THE FARMERS' UNION

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 December 1920, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION

INCKEASING THE INTEREST IN WORK OF BRANCHES, At several branch meetings Mr W. Bay ;of Islands Farmers' Union, has spoken at length of rnairing meetings Mvmpotoeo"; ffiTh^'S^ ofthe V£%:i mer's Union, and just to the extent that they are successful will tlie larger body get the hold of its constituency Unfortunately, large numbers of branches are unable to get any •ginger' into their proceedings, and as 8 consequence roen.bers do not bother to attend, with the result that the branches become moribund, or go out of existence. Until some bettor scheme can be devised I pin mv faith to the branch system, which can and £f£l™et^™S SSSTtoSf £eanOcbh3;eand°fbZ^g" ctrn^BtTYhe^oT^ J£ to a few enthusiasts, even they be* come tired of empty meetings, and from enthusiasm oft times go to the other extreme. From lack of organisation the farming community, which should be the strongest sec&ri3H?= branches we must consider some msans of increasing the interest of members in the meetings. * "The routine and drybones husiness 01 the branches must be done, but cannot we bring some other in. teresi into the meetings ; something which will make members think an afternoon or evening well spent in coming in from the farm. I am optimistic enough to believe (although many of my farmiug friends are not) that we can attain this ob^ KJ;.vrsr ftbeWlo<lße " There must be in every district certain members of the fanning commucity", who from experience or Knowledge of conditions, are able to deliver short lectures, or read papers on various phases of farm life. Why cannot we induce these men to come forward at the meeting and placo their knowledge and experience at ™£ZL? i2X* r^papVToti^dlLrL™, which would be got the garnered n,wwiD Se miti?g?e^k°^tevtiie incalculable benefit of young settlers. of whom there are ho many in the North—of such discussions or de bates. .ea^t^tl^^tot"o:; tlieso debates or discussions would acquire a certain degree of readineas ;'tXryz^:^%^t There are scores of subjects suitable for discussion—care and choice ot ■ pifbrdt^Sol^f;;^ different classes of lacd, fertilisers, grasses, grains, root crops, fruitgrowing, poultry, bees, and so on ad infiuitum. ' . a,:t^oTr.it bJ tr«tlhL" could be taken, such as political uction, which would give quite au iu~ ' alwadyfnitiating' tl.e^'lve^nt 1 by having a formal dobato—independent ,of the merits of the question—on the , subject. In the same branch one of ; of the young members, who is by the , way or being something of a I mechanic, is delivering an address or Axz;:^°g™^ has one. In two of the branches two gentlemen of long farming experience are giving addresses on the subject of "Diseases of Dairy Cows, with particular to abortiou and '^{Megoing contains the gist of Mr Pollock's remarks, but amplifica> tions or moditications of what he has said will suggest themselves to every secretary at present anxious for the success of -tho local branch. The a case like this the man^vbo has any expert oi technical knowledge should smother his diffidence, if anything he I m.ay, sa J isgoiug to be of benefit; to his branch or district. — Luminary