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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1984, 21 January 1907, Page 1

FARMERS’ UNlOi'ti. WORK OF ORGANISATION. At tho mooting of the Provincial Executive of tho Farmers’ Union, Mr Clayton brought up the subject of an organising secretary. Ho considered that such an organiser was required if tho Union was to have tho life in it that it should have. Tho question had boon dealt with by them before, and it was roally one of ways and moans. Mr Kent: Can you make any suggestion how to got tho money required? Mr Clayton said ho had thought tho organiser would also bo a veterinary surgeon who would bo able to got" round tho district a good deal. Farmers now paid £3 a year to an X' illlllUlO I'”"' V” agricultural society which only had a fixture onco a year, and in which they took little interest except for that once a year, and yet they would not think of paying a like amount to tho Farmers’ Union, which endeavored to protect their interest all tho year round, and which did great good in what it prevented. If farmers would only think of what it prevented they would realise something of its value to them, and yet they begrudged a pound. Mr Kent: Well, suggest a way. Mr Clayton said ho had. They had thought of charging for the services of the veterinary surgeon, but it was found that that would hardly work unless they were prepared to go into tho question of finanoilig. He had always been in favor of having tho levy of £l. They might lose a few members by it, but he believed they would greatly profit by the increase, and that tho great majority would pay it. Mr Kent: But tho branches don’t support us in that. Could we not got someone to collect subscriptions? The President (Mr . Chambers): There is not unanimity among members oil tho subject. Mr Clayton: If we could only get them to support us for one year at a pound, I believe the result would be so justified that no one would want to go back to the old system. Mr Kent: Could we not get someone to go round, call meetings at different places, and there collect funds to pay his own salary and for the bonefit of the Union? Mr. Clayton: We might get such a man, but I am afraid Tie would be a very sanguine one if ho thought he was going to be paid from that source Mr. Kent: Ho would have to be good at it. Mr. Clayton: He would have to be a born optimist. (Laughter.) Tho Presidcjit mentioned that in Hawke’s Bay tlioy had a travelling veterinarian, but tho arrangement had fallen through. Mr. Clayton: It went splendidly for the .first year; then it became a struggle until at last it fell through. Mr. Elliott said they had found the Motu Farmeis’ Union a definite producer of good. It had become a big thing for tho Motu. Mr. Clayton said flip difficulty was in getting farmers to realise tho tangible bonefit that had been derived frem the Union. Their agitation bud been responsible for the dropping or shelving of tho Land Bill, but farmers did not see that that nlono saved them more than the proposed subscription to tho Union. They had only to go through the list of the measures detrimental to the farmers’ interests that would have been passed but for the Union. They might have boon repealed later on, but would have done a great deal of damage to tho interests of the fanners'. The farmer would not realise this and before lie gave a pound to tho Union wanted to see a pound “hard.” Mr. Ken.fi said a lot would not mind giving the pound, biit did not want to have to attend meetings. Mr. Clayton said they had had Mr. McCurdy in the district, and what was tho outcome? Invariably they had enthusiastic meetings, and farmers immediately sot to work to revive tho old branches and form new ones to push on tho work, but when it came to asking for subscriptions they had such replies, “Oh, I’m very sorry ; I only have ss, and I want a drink on tin; way koine.’* The result was that they were unable to getrxne money in. Mr. Kent: Why not got promises, ancl then collect it? Mr. Clayton: You could not. Ir von did not then it then it would Mp Elliptti I think it lies with the ancliqs a good deal to work up cnusiasm. It wants a good Chairman d Secretary. , ~ Mr. Kent: I think it lies with the ecutive, if they ask for it. The President : If you had a good lairman and Secretary who take a al interest - in the work , it makes . the difference. . Mr. Elliott : With a good Chairman d Secretary you can hardly have dure. Mr. Kent said they had interest in e Motu branch because they were thing local benefits at Motu. But was not the true principle of Farmers’ Union. They wanted i . .-I i f * _ J.l. fn+nmoto look at the matter m tlio interests the whole colony. Vlr. Elliott: We do, We give atition to local affairs, but wo also :e a keen interest in colonial matdr. Kent said that at Tiniroto .y took interest in colonial mats, but at Motu the matters they iched oil were few outside local )jecfcs, ■ , . vlr. Elliott: But wo do take up oute matters. In the Land Bill, tor tance, wo take as-much interest as ?where else in the colony, dr. Clavton said that, having an wgetio Chairman and Secretary ant a good deal, but it did not nimise the work of an orgamsei. the President : A good man would a great deal, especially in tho colting of subscriptions. Ur. Kent said that farmers were ling t’o pay ss, 10s, or £3, to a . ( ; o ’- tor, but did not care about giving : time to the meetings, as some ot mi lived a good way off over bad ids. , , „ dr. Elliott: YVe have men tv ho ne twelve miles to attend a meetr, and who rarely miss a meeting* Vlr. Clayton : Motu has always been good branch. , , . Che President: The best branch ill i district. , „ ~ , dr. Elliott said they found that iso who lived tho farthest away ro the best at attending. Those o lived closer were perfectly sated with the way things were going, lughter.) ’■ , r dr. Kent: That is the feeling .of st farmers. If things are going lit lie will pay, but ho will not go ■oss the . street to do it. dr. Clavton said tlio - organiser ided to have tho heart of a lion on ho vent into the hackblocks. * otin" was advertised and everyone noised to come, hut vlien the man ; there, ho found bo would perhaps ,-e to lecture to three men. He r Clavton) had taken Mr. Morel v til rough. “He must, said ■ Clayton, “have had groat pluck. one'place there were only throe in, and he spoke for over an hour those three men. I thought a Tat deal of him for that. Hie meeting then went on to deal th other business.

On Monday Captain Pottor, Ser-geant-Major Rogers Major Clifford., and Quartermaster-Sergeant Salmon had a most exciting experience while travelling in two buggies from Raglan to Hamilton. Xn places Jie horses disappeared out of sight altogether in the debris from the mountain sides, but beyond the discomfort occasioned no hovm pcftu _ the party, (ipd all got through safely. To-dav, when the mail-driver essayed the trim he found the Maiigakowliai, usually 50ft. across, over a mile wide, and had to swim the horses, one of which struck out on a new course, and landed on the other side of the Waipa river. The. passengers, including two ladies, were taken over in boats. It has been a campaign of freaks in more States than one, or even two, says the Springfield Republican, commenting on the recent election for the Governorship of New York State. Out in lowa Andrew Townsend Hise.y, an eccentric character, who is a little loose in his upper storey, has been campaigning from place to place, pushing a wheelbarrow ahead of him and wearing an old stovepipe hat. Somebodv jokingly suggested to him during the summer that lie ought to run for Governor. The little old man took it seriously, and began to canvass for names on his nomination papers. Still thinking it a joke, people gave him their names, and then awoke to find that he had actually secured enough to place him on the official ballot. The joke cost the State of lowa 5000 dollars ill the new printing which it necessitated.