EKETAHUNA FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1430, 3 May 1912, Page 8

EKETAHUNA FARMERS' UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. During the course of a review 'if tho past year the chairman of the Eketanumi branch. of the Maimers' Union (llr. W. B. Matlieson) remarked at the annual mcfting that the finances of the branch wc-io none too satisfactcry, but there was, lie added, reason to hope that better pio- • gress would be made in the future, The value of tho union lay not so much in branch work done as in tho fact that tho combined branches have become recognised liy the community as representing farmers' interests, ami influenced decidedly farmers' commercial position, and the framing.and administration, of our laws. The labour' question was becoming o. prominent one, anil as most farmers began life as wage-earners they would like to see labour well treated in the Dominion, but when agitators stirred labour unions to demand uniform hours and wages for each branch of farm labour, to demand that the whole revenue shall bo collected from land owners,-and to incite men earning good wages to drop tools at a busy season,' and to clog tho wheels of industry, the position cried aloud for union on tho part of farmers, not to quarrel with the workers, but to see that New Zealand was not brought to disaster under tho system of compulsory socialism. He appealed to farmers for tho sake of iiiemselycs and children to strengthen tho union by outspoken support until no farmer stood outside it. The election of officers resulted as follows:— I'iwident, Mr. B. Morriss; vicepresident, Mr. J. C. G. Wales; executive committee, Messrs. F. C. Turnor, G. Jl.. Hickman, W. A. C'ittadini, J. Henry, AW K. V/aldin,' P. Ncilsen, T. Moss. AY. IT. Bridge, J. I\ Harrison, F. Calton, .1. Scott, E. Tomlinson, W. B. ■ Matliepon; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. Bedding;, auditor, Sir. V. AYiw; delegate to conference, Mr. B. Morriss.