NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 456, 13 April 1912, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

♦ KIO KIO BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. Own Correspondent. The annual meteing of the Kio Kio branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on April Gth, when there were present—Messrs A. J. Ross (in the chair), Budge, Wylie, CumpDanks, Rankin, D. M. Rosq, F. Ogle, Cooper, Andreson and the secretary (W. Hudson.) Th chairman, in reviewing the work of the past year, stated that the membership had increased by seven and this represented the arrival of new settlers. Almost all the Bettlers in the district were members of the branch. He emphasised the necessity for a good attendance at meetings so that free discussion could take place, and enable the union to be of use to the district as a whole. The reason that no business of special interest had arisen and it had been deemed advisable to work entirely by the executive committee, and thus relieve members of the necessity of attending unimportant meetings when farm work was pressing. The interests of the district generally had not suffered in any way from this policy. A delegate had been sent to the last provincial conference and had furnished an interesting and instructive report of the proceedings. Roads had received considerable attention at the hands of the executive, and the County Council had been induced to effect several improvements though much still needed doing. -The council had entrusted the branch with the task of maintaining water tables and culverts in working order at the council's expense, provided that the work in any instance did not exceed £5. The Railway Department had not yet granted a goods shed at Kio Kio, but the siding had been considerably extended and a loading bank promised. In addition the « surface of the yard had been regradnd and metalled. Request had been made tu the department to enable vehicles to cros9 the rails without having to open and close the station gates. It had been stated in reply that the road ended at each gate, and did not traverse the yard. Application would have to be made to the local road authority to provide a road outside the station. This application had been made and the county engineer had inspected the ground, and recommended the acquisition of land at the southern end of the station. Alteration to the shunting points had rendered this impossible, and the council were now trying to get the Government Realising the necessity for better accommodation for holding entertainments and meetings the executive had inaugurated a public hall, fund to start tho erection of a suitable building. Two concerts had been held and with a donation of £1 Is form a settler there was a balance in hand of £l* 15s 3d. Application had been made to the Land Board for a section nest the creamery site, and it was likely this could be procured. The medicine chest established by the branch had been well patronised and had proved a benefit to the settlers. Reference was made to the Trading Association, which the chairman considered should prove a threat benefit to the farming community by enabling them to control the marketing of their produce and to purchase supplies at more advantageous rale than hitherto. The chairman strongly urged upon member the necessity of keeping their subscription paid up. It was a smaller amount than that levied by trades unions, and farmers should remember that syndicalism and its attendant forces of aggression could hs met only by solid and e<fi"ieni; combination. Me recalled the fact that the men at the head of Farmers' Union atVairs receive little or no compensation for their expenditure of time and money, and it was surely not asking too much that members should do tlx ir share towards rendering the I'tlerl* ol these men successiul. by seeing to it lhat tho finances oi the union were not neglected. The finances of the branch are ju a iair!> sat isi actory condition, all liabilities having been met and also leaving a small balance of od in hand. Oi'.ieors for the ensuing year were elected as follow -Chairman, Mr A. .1. Ross, re-elected ; vice-chairman, Mr .1. Budge. re-elected : secretary and treasurer, Air \Y. Hudson; auditor. Mr !•:. A. rorster; executive j committee, Messrs A ,1. J. Budge, Walter Wylie, 1'- l \ulo, Cooper, Hanks. Kills and Hudson; delegate to provincial conterence, Mr A. J.Koss. Tho meeting placed on record its appreciation of the secretary s services, and a vote of thanks to Mr Cooperwas passed for managing the medicine chest during the year. It is proposed to hold a general meeting 'on .May 1! th to discuss business to be submitted to the provincial conference. r U KETA RATA PUBLIC HALL. A large number of settlers attended a concert and dance organised by the Farmers' Union on March is'.Uh, for the purpose of increasing the fund for building a much needed public hall. A lengthy programme was carried

on!, ami DH I v.-ill) llu approval of tlx 1 iniilirr.i'i'. Tin <v iicii.r |.y <• iiwi■ i;; : >h of rri'i i i>! i'!i illii■; ' i)i r i!<i :1111<■ <llrrciii'M ni' M {.«.« 1!..,- Were < j) r' s• t: 111 y enjnyio. Tiir I'onniiii ici' lake theopI ■:)!'' i:n i(y ii heartily 1 hank in n those • illl :-d wi!H11jiIv aspislorl to make; the e v;'n in:; a success. A dance ended !In jini, ;and in spite of the ■ T.aiop. d space afforded by the school I - ""!. . Uioh*! taking part, derived a fair :i,iu:n( of pleasure therefrom. Mrs I i olden lilled the position of accomi must. and also very kindly officiated .ii ilie piano during the dances. Foli"v. injj; is a list of the performers:— Tii:-s Ross, two aonus; M iss J. Cooper, recitation; Mrs l)anks, recitation; M ises Budge, pianoforte duet; Miss Coojier, pianoforte solo; Mrs Rogers and Miss Ross, vocal duet; Mr Owen, song and recitation (encored) ; Mr Burns, two songs and recitation; Mr Budge, two songs; Master N. Cooper, recitation; Mr Merrintgon, recitation; Mr Hudson, two recitations; Mr Budge, Mrs Rogers and Miss Ross, vocal trio. A donation of a guinea from a settler brought the total cash in hand to £l3 15s 3d, and it is hoped that in the near future building operations may be commenced.