PUTARURU.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 71, 28 February 1918, Page 4

PUTARURU.

FARMERS'UNION FUNCTION For the purpose of celebrating the formation of a branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union, at Putaruru, asocial function waspromoted by the members,and held in the Putaruru hall on Friday last. The enthusiasm of the officers and members of the branch was fully manifested by the arrangements which had been made, and when proceedings commenced at 8 p.m. there was a particularly large attendance. Until about 10 p.m. dancing was indulged in to the enjoyment of all, but it was at the hour stated that the most important proceedings commenced. The officials of the branch had endeavored to get the most prominent officers of the Union to attend, to explain the objects of the union, and had succeeded in attracting several of them to the function. MrF. Barnett, president of the branch in his opening address thanked the union officials for their attendance, and then explained the short history and progress of the new branch. He said on December 21st., a meeting was held and it was decided to form the Putaruru branch. The interest which has been displayed since then was shown by the large membership — which now totalled 70. Mr J. D. Duxfield, president of Waikato sub-provincial area, said how pleased he was to be present and how much gratified he was at the large attendance. He had never before realised the excellence of the Putaruru district, in fact had a very hazy idea of as to where it was. His subject for the evening was a difficult one to explain to a mixed audience, so he would only touch on generalities. Putaruru had at once leapt into prominence by the formation of what was a very big branch. He traced the history of the Farmers' Union from its infancy. At the commencement, he said, the promotor of the scheme had had a hard row to hoe, but had persevered, with the result that the union was now a factor in the country to be reckoned with. A new scheme, which possibly had caused the birth of the Putaruru branch had been introduced into the Waikato about fifteen months ago —the sub-provincial scheme — and this was now on its trial. He suggested that it was the duty of every farmer to join up, for the union had attained power which it would have to use fairly for the good of the country. Farmers, if they attended an executive meeting in Auckland, would be surprised at the extent of the union's operations, -and the number of national subjects touched upon. Continuing, Mr Duxfield said that as a result of the great war, the land would have to bear a great burden, but the union would have to see that no undue taxation was imposed. The land w r ould be taxed —but the burden must not be grater than the farmers could bear. Men to return from the front would have to be put back into civilian life. This was a matter that had, and still engaged the earnest attention of the union. He was not satisfied, especially after having seen the splendid idle land at Putaruru that day, with the policy of the Government in connection with the settlement of soldiers. He was satisfied that the present scheme would not be successful. Much rather would he see the soldiers placed on blocks of land, with a Government supervisor over them, to instruct or advise them. This scheme, he had advocated at the executive meetings. Mr Duxfield's remarks were greeted with applause. Mr E. Somerville member of the Auckland Executive, gave an address on Farmers Trading Co. matters and incidently congratulated Putaruru on having formed a branch of the Farmers' Union, and on it having attained such strength. Mr W. H. Allen ("president of the Patetere branch) spoke of the good fortune of the Putaruru branch in securing the services of such an excellent president and secretary and asked members to support them heartily. Mr L. H. McAlpine, organiser of the Thames Valley district, commended the wisdom of the executive committee in inviting ladies to the meeting. He was looking to the time, he said, when they would be invited to all branch meetings. In connection with the Putaruru branch, ho urged the members to see that every former in the district was enrolled. When that was attained the resolutions passed would be the wish of the whole district. The reasons why farmers should be members were that the union's formation embodied the wiso thoughts of many thorough farmers. In every paper one noticed that the whole world was organising, with the exception of farmers. The whole world was organising to handle the stuff the farmer produced. Only the other day he noticed that a German trust had been formed, with a capital of twenty

millions of money, to handle the produce of the tanner after the war. A meat trust had been formed with a fighting fund of twenty-five millions to combat with the farmers. Even in their own district they had an apparent reason for organisation —the endowment lands. It was plain that the whole Putaruru district was being held back through the lands being endowments. Organisation would lend itself to a better condition of affairs. It was a duty of every farmer to join up, because of the good work which had been done, and the great work to do. What right, he queried, had any farmer, who was not a member of the union, to any of the butter-fat levy refunded. The union had worked hard in the latter connection, and had been successful. He was now organiser of Thames Valley sub-provincial district, not because he wanted a job, but because he was keen on the success of the trial. When, some months ago, he wrote to the whole of the branches in the district on the Auckland books, he found that nearly half of them were dying —because they had lost interest and were too far from the head office. The subprovincial scheme would mean that the members would be in close touch with their own executive and thus would maintain interest in all matters affecting the farmer in the immediate district, and in the Dominion. Mr McAlpine spoke of many dangers which threatened the farmers of New Zealand, such as shipping combines, merchants combines, etc. He urged that the farmers had two things they must do — support the co-operative principle, and the Farmers' union. In speaking of the lands that he had inspected, Mr McAlpine said it was quite apparent that that portion of it which was Government and Educational endowment was not of the class suitable for the tenure. It would have to be the property of farmers before it could be worked and farmed as it should be. (Hear, hear). The enthusiasm of the settlers for the:cause was further demonstrated by the rapt attention they paid to the speakers. At the conclusion of the addresses all were accorded hearty cheers, with others for the president and secretary of the branch. Particular credit is due to these' latter gentlemen, Messrs F. Barnett and S. McGowan, who worked very hard, and enthusiastically, to make the gathering the success it was. The visitors said they were charmed with their reception. The thanks of the branch are also due to Mrs Anderson (piano) and Mr H. Sayers (violin), for the excellent dance music played, and Mr H. Taylor, who was a most capable aad energetic M.C. During the evening Mr A. G. Yardley (Matamata) sung "Mother Machree," with "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold" as an encore item. SIGHT SEEING. As will be noticed by the above report the speakers showed a knowledge of the immediate Putaruru district, attained through the instrumentality of Mr F. Barnett and Mr E. Stewart. Upon arrival at Putaruru the visitors and our representative were met at the station, and conveyed out to Puketurua in Mr Stewart's motor car, from which much was seen in a short time. Upon leaving Putaruru the party was struck with the large acreage under plough. Hundreds of acres within a few miles of the township are being got ready for Autumn grass. But a direct contrast to this was met with near the Waotu road. At this point one is forced to realise that the district requires the attention of the Government. A thousand acres of native land, practically all in it's natural state is no help to the district, and neither is the thousands of acres of endowment lands. It will be the earnest endeavour of the Putaruru branch to get the tenure of these lauds altered. No finer indication of the quality of the soil can be obtained, than by viewing the Puketurua township from Pearson's hill. Here one looks down on magnificent pastures, which although new, are carrying stock in equal numbers to that of many older established districts. It is our intention to deal further with Putaruru lands on some future occasion.