THAMES VALLEY SUB-PROVINCIAL UNION.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 78, 18 April 1918, Page 4

THAMES VALLEY SUB-PRO-VINCIAL UNION.

Executive Meeting. The monthly meeting of the executive of the Thames Valley Sub-provincial Farmers’ union was held on Thursday. There were present Messrs F. C. Hansen, chairman (Waitoa), J. B. Thomas (Waihou), J. Whitehouse (Matatoki), C. Smith (Walton), F. C. Barnett (Putaruru), W. Allen (Patetere), S. Whyte (Okauia), G. Stewart (Elstow), E. Old (Lower Waitoa), P. R. Hubbard (Komata North), A. Alexander (Hikutaia), W. K. McLean (Netherton), J. E. Martin (Ngongotaha). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs W. J. McDonald and F. W. Walters. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. Arising out of the resolution on the minutes of the previous meeting that members be asked not to pledge'their votes to any candidate for the Parliamentary election, discussion ensued as to the attitude of the union. Doubt existed as to whether the union should nominate a candidate or not. Some members thought that it was only intended to urge members to make no promises, and to select a candidate who was considered most likely to forward and look after the farmers’ interests. Mr McLean believed in the axiom of “ if you want to hurt a man hit him first.” He advocated having their own candidate. ORGANISER’S REPORT. The organiser in the course of his report referred to the election of directors for the Farmers’ Auctioneering company, and the steps he had taken in the matter. He considered Mr Thomas’ defeat was an honorable one. During the month Manawaru had been visited, and he had addressed a meeting there. He had interviewed a number of settlers and received promises of support. Another meeting was to be held this month. He had made a trip to Ngongotaha, where a meeting had been held and a branch formed with between 30 or 40 members. “ This is going to be a very useful and live branch,” remarked the organiser. Shortly he proposed visiting Rotorua, where the prospects of the formation of a branch were considered good. He had attended the annual meeting at Hikutaia, but the bad weather had interfered with the attendance; but he considered there were excellent prospects of a number of new members joining. At Waihi he found considerable opposition to the union. There was a Farmers’ and Settlers’ Association which was hostile to the union through the actions of a representative of the Manure company. He addressed the meeting and pointed out the necessity and benefits of organising, and the meeting had resolved to defer the decision until next month. He had attended a meeting at Mangaiti, but again the wet weather had interfered. A further meeting was to be held, and those who had been present had promised to canvass the district. He had every belief that a branch with a good membership might be formed. A meeting had been arranged at Ngatea. He said it would be impossible at present to make a house to house canvass, but since the campaign had opened about 400 new members had been added. Springdale, a new branch, now had 33 members, all of whom were new members of the union. He asked members to give him plenty of notice should his services be required, as his itinerary was usually arranged 14 days ahead. The chairman suggested that the organiser attend the sales and canvass for members. The organiser said he had done this and met with success. FARMERS’ COMPANIES. The organiser, reporting on the last Auckland executive ffieeting, referred to the suggested amalgamation of the three Farmers’ companies, and gave his opinion that it was .impossible. MINISTER OF LANDS’ VISIT. A suggestion was made by the organiser that the Minister of Lands should be entertained during his visit to the district. Mr McLean said the Minister had asked the Reference Board not to go to any expense in entertaining him, and he suggested that the form of entertainment should be of a modest nature. Mr Hubbard thought the district was too wide and too big to consider entertaining the Minister at any one centre. Each district would have its own wants and requirements. Mr J. B. Thomas considered a deputation from the union should meet the Minister at some centre

and entertain him, and place the requirements of the farmers before him. The itinerary suggested by the Thames Valley Reference Board was read. Mr Alexander criticised the itinerary, contending it did not provide for an inspection of the suggested canal at Hikutaia. The organiser thought the Minister should be accompanied by members of the union right through the district. “ Let the Minister realise that the Farmers’ union was a live body,” he concluded. Mr Stewart asked if the Minister was coming through on similar arrangements as those read. The chairman said he only knew the Minister was coming. Mr Stewart moved that the Minister be entertained by the union when he visited the district. Mr Thomas seconded the motion. Mr Alexander agreed with the motion, and suggested that other local bodies might entertain him if they thought fit. Mr Barnett was in accordance with the motion. “An A 1 idea,” he said. When it was known the Minister was coming through lie suggested that all delegates should be advised of the dates the Minister would be visiting the district. Mr McLean suggested inviting the Minister to be the guest of the union. Mr Alexander again referred to the necessity of the Minister inspecting the proposed canal route at Hikutaia. Mr McLean said provision had been made for this. The motion was carried. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The organiser asked members to impress on all branches the necessity of urging on all members the desirability of attending the annual conference. DRIED MILK. Speaking on the subject of dried milk the organiser remarked he could state authoritatively that dried milk plants can be and are being procured for this district. He urged members not to tie themselves up to any company because there would be co-opera-tive dried milk companies in the district before long. (Hear, hear). APPRECIATION. A vote of appreciation of the efforts of Mr W. McLean, who is ceasing to be the representative of the Netherton branch, was carried with acclamation.

WAITOA STATION ’PHONE. The Springdale branch forwarded the following remit: — (1) That this meeting of the Farmers’ union takes strong objection to the shuffling attitude of the Hon. Herries in refusing to install the telephone at Waitoa station after repeated promises of having same installed. (2) That neighboring unions be asked to back up every effort in having same installed immediately. Mr Thomas said the reason a number of settlers in that district put in ’phones was to ring up the station to find out if goods had arrived. A motion supporting the remit was carried. HERRIESVILLE STATION. Mr Stewart complained of the inconvenience settlers of his district were put to through the department refusing to leave trucks with heavy goods at the Herriesville station. The department only permitted pigs and Glaxo to be loaded at this station. This would be brought forward at the next meeting. REMIT. The Okauia branch forwarded the following remit: —“That it is desirable that the New Zealand Government should urge the Imperial Government to permanently secure the control of Nauru Island on account of the valuable deposits of guano it possesses.” Decided to support the remit. PICTURE CENSORSHIP. The Okauia branch forwarded the following remit: —“ That it is desirable that a committee should be formed, of which half should be ladies to censor picture films and that this important duty should not be left in the hands of one man as at present. That the present system is unsatisfactory is shown by frequent letters in the press and by our Magistrates continually commenting on the evil effects of some pictures on young people.” “The censorship may require some alteration but I think you are looking for trouble if you make a bigger committee,” said the chairman. Considerable discussion ensued, some members considering that it was quite sufficient to ask for stricter censorship. Other members thought the trouble rested in the fact that the curtailment of pictures to which children might be present was not strict enough. Finally it was decided to support the remit.

MEAT TRUST. The proposal put forward by Mr R. IT. Johnston, president cf the Master Butchers’ Association to combat the Meat Trust was read. The suggestion was that all meat works should be commandeered by the Government whereby competition would be eliminated and expenses reduced. Offices would be established in London to deal directly with the retailer. The proposal suggested “ if a sinking fund was established of say 2- on beef, 4d on sheep, lambs, and pork, by tho end of 10 years there would be enough capital in band to pay for all present works.” Mr. Allen said the Tirau branch had approved of the proposal. The chairman took exception to the suggestion of the sinking fund contending that it simply meant that the farmers were pacing for works that would finally belong to the government. Mr Allen: If the Dominion is to participate in the benefit through the reduction in the price of meat why should the farmers pay for the works ? Mr Whitehouse said the consumers had as much right to pay for the works as the producer. Mr McLean thought it would be a better and fairer proposal to take the sinking fund out of the price instead of out of the farmer’s cheque. The chairman said this would not work. In the long run the farmers would pay. It would be a fine idea if all the freezing works were taken over on a co-operative basis and the shares held by those using them, then it would be a truly co-operative concern. Mr McLean asked if even then they would be strong enough to combat the Trust. The chairman said the Government would take control first, the same as had been done with the Bank of New Zealand. A member: And we might not be able to get rid of them. It was decided to await further details of the proposal. RAETIHI RELIEF FUND. The organiser said several branches had written to him asking what they should do with the funds they collected. Mr Alexander said the Hikutaia branch had already forwarded £IOO to the Auckland executive. Several members said in their districts other organisations had taken charge of the collection. Tirau, said Mr Allen, had sent in between £4O and £SO to the Auckland Executive. Other members stated they were holding monies in hand and were awaiting instructions. It was decided to ask each branch to forward the amount collected through the Union. When this was disposed of it was resolved that in future all monies collected from the farming community for charitable or other purposes, be sent through the Union. NOMINATIONS. Mr L. H. McAlpine was nominated as the proposed representative of the Union on the Provincial Executive and as a candidate for the directorate of the Farmers’ Union Trading Company. SUBSCRIPTIONS. The basis of payment of branches to the Sub-Provincial Union was determined at 17s 6d. This left the matter of deciding what the balance should be entirely to the branches to say. When payment should be made was referred to, some members thinking that a time for payment should be fixed, but no motion was carried. CONDEMNED STOCK. Mr Old referring to the disposal of condemned stock dealt with at last meeting said his branch thought the Union should fix the price. The chairman pointed out that the financial position of the farmers was not affected. The motion had been brought forward to prevent the distribution of the meat. “ Or feeding it to pigs,” added a member. OFFICERS. The following officers were elected : —President, Mr Hansen ; Vice-President, Mr J. B. Thomas. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £22 2s 9d were passed for payment.