N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 74, 20 March 1908, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otorohanga Branch.

The ordinary meeting of this Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Town Hall on Saturday, March Tjth. There were present : Mr John Ormsby (in the chair), Messrs Ranhy, Budden, A. J. Ross, Nicholson, Wylie, Gregg, D. M. Res?, Roberts, Cumpstone, Mandeno, J, Nicholson and H. W. Quin (hon. secretary and treasurer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed ; the outward and inward correspondence was received, and the following new members were elected on the proposition of the Secretary : Thos. Tooman ( Waitomo ), Alex. Wallace (Kio Kio), John Coombe (Palmerston North), Alex. Scholes (Hangatiki), and J. B. j;Cooper (Kio Kio). Mr Ormsby proposed, and Mr Roberts seconded, that the Secretary ascertain the exact volume of business down to and from the Otorohanga station, goodshed and tracking yards, with a view to having a stationmaster or porter appointed to check the goods traffic to and from the said station.—Carried. Mr Ranby moved that the present' system of trapping and poisoning rabbits was inadequate, and that the bonus system be again introeuced in conjunction with trapping and poisoning. Mr Budden seconded "pro forma." Mr Roberts proposed, as an amendment, that the Government revert, to the bonus system only; this was seconded by Mr Nicholson, and the amendment was carried" Mr Gregg proposed that the Secretary write to the Minister for Lands, asking him to throw open for selection two sections in the Waitomo Valley, now reserved by the Crown as a timber reserve.— Carried. Mr Nicholson proposed that the Secretary write to the Premier with reference to the deputation (on behalf of the South Auckland Sawmillers' Association) which waited upon him at Hamilton, on his recent visit there, and Mr Gregg seconded.—Carried. It was felt by the majority of the members present that the prices of timber now asked by the Sawmillers' Association were abnormal, and the figure now demanded for their timbers was at a much higher rate tharf that at which a good profit could be made by sawmillers. The delivery question was also adversely discussed, as it was pointed out that local residents had to pay for carttge, whereas those living a great distance away along" the railway got their timber delivered free. It was 'generally felt by the Union that the Association had all the appearance of being a combine, and that it was a good thing that the Government had a mill of their own in the District, which would receive the support of the settlers, for the surplus timbers not required for the Government uses. The question of the saleyards was again discussed, and the Chairman explained the difficulty about getting the freehold of the proposed site.