FARMERS’ UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4778, 19 November 1924, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

MEETING OF NGATEA BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union was held on Monday evening, the president, Mr J. Bratlie, presiding over an attendance of fifteen. A welcome was extended by the chairman and Mr C. W. Schultz to the settlers present who had not yet become members, and they were urged to join up. PUHANGA BRIDGE. The secretary reported having interviewed the Lands Drainage Engineer in regard to the request for battens to be placed on the Puhanga bridge to prevent horses slipping.. Mr Taylor had said that the timber was on the site, and the Work would be commenced immediately. FACTORY TESTS. Complaints were voiced regarding the cream tests by several factory suppliers, and it was decided to urge the company through the local suppliers committee to appoint a fully qualified testing officer. The opinion was expressed that there should be a qualifying examination for testers. COUNTY MATTERS. Mr A. J. Andrews reported that he had attended the last meeting of the Hauraki Plains County’ Council. The proceedings had been very protracted, but very interesting. He had attended to see what the proposed retrenchment scheme would be, but had got a great insight into the bridge question. The conclusion he had arrived at was that the people of Ngatea were either very slow or that they were agreeable to sit down and be saddled with unlimited rates.

Mr Andrews gave a resume of the discussion on the bridge question, and said it was very hard to understand the feelings of .the councillors and why they voted on the various aspects of the question as they did. He also explained the operations ot the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association and paid a compliment to Mr HPoland M.P., and Mr C. N. O’Neil, for their work in Wellington while opposing the County Empowering Bill. Mr Andrews read an extract from Hansard on the discussion in Parliament and explained the procedure.

Corning back to the council, Mr Andrews said he was surprised that Cr. McLoughlin had supported Maukoro bridge, because it was openly stated that if it was killed that would be the death of the bridge policy. The opinion was expressed by Mr Andrews that the Ngatea bridge ratepayers should wake up and look to their own interests. If they took action similar to that taken by the ratepayers of Netherton there would be no doubt that they would not have increased bridge rates put upon them. Mr E. W. Martin, who was also present at the council meeting, said he had come to the opinion that the council would in future be more careful in regard to acquiring further machinery, and that they would support the present engineer and let more contracts for road-making in the future. The meeting was very interesting indeed, and should be attended by ratepayers, Councillors would welcome it.

Exception was taken by the president to the remarks of the Ngatea riding councillor in respect to the Government offer of £2 for £1 for metalling .the road from Ngatea to the Ngarua landing. Cr. McLoughlin evidently wished to support a. road to Kerepeehi. As a basis of discussion the speaker moved : “That this meetv.g is of opinion that the County councillor for Ngatea riding, having kst the ratepayers’ confidence, should resign his seat on the' Council, and that the secretary be instructed to write to him to that effect.” What he particularly took exception to was the statement that the road was not required. Mr McDuff pointed out. that the council evidently wished to keep the rates down. Mr Bratlie said that the end of the argument between the council and the’Government in regard to which .should metal roads on the Plains would probably be that the council woulc have to do the work, Mr Andrews pointed out that Cr. McLoughlin had said that the settlers on the road frontage could not afford to pay for the road. He thereby implied that the burden would be over a special rating area instead of over the whole riding. Mr G. Phillips stated that it would be useless to metal the road for some time to come as the formation was slipping into the canal. .The settlers certainly would not and could not pay the additional rates necessary. POLITICAL ACTION. 4 telegram wais received from the provincial secretary, Mr W. Huey, asking if a meeting could be held on a date early in December to discuss the union’s proposal to take political action. The secretary reported having replied that the date submitted was suitable. The provincial executive had stated that candidates would require to be approved - by the Central Political Committee. The president said that the platform of the Country Party might not meet with the approval of the branch. It would be advisable to hear the policy expounded before a candidate was suggested. BACON FACTORY. The high charges for the cartage of pigs from the Plains to the railway owing to the fact that the animals were transported by road was mentioned by Mr E. W. Martin, who suggested that cheaper transportation would result if water carriage was adopted.

Several members advocated establishing a bacon-curing factory in the district, but other members expressed the opinion that farmers would not co-operate as was necessary in a venture of this kind. A committee, comprising Messrs. Schultz and McDuff, with power to

add, was appointed to go into the matter o£ the advisability- of building a farmers’ co-operative bacon-curing factory at Ngatea and report to the next meeting. SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC. Mr W. McDutf, chairman of the School Committee, explained the offer of the Health Department to establish a dental clinic at the District High School for the free treatment of pupils attending any of the schools bn the Plains, A nurse would be stationed at the clinic, and a private practitioner would probably use the room one day a week to attend to other than school children, He had offered to supply the necessary chair and instruments in return. It was necessary for the people of the district to provide a room for the purpose. As the branch had little funds it could not make a donation, but commended the matter to the favourable consideration of members and residents.