Potato Growers

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXIV, Issue 425, 12 March 1921, Page 3

Potato Growers

MEETING AT SOUTHBRIDGE. At a meeting of the Central Association of the recently' formed South Island Potato Growers' Association, held in Christchurch last Tuesday, Mr W. J. McEvedy, one of the delegates, brought under' the notice of members the claims of his district for support in establishing a local association, pointing out that already some 15 growers in the locality had signed on with Mr Buxton as members, and he considered they could establish, a branch of the'association if given assistance by the Central Association in doing so. After some discussion it was decided to ask Mr A. E. McComas; the secretary of the Waimate Branch, to go to Southbridge and organise the district with Mr McEvedy and, if possible, form an association there. The Waimate branch is re- ■ cognised as one of the live wires > of the movement, the officers of ; which have worked so insistently : that their membership now totals ' 198, fully 75 per cent of., the . growers in the whole of the dis- • trict. Much of the credit of that is due to the arduous work put into it bj* the president (Mr McGowan) and the secretary JMr "McComas). The former is also president of the Central Association. Mr McComas, with ,Mr , Me-! Evedy, spent the whole of Thursday in canvassing the various . parts of the district, with very encouraging results, and a meeting was called for the evening in the local hall, where there was a good _ attendance of growers. Mr J. C. ; Free was voted to the chair and L introduced the speaker. •. Mr McComas, who spoke for fully an hour and a half, gave j full particulars about the objects lof the movement, agencies, commission, shipping, distribution and [■■■prioesT '■----• — - ..—~- - ~- , A number of questions were the | outcome of the address and all I these were satisfactorily explain- ; ed: ../; \ Mr Sutton then moved and Mr [ Dugan seconded, that an associa- ( tion be formed, to be called the "Southbridge and District Potato . Growers' Association," to operate ; for this season, and if considered ' advisable in the future, might be converted into other branches to *3 present the various parts. The motion was carried unani- . mously-. Mr Campbell proposed and Mr Doyle seconded, that Mr W. J. McEvedy be appointed presidentof the new association,; both of the speakers remarking on the amount of. good work done' by Mr McEvedy in the interests of local, growers. .The motion was carried by acclamation. ~~ The following officers were also appointed t— Secretary and treasurer, Mr McLaehlan; vice-president, Mr G. H. Barnett;_ executive committee, Messrs G. 11. Barnett (representing Leeston),. D. Marshall (Killinchy), R. Mcllraith (Killinchy), C. Doyle and J. Adams . (Southbridge ), L. Bailey (Soldiers' Settlement), Brown (Sedgemere), with power to add to their number. ~'"-. The matter o-f appointing delegates to the Central Association was left for consideration at the first monthly meeting of the association. The Bank of New Zealand were appointed bankers and cheques authorised to be signed by the president and secretary, on the motion of Messrs Sutton and Campbell. Mr McEvedy moved a hearty ■vote of thanks to the Waimace Association and Mr McComas for the able and willing assistance given to local growers, and in responding Mr McComas complimented them on their forming up, which' would give them a better chance of watching the particular interests of their own locality, and if worked with the same enthusiasm as they had at Waimate could not fail to be a success. A vote of thanks to the chairman for his able conduct of the meeting concluded a highly satisfactory and enthusiastic gathering which has also our heartiest support. Mr McComas proceeded yester- ■ day to Christchurch to form other branches and then on to Rakaia for the purpose.