FARMERS’ UNION EXECUTIVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2294, 12 September 1908, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION EXECUTIVE.

ORDINARY MEETING

The bi-monthly meeting of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union Executive was held at tho office of the secretary in MoKce’s Buildings yesterday morning. Mr. T. Elliott occupied the chair, and there were present: Messrs Chambers, Hutchinson, Sainsbury, W. Lissant Clayton, and Bridge. Mr. W. Hunter asked the "executive to supply short articles, paragraphs, and items of news from the district for the “Farmers’ Advocate.”

Air. Elliott said he thought the secretary of the Gisborne branch should take on the. agency of the paper and push it amoiig members. • Mr. Clayton- said he was afraid tho paper was not too happy in 'the way it appealed to the public, and very little of the news given applied to Poverty Bay. He thought the members should do their best to foster the paper,. and send along articles on farming in the district-. The question was •' How could the paper be made to -hit the popular taste? Mr. Chambers said the best feature of the paper was the veterinary column.

The Chairman said the column was well worth the subscription. The “Advocate” was fighting the farmers’ battles.

It was decided to ask the secretary of the Gisborne branch to take on 'the agency for the paper, and each of tiie Unions to forward reports of their meetings. Mr. Graham intimated that- lie would like to resign-his duties of secretary to the executive as soon as the executive could make other arrangements.

Mr. A. R . Watson was requested to make arrangements to fill the vacancy. Mr. Clayton suggested that tho executive should consider the amount of contributions to he paid to the Dominion and Provincial conferences.

Mr. Elliott said he thought the conference had decided to leave the amount of contribution to each centre.

Mr. Clayton thought it might bo advisable to -leave tho question over for a full meeting of the executive. The Union liad need of a paid organiser, who could not be engaged until liis salary was guaranteed. He was in favor of a levy on a eliding scale; but would move—“ That the matter be deferred until the- next meeting.“

The Chairman said he could not agree to the levy being made oil a sliding scale, which might create dissatisfaction.

Mr. Bridge suggested the Dominion and Provincial Executive dues should bo ascertained before fixing the levy. Mr. Clayton, m reply, said the executive should set up a fund for useful purposes, one being the obtaining of a jiaid organiser. The only way to obtain such -a- fund 1 was a levy on a slfding scale. The Hawke’s Bay Union had a paid canvasser, and it might he wise to engage him to work tho Poverty .Bay district. The executive would never have such a fund while the levy was 2s per member; but there were many farmers who would object to pay more. A graduated levy would get over that difficulty, for larger farmers would not object t 0 pay a fair amount. ’ It was decided to defer the question for consideration at a meeting to be held during Show week. The Chairman, who attended as a delegate to. tlio Dominion Conference gave a brief verbal report of tli*> work done there.

A rote of thanks was passed 1 to Mr, Elliott for -his report, and the meeting closed.