OPARAU FARMERS’ CLUB.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 214, 23 June 1905, Page 2

OPARAU FARMERS’ CLUB.

(to THE SDITOB.)

Sir,—l must claim a portion of your spaoa in order to call attention tn misrepro c itations ou tbs part of your O, a'tu corre-pondenk with regird to myself. In your is<ue of tbf16ch inst. he states that a meeting of settlers was hold at Oparau "to ar« range about j iniog tbe Farmers’ Jnion,” aud furth st t iit “ on neeoont »( tbe non attendance of the secretary (Mr Bell) . . . those who wished to were unable to do so." This is • gross misrepresentation. I wish, therefore, that it may be cleaely understood *bat this was a public meeting, consequently, it is perhaps al moot urneoeaiary to add, my presence as seet tary of the Union would not have ei bed settlers to j >in, ss they can, ■f c >uree, only bj eleeted at a meeting of ths Union. It should also be unnecessary to have to point out that, as secretary of tbe branch of the Fatal rs’ Union here I am not called opts t-» attend pubhe meetings. As a set* tier and member of the Union it would have been well could I have been present, and tny absence in those capacities is explained iu the following letter which I addressed t > Mr T. Anderson, the convener of the meeting •* Dear Sir, —Your letter of tbe 7th iurt. reached me last night, for which I am muca obliged. I am gla4 to see that Mr M*Curdy*e visit has so soon born f < uit. in the shape of increased interest in the Farmers’ Union, the subject now being regarded as of rash urgency as t j call for another meeting at so early a date as Saturday, the 10th but. I am eirry to say that I feel that I would not be jt sUfied in leaving my work again so noon in order to att -nd the rrsrting, hiring recently devoted a good deal of time to Union affairs I gather from your letter that theie is some anxiety among settlers on the question of the election of officer*. Auy anxiety there ruty be I think will be allayed on referring to the rules, where th* election,ef o’fesaritto conferonce, branch®*, etc, seems to l“» on a perfeotly simple and «ati»factory I am surprised to see that you mention the • secretaryship ’ as a subject likely to be discussed at the meeting. It seems to me that it would be a ’ most extraordinary choice »n<? bordering, So say tho least of it. on the impertinent. I hope you will have a good raeeting. and that the result will be a considerable aooession to the rankE of oar branch of the Farmers’ Union.—roars truly, Chas. Bell.” This letter was, I understood, read by the chairmen at the meeting. It would be interesting tu know why your correspondent omits mention of it. Another misrepresentatioa ocean in the words * the’Oparau branch of the Farmers’ Umoa wm practically oxtinok” This is a strange statement to make, seeing that it was the action of the Oparau branch of the Farmers’ Union in securing a visit from the organiser, Mr M'Ciirday (I myself, as secretary of tbo Union, devoting three days to the visit) which caund the meeting reported by your oorrespofident to be held. Hit application of the word “ exHaci ” to this branch of the Farmers’ Union, makes it ndcessaty to point out to your correspjGdeui that life ie not manifested by a state of excitement which results iu a sudden display of frenxied activity, tut by strong persistent work, ei_oh as has been done by the Pirongja West District Bettiers’ Association during thf past two years.—Yours, etc ,* CHAS. BELL. Sweretory Pirongia W«M Disfriot lJettiers’ Association (Bearoh of N.Z. Facmere* Union.)