FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2087, 13 January 1908, Page 1

FARMERS’ UNION.

MEETING OF THE GISBORNE Bit AN Gil. DEPUTATION APPOINTED TO MEET Mr. McNAB.; VARIOUS MATTERS TO BE MENTIONED TO HIM. ■ Tlio Gisborne brandy of the Farmers’ Union met on Saturday, Mr W. D. Lysnar being m tin? -chair. Tliero whs it lair aftendaueo of momLCI WAIKATO STOCK ROUTE. Referring to the stock -track from Waikato to Gisborne via VTuikaromoan a, the 'chairman said to GovormiKMit ibad boon asked to tuko tlio route in hand. Two years ago, iio stated tliat it could be opened up for £3OOO. That was scouted as impossible, but the Government had promised to open it up, .although they lmd done very little, lie had received a letter from the Waikato Union and the chairman of the Auckland freezing works asking that the Govor n ill oil t should bo urged to do .something, and lie sent it on to ♦the membor for tlio district and tlio Minustor for Lands. Mr McNab said the tourist grant would be applicable. Mr Stringer, manager for tlio Audiland Freezing Wot ks was- m Lisborne and lie said they were anxious for tho work to go on. He said that tlio best course was to got-a straight out offer, and Mr J. WuriU-of' -Aalien reino.i mi, who had a considerable experience, and who .was tullv acquainted with the whole position, had made an offer to' have tlm road ready by October of this year lor a total of £2551. This was a small sum. indeed to open up the re td, and already over £‘20,000 had been spoilt and it had been doing no goad._ This expenditure would make it profitable. It- the proposal was put before the Minister for Lands on Friday, he would probably see that tho road was opened- tor traffic, it would reduce the distance to Waikato bv no less than three weeks. Tho \\ aikaromoanii route would save this time. Tlio Waikato really required 150,000 breeding ewes badly and Gisborne had the best, in the Dominion. At present it was a seven weeks’ drive to Waikato, and having the road would put Gisborne on equal conns with Hawke’:; Bay. It was suggested that it would make a difference of Is per head; Um droving charges would be Sd or 9d, not to sphak of damage to the slieep in the time; this was a low estimate. If the Government would not do it, the people should do at, and Air Stringer said that no doubt the Auckland people would subsidise this amount. Auckland city alone required 500 bullocks and 2000 sheep per week to say nothing of the outskirts, and this was a big market for Gisborne. The question was how host to bring this .before the Government. Ho thought that- the best thing was to appoint a committee to wait upon the Minister for Lands and urge him to accept the offer of Mr AVard. , , x Tho opinion was expressed that the track should be Sft wide if possible and Air. AVard would probably make an alternative offer. Tho chairman thought that the farmers should pay £25 for a man to inspect the alternative route and get the Auckland people to pay half. Air R. Ai. Birrell thought that the matter should wait until the ALinistor was seen, and perhaps the Government would pay it, when the wholo matter was laid before him. Ho moved that a committee consisting ol the chairman, Alessrs C. J. Barker, T. Holden, J. C. Field, A. J. Cameron, G. Barron and the mover bo appointed. . xlie chairman said that the road should bo opened next year. Something concrete should ho put beforo tlio Minister. It was worth their while to find out if there was any other alternative route. A sum like £2551 should not stop thorn from saving -three weeks, anti it was more than Is per head on their sheep, and it would do moro than 2s worth -to tlio AA r aikato people. There was no question that the peoplo desired the opening of the route. The Roads Department approved of tho route and all were united on tho point-. Ho was assured that the AVaikato peoplo would be quite willing to pay their share. Air BirrelL wanted to know if the people really wanted this -route. Ho was the first to advocate it and after all their effort, was it really required ?

The chairman said there were buyers already for Gisborne stock. There were mobs of about 6000 or 7000 slice]) leaving -about the 20th of this month. The AVaikato wanted 100,000 ewes from us and the last two years they had been coming for them and they had been driven to go to the AVellington province. Air A. F. Matthews agreed with Air Birrell that it would be advisable to wait- to sec Air AlcNali. Tho Government would call upon their own staff and there was no reason why one of their own men should not be sent out. He was in the AA’aikato two years -ago and ho was assured that 80,000 ta 90,000 ewes were required annually. Air Seddon promised to put that through but it had no been done, and through intrigues which ho knew of it had been suffering through that-. No doubt the Government- would not refuse the request. Ho seconded tho motion, which was carried. The inspection of the alternative route was left- for the meantime.

AViiat is being done will be advised to tho AVaikato Farmers’ Union and the Auckland Freezing Works and the member for the district. Air Birrell moved that the local bodies he advised of .the position of affairs -and their, assistance asked in meeting the Minister. Seconded by Air Holden and carried.

AIOTU-OPOTIKI STOCK TRACK. Air Barron urged the carrying on of the Alotu-Opotiki stock track. Air Lysnar moved that this be added to the duties of the committee appointed regarding the AVaikato track. Twelve miles had to be completed and it cost £2 10s per chain or £2OO per mile. It would take off 20 .miles and avoid a dangerous track. —Seconded by Air McLoughlin. Air -Butler, chairman, oi the Opo-t-iki A and P Association, said the track was -absolutely necessary. He understood the Alot-u people were building -a sale yard and the- Union should help to get the oroad opened and the Opotiki people would be only to glad lo assist with the work. There was -a -report that there were five rivers to cross, but that was quite wrong —only one river was unbridged. Tho roads would help to open the districts. Provinces had been made by the Government but li-ad never been fulfilled. Tho motion was carried. THE RABBIT QUESTION. . Air Butler stated that- -the rabbit pest was not what it was supposed to bo in Opotiki district. Gisborne had complained, and one result was that Government men were killing

them in his district. “Wo have to thank you peoplo for that,” remarked the speaker. . Tho chairman, said that tne Minister of Lands should be. interviewed on 'the same subject. They were extending very much- -indeed in the King Country and the southern portion of Hawke's Bay, .and a Government official said they were almost getting beyond control iu the latter district. If Gisborne was to prosper, the post must he nipped in the Imd. lie was glad to hear that the Gisborne agitation had had good results m Opotiki. They should urge that more active .and more stringent measures should be -taken an Hawke’s Bay. Mr J. G. Field said the Minister should ho asked to seo that our stock inspector should inspect the outside districts and see the position. This was decided upon. CON TIN UOUS TELEPHONE SERVICE. The chairman -said that thev were still short of -a few signatures m the petition for continuous service of the telephone. He had proposed to bring a satisfactory report to the meeting, but it would have to be deferred for a short period. STOCK PADDOCKS. Air Barker referred to the question of stock paddocks on all roads. Particularly lie urged a stock reserve of an -acre in the To Arai district. The matter was added to tlio committee’s duties.