THE FARMERS' UNION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 64, 10 January 1908, Page 3

THE FARMERS' UNION.

Otorohanga Branch. The usual monthly meeting of the Otorohanga branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, was held on January 4th in the Town Hall. There were present: Messrs John Ormsby (Chairman), Ranby, Clarke, Wallace, Grieg, Harold Matthews, Nicholson, White, Cato, Vicary, Board, Turner, Roberts and H. W. Quinn (Secretary and Treasurer). Mr Wm. Vicary gave notice of motion to move at next meeting, that a stationmaster be appointed for Otorohanga. Mr Board proposed and W. Clarke seconded, that the Secretary write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands and obtain the necessary information regarding the appointing of a member to fill the vacancy on Land Board.—Carried. Mr Vicary proposed and W. Clarke seconded, that the Secretary write to the Noxious Weeds Inspector, drawing his attention ;to the fact of the prevalence of noxious weeds in the vicinity of Otorohanga township.— Carried. Mr Ranby proposed and Mr Board seconded, that the auctioneering firms doing business at Ohaupo, be written to by the Secretary, asking to start their sales at II a.m. in order to enable King.Country clients tp complete their stock business before the return of the last train. Mr Ranby spoke re the spending of Government grants, and lalso on the Dog Tax question. Mr John Ormsby spoke re the selecting of a member to fill the vacancy on the Auckland Land Board, and pointed out that it was desirable to select a member from the whole of the district, in preference to nominating a local farmer. Mr Roberts asked for information re the Otorohanga Saleyards. —The Chairman explained that the cause of the delay in acquiring the site, was owing to the many interests involved in the ownership of the land having to be purchased from the Natives. General discussion then took place on matters of interest to the farmers, Mr W. Vicary speaking 1 strongly on the Noxious Weeds question, and of the urgent need of having weeds destroyed before the County 'gets overrun with same. This branch of New Zealand Farmers' Union, although in the embryo state, promises to be a very strong one, as there are already about fifty members, and others are continually joining the ranks. The Farmers are now alive to the fact that they must unite to preserve their very existence, as the socialistic wave, which; is now spreading over our fair land, must be checked, otherwise the farmer, the dairyman, and the far-back pioneer will have the fruits of his toil,' energy and enterprise wrested.from him by clamouring people who know nothing of conditions outside their own sphere.',