member could be p'ersuaded to take the position, he woul'd not offer himself as a candidate. Several nominations were put forward but all were declined. Mr. Webb was then nominated and the motion was carried by acelamation. The ' other officers were elected as folI lo ws : — V ice -presihents : Messrs . R. I Sutcliffe, E. Walker and *P. Baritholomew; section leaders; Dairy i section, Messrs. F. O. Malcolm (chairman) and R. Sutcliffe (codele'gate) ; mea't anti wool section, election - postpoiied untli a further meeting; executive committee: Messrs. R. Crawford, S. Sloan, J. J. j Gallagher, G. Arcus, R. Sutcliffe, j C. B. Arcus, H. J. 'Kilsby, A. Kilsby, j B. W. Boddy, B. A. Bartholomew and J. Manson; secretary: Mr. J. E. Fullarton; delegate to Manawatu executive: branch president and two section leaders; delegate to Boys' and. Girls' Agricultural Club: Mr. J. J, Gallagher.