FARMER'S UNION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 397, 20 September 1911, Page 5

FARMER'S UNION.

KIO KIO BRANCH

A meeting of the Kio Kio branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on 9th inst., when Mr Budge (vice-chairman) presided over a good attendance.

The membership now totals thirtytwo.

Correspondence was received on various matters affecting farmers' interests.

The meeting expressed very decided opinions condemning the practice of the Railway Department in charging extra freight on certain imported goods as compared with similar goods produced in the Dominion.—lt was unanimously decided to support the executive in an attempt to get this handicap to farmers removed and so enable them to get any branch of goods at a uniform rata. It was pointed out that the articles enumerated, viz , food stuff 3, corrugated iron and timber were already placed under a protective tariff and therefore further penalty was superfluous from the point of view of safeguarding local industry. It is likely that members may take steps to avail themselves of the offer of the Department of Agriculture to carry out co-operative field experiments bearing on seeds and manures. Experience gained in this way would be of great benefit to this and surrounding districts. The opinion was expressed and endorsed by the meeting, that greater co-operation among farmers was necessary especially in regarj to the purchase of supplies. The danger of combines operating against the farmer is a very grave one, and can be averted only by farmers acting more in unison and not relying so mcuh on their individual resources. The avowed policy of Socialists, "the nationalisation of land and its products," would, if carried into effect, spell ruin to the farming community and farmers should spare no pains to combine so as to present a solid front on all questions in which they are concerned.

Copies of the Farmers' Union Advocate were received for distribution. The meeting was of the opinion that the proposed "Farmers' Union Day" for holding sports and picnics could be suitably fixed about the middle of February.

A road grading drag has been furnished by the county enginere for experimental use on the district roads. Indignation was expressed at the action of the Railway Department in making obligatory the use of tarpaulins to cover goods stacked in yards where there are no sheds, charging the consignee with hire of sheets so used, and it was decided to take action in the matter, Members stated that good 3 which needed no protection from the weather had been so covered, without the consignee being in any way notified until charged with the hire at the rate of one shilling per day. It was thought that sheets should be available for use only at the consignee's discretion,