N. Z. Farmers' Union

Levin Daily Chronicle, 1 May 1917, Page 3

N. Z. Farmers' Union

ANNUAL MEETING LEVIN BRANCH.'

Hie annual general meeting of the Levin Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union , was held in Levin, last Saturday l , Mr W. GEL Becher, president, in tlie chair. There also were present Messrs ; E. M. Herrick, R. V. Crown, 6. A. Broadbelt, C. Olsen, R. ißobinfion j A. J. Gimblett, J. Davies and H. J. 'Richards, (hon. secretary). An apology for absence was.received from Mr. J. Kebbell. The balance-sheet and report were adopted', on the motion of 'Messrs Herrick and Davies. Mr S. A. Broadbelt was elected president 'for the ensuing year, on the proposition of Mr Herrick, seconded by Mr Olsen. Messrs J. Kebbell and E. M. Herrick were elected vice-presidents. The following committee was appointed :—The president and l vice presidents (ex officio), Messrs R. V. Brown, C. Olsen,, R-. ißobinson, A. J. 'Gimblett, J. Davies, W. Stewart, P. Stewart, J. Prouse, ¥. Gome, E. 'McDonald, E. Allen. Delegates to conference at Marten: Messrs S. A. Broadbtlt and H. J. Richards. Mr iH. J. 'Richards was ,re-?lectcd secretary, and he was voted an honorarium of ten guineas, for past service", oil the proposition of Mr S. A. {Broadbelt, seconded by IMr Becher. Mr Broadbelt proposed and Mr 'Da - ies seconded that a very hearty vr.te of thanks be given to the retiring president, iMr W. 11. Becher, which was carried by acclamation. . The secretary suggested that a sum be granted to the County Patriotic Fund. 'Mr Herrick proposed' that the sum he £15 15s ; . This was seconded by Mr Broadbelt and carried by acclamation. It was proposed by Mr R. A. Brown, and seconded by Mr Becher that all* members on active service be deemed' as financial on ilie books during the term of their absence.—Carried.

THE ANNUAL. REPORT. The annua] report was as follows: — "The strenuous year under war condition lias raised innumerable issues of vast importance to the farming community, many of which have come, under revliew of the executive of the union and been successfully dealt with. The commandeering of war products: wool, meat, dairy produce, skins, hides, etc., by. the Government at various stages were closely watched, and in the case df wcol the executive were instrumental in assisting to obtain the additional 10 per cent on the late season's clip, which amounting as it does to an extra £10 on every £100 value of the New Zealand clip, is a very large sum gained to the sheep farmer. The union has raised its voice against the method of raising the Jd per lb butterfiat tax, and most of you will have noticed in the papers this week than this tax expires on the Ist June next. The question of stock auction charges was introduced during the year, and after the farmers- meeting in Levin was pro--9 • mised 1 per cent reduction, which was considered most inadequate by the union; the question was gone into by the executive calling meetings o'f all the branches, which meeting ultimately decided on asking the .Farmers' Distributing Company to take up the work, and the district of Rangitikei is now being organized for the business; it being deemed impossible at the present juncture to undertake any greater area. The union is to be congratulated on the fact that our provincial president has been appointed' to a seat on the Efficiency Board ; Mr Moss being a dairy farmer with three sons at the front can speak and act from personal experience as to the effect of the depletion of labor in our primary industries. The shipping menace is receiving the earnest thought of the executive, the Marborough president, Mr Vavasour, having 'brought this great question of sMpping before the union, and some of you will have noticed that a very representative meeting was held in Wellington only last week to discuss the question. Your committee regret the IO9S through dieath of no

less than five of its members: Messrs J. D'avies, A. Drake, R. I/. and J. H. Bacchus and W. Kirkley, the latter three halving been killed at the front, while Messrs J. O. Neill, <H. Denton, J. Cumberland, C. C. Higginson, T. 'Kingdon, V. E. Hitchings, M. E. Gorringe, A. Thorne, G. W. Lethbridge, H. Mcholas and P. E. A. Curtis are at front or in camp, and we would suggest that all members serving with the 'Expeditionary Fbrces, he kept as financial members during their absence. The roll number remained) the same (new members counterbalancing the losses) and stand at 117, hut your committee regret to say 52 of these had not paid on the 31st March, which is eausc for surprise seeing the many gains the union lias accomplished in the past and what there is yet to be accomplished. The balance-sheet shows a credit of £74 19s 9d as against £80 17s 2d last year, this being caused by the fact of the Provincial Conference having been held 1 in I/evin during the year."