FARMERS’ UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4864, 12 August 1925, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

THE NGATEA BRANCH. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains Farmers’ Union was held ate Ngatea one Monday evening, Mr A. Cleaver presiding over a small attendance. NGATEA ROADSIDE DRAINS. The fact of the slipping of the roadside into the drains, thus causing a esrious menace to traffic owing to the narrowness of the roadway, was discussed, and it was decided to approach the County Council and ask it to move in the matter of diverting the water and filling one of the drains. The road could then be formed up farther to one side and the other drain fenced. It was quite possible to divert the water, and there was no doubt that the time would come when this would have to be done, and the longer it was postponed the more costly would the work be. It was also decided to ask the Chamber of Commerce for its cooperation. RECREATION GROUND. A letter was received from Mr T; W. Rhodes, M.P., advising that the Minister for Lands was prepared to assist In the purchase of a recreation ground at Ngatea to, the extent of £250 provided a suitable area could be secured at a reasonable price. If definite proposals were submitted he would then consider the matter. Probably the business could be best conducted through the County Council. A member reported that the surveyed route of the railway line would pass through the section previously offered. The •secretary reported that the Dairy Company had written offering the site near the factory at £lOO an acre. A member reported that another settler had offered, a section. It was decided that the chairman and secretary inteview the settler and report to a later meeting. Mr Schultz suggested asking the County Council to take the matter up and strike a special rate over a rating area equal to the existing school area. The matter was discussed at length, but ho’further decision was arrived at. DRAINAGE OF LAND. It was suggested by Mr A Cleaver that tiie Government be approached through Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., and urged to appoint a Commission to inquire into the economic features of land drainage operations in. New Zealand. He pointed but that the swamp lands of the Dominion were an enormous source of national wealth, and the question of .their proper .development was as important' as the proper working of the railways, into , which question a commission of inquiry had recently been appointed. The suggestion nvas approved, and the secretary w.as instructed to act accordingly.