THE FARMERS' UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4332, 19 October 1921, Page 3

THE FARMERS' UNION.

REVIVING TURUA BRANCH. NEW OFFICERS ELECTED. A meeting of farmers from all parts of the Hauraki Plains was held at Turua on Friday evening, Col. Allen (representative of the Thames Valley sub-provincial district), Captain F Colbeck (vice-president of the New Zealand Union); and Mr UH. McAlpine (organising secretary), attending. About 60 settlers from various parts of the Plains were present. Mr D. J. O’Carroll occupied the chair. The chairman remarked that the meeting was really a revival meeting. Unionism had been dead in the district for some time, and those gentlemen had come to revive it. After*the speakers had been heard he was sure that those present would see t,h.a.t it was only themselves to blame for the laxity. . ' Mr McAlpine, organising secretary, disagreed that the Turua branch was dead, because as there were officers the organisation was not dead. He explained that the whole Farmers’ Union was behind every branch, and urged that the branch at Turua should riot die. If the farmers of the country do not combine and organise, they would always be like the cow’s tail. They could.be a power in the Dominion by organisation. He. stressed the necessity of cohesion. He urged a, revival suggesting a scheme of. canvass to awaken interest. He also urged them to stick together, even if their ranks were reduced to half a dozen.

Captain F. Colbeck, •speaking in' regard to the Farmers’ Unions and unity, said/ that there was an attempt being made to form a Dairyman’s Union.. “ But why changa Korses at a tiiiie' like this. Don’t do it till the /risis is over,” he concluded, I ' Mr McMillan wanted to know why the Dairying Unions was in opposition to the Farmers’ Union. said though he had no grounds for his statements he. thought that the real motive was to disrupt the farmers’ organisations. THE OFFICERS. Mr Bennett said' he could see that the Farmers’ Unibn was very essential. The farmers should be represented in Parliament. Tf k Farmers’ Union were formed here again it would do a vast amount of good. He put, his suggestion’as a motion, dnd Mr Sutton seconded. , Mr Henry held thatthe union was in existence, and movdd an amendment that a committee be formed t« canvas the district to put new life into the branch. ' . Mr McMillan said that Mr 6’Carroll was never voted out of his presidency which he had held with credit. Mr Green thought that if the branch were formed afresh it would be best. Mr Bennettpaid a tribute, to the abilities of MrfGreen as secretary. Mr O’Carrol), expressing an ih.tention of declining office in the branch as president, urged small branches of the union in order to embrace all farmers. Mr Henry withdrew his amendment. The resolution was carried unaiiiniqusly. < The t following officers were elected: Secretary, Mi\J. E. Greeny preside#, Mr G. Gray; executive committee, Messrs J. Bennett- b. G. McMillan, A. H. Rogers, J.. Newman, and f'. Henry. Mr McAlpine congratulated the meeting on reorganising its branch, and sincerely hoped that the district would be . thoroughly canvassed. A new system of payment would 've introduced by each member giving an order on the dairy company. In concluding he wished the branch every success, i Munro (Netlierton) wished to see the different branches come: in closer contact with each other. Mr. McAlpine thought Mr Munro’s suggestion could be done by reunion meetings. Mr Munro suggested Ngatea as the centre for <the y next reunion meeting. Mr Hayward (Ngatea) proposed that the next meeting be held at Nga- • I r.-l • tea. It would, he contended, strengthen Ngatea brant hi Mr Munro seconded and the proposal was carried.