Honikiwi.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 298, 28 September 1910, Page 5

Honikiwi.

There was a meeting of settlers in the school room on Saturday afternoon to consider the advisability of forming a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr Williamson was in the chair. Before proceeding with the question of forming the branch, the meeting dealt with matters in connection with raising the metalling loan. It was agreed that all that had been done in the matter by Messrs Williamson and Budden be approved; that Mr Williamson be empowered to act on behalf of the settlers, to call another meeting if necessary; and that he be paid a guinea for his expenses in connection with the visit to Te Kuiti. The meeting then dealt with primary business. The chairman remarked that the first thing to consider was whether they should form themselves into an independent settlers' association or into a branch of the Farmers' Union. He was very sorry that Mr Hargreaves, who was the prime promoter in the movement, was unavoidably absent, because he was in favour of the formation of an independent association. However, as Mr Hargreaves had expressed his willingness to go with the majority, there was no obstacle to the formation of a branch of the union, if the majority wished it. Mr McLean then asked Mr Budden to favour the meeting with his experiences of the Farmers' Union, which he did, stating that he had been a member of the union from the very beginning of the movement, having joined at Pahiatua and having been one of the promoters of the Otorohanga branch, which had grown to be one of the largest in the Dominion in numerical strength. He considered that the farmers had derived great benefits from the union. The distance of Otorohanga made it a matter of great inconvenience for all th«2 members out there to attend the branch; therefore, since there were sufficient settlers there, if the majority joined, to form a useful branch. It was his opinion they ought to do so. Mr McLean then proposed, seconded by Mr Budden, "That we form a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, to be known as the Honikiwi branch," which was carried unanimously. The following officers were then elected: —Chairman, Mr Findlay McLean; vice-chairman, Mr Williamson; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr O. Dassler; exceutive committee, Messrs Budden, Cato and Grant. It was resolved that the subscription be 10s for the'first half year, till March 31st, and 10s per annum thereatfer, and that the first meeting take place on that day fortnight (Ist October), at 2 p.m. and thereafter on the last Saturday afternoon in each month at the same hour. The chairman brought another matter forward viz: the necessity for the appointment of one or more J.P's. He would propose Mr Cato as a most suitable man. Mr Cato declined the honour as he considered there were older and more suitable men. Mr McLean proposed Mr Williamson which was agreed to; Mr Dassler proposed and Mr Cato seconded Mr Budden's as the other name to be submitted which was agreed to. It was agreed that the secretary of the branch get the signatures of those settlers desirous of the appointment of the said gentlemen as J.P's to a petition to be sent in to the Minister of Justice.