N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 December 1921, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

KAIPARA SUB-P. DISTRICT

The monthly meeting was held at Helensville on Nov. 23. There was a good attendance of delegates ; Mr J. Trewin in chair.

The balance - sheet showed a debit balance of £30, and cutstanding subscriptions amounted to £436.

The Organiser (Mr L.L. Bailey) presented his report, stating that the total membership of the Kaipara district was 680. An itinerary had been carried out with Mr K. W. Gorringe, pig instructor, giving lectures to the members of the branches. Mr J. G. Cook, Dominion wool instructor, had also visited the various districts not included, in his previous visit, and gave demonstrations in the shearingsheds on the preparation of wool for market. —Several delegates spoke of the high value the instructors were to the farmers, Mr Bayer, of Puhoi, stating that after following out the methods recommended by Mr Cook he had realised lj^d per lb more for his wool.

Branding of Culled Cows.—A letter was read from Dr Reakes stating that he considered the branding of unprofitable dairy cows would be useless unless it was made compulsory.—The committee were in favour ot compulsory branding, but did not think the present time opportune. —It was resolved that a brand should be registered, to be used at the option of the owner for • the present, and a resolution to that effect was forwarded to Dr Reakes (Director-General of Agriculture),

Food Trusts. —The importance of this matter was again brought forward, and after lengthy discussion it was moved by Mr T. O. Jenkins and Mr J. Trewin : "That this executive of the Kaipara subprovincial district NZ. F.U., in view of the desperate position of our primary products, urge that the Government take all necessary action without further delay to withstand the menace of the operation in N.Z. of the food trusts, and that Government seek the assistance of the Council of Agriculture, Farmers' Unions and Pastoralists Associations in devising means whereby the New Zealand trade in primary produce may be saved from ruin, and suggest that one means to attain the above object would be to invite the support of the Australian, Canadian and the South African Governments to establish retail shops throughout the United Kingdom for the sale of primary products, also that a reciprocal preferential tariff would be worthy of consideration in hringing the matter under the notice of the people and Parliament of the United Kingdom."

Extracts were quoted from Hansard given by Mr W. Lysnar, who stated when speaking in reference to the opening of retail shops in England that the time had arrived when Government must do someting, or a big section of the farmers will go bankrupt unless they are pulled out of the rut, and the remedy was ''retail shops," also that every week in the top room of Smithfield market the price of meat to be paid in N.Z., Argentine, and London was fixed by these meat buyers. —It was resolved to send a letter to Mr Lysnar for his efforts and energies in combatting the food trusts, particularly in regard te the refusing of a license to Armour & Co.

A copy of the Farmers' Union official organ The Country was laid on the table, members expressing their appreciation of it and the advent of the farmers' entry into politics.

A resolution of appreciation to Mr W. J. Poison and Capt. Colbeck passed for the national good they had accomplished for the farmers of New Zealand in bringing before the Premier and his colleagues the necessity of drastic retrenchment and a decrease of national expenditure.

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