"JUST ABOUT 100% MEMBERSHIP"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 133, 22 June 1937, Page 6

"JUST ABOUT 100% MEMBERSHIP"

Farmers' Union Organisation in Hawke's Bay EXECUTIVE MEETS V "Personally I have no wish to leave Hawke's Bay. I should like to live inthe distriet permanently," said Mr. C. H. Harris, organiser for the New Zealand Farmers' Union, who has been m Hawke's Bay for some time carrying vut a campaign for increased membership, when, at tbe meeting of the jdLawke's Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union held yesterday in the Chamber of Commerce rdoms, Hastings, the question of how long the branch would be able to retain his services was under disqussion. Mr. T. B. H. Priest presided over the meeting. Mr. Harris in his report stated that the membership was now very high. "I have had very few refusals to join, and the Hawke's Bay branch's prestige is now much higher than it has been before," he said. The membership in the province at present, however, was just about 100 per cent., and he wondered if to interview the few who had still nof yet been interviewed justified the expense of retaining hiin in the distriet. . . Mr. Harris was congratulated by the chairman on the organisation work he had! carried out ln the distriet. The delegates present each reported that the districts they represented were fully- organised and that in each. instance there were only a few left who were not in the union. It was decided to take Uo action ini the matter until the next meeting. The resignation was received from Mr. Thomas Lawson, who had been » member for a number of years., Complaint of vagueness. . The Dominion seeretary sent back m remit forwarded by the Hawke's Bay branch to the head office, asking that it be amplified and remarking that it seemed a trifle vague. The remit read : "The Hawke's Bay Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union' views with aiarm the growing expenditure of the Government and its apparent inability to contribute a f air share of the maintenance of country roads out of the petrol and tyre-tax fund." "I cannot see just what they ar« wanting." remarked Mr. Priest. Mr. R. E. Talbot considered it wss a very hazy intellect 'that could not understand such a remit. The executive had takem great p^ins in preparing it. Another member suggested that tho difficulty lay in the interpretation of the term "a fair share." "The union is in favour of derating," said Mr. Talbot, "and perhaps they feei that this jmplies something less than derating." There was cause for alarm at the growing expenditure of the Government, but did this make them mcapable of contributing to the country road's? "I feel we have mixed two. things together. We had in mind the rebate on country roads when we asked ror this," he said. It was decided that two remits passed at the group conference in Wairoa expressed the branch's opiniono in a more concrete form, and it wao decided to endorse these and witlfdraw, the motion under discussion in 'favour of them. . Mr. Talbot was appointed to repmsent tbe union at the meeting regarding fixation of carriers' prices to bn held this week. The executive endorsed -Mr.j Talbot's views, expressed at the previous public meeting on tbe question . Mr. O. A. Edgecombe was elected representative on the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Pro ducers' Board, A communication from the head office of the union set out the platforni of policy to be considered by the Dominion conference. The executivn expressed its approval of it but left the matter in the hands of its delegate. It was pointed out that the matter had been received at such short notien that there was no opportunity of ge^> ting the opinio'ns of the branches. A recommendation ' that such things should be sent out earlier was therefore made the subject of a remit.

Remits Considered. The following remits were considered : — From the Ongaonga branch: "That this branch co-eperate with the provincial executive with regard to the proposed field day, provided that it is confined to a field day and held with the co-operation of the Department of Agriculture." It was explained by the. branch's representative that the idea of working-in a held day with sports fixtures did not appeal to the Onga onga branch. The chairman shared this view. Mr. McKeesick considered that the best idea was for the branches to combine m small groups rather than to hold one large meeting. It was decided to leave it to the branches to work out" their own field days. From the Waimarama branch : "That in future Farmers' Union rifle-shooting meetings the rules be reverted to aperture sights and slings and two optional sighters." — to be sent forward. From the Waipukurau branch: "That representations be made to the Government that the survey plans lost during the earthq'uake be replaced by the Government at no cost to the farmer." The Government had assisted the towns in their losses said one member, and they should do the same for tho farmer. The remit was carried forward. — — ^ — — —