EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 102, 17 October 1918, Page 1

EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Of the Thames Valley Sub-provincial Union. There were present at Thursday’s meeting Messrs J. B. Thomas (Waihou), G. Stewart (Elstow), C. C. Neal (Omahine), W. McLachian (Morrinsville), F. C. Barnett (Putaruru), J. Whitehouse (Matatoki), G. K. Wilson (Te Aroha),G. Taylor (Springdale), A. K. Alexander (Hikutaia), A. Wright (Mangaiti), W. J. Law (Manawaru), W. H. Allen (Patetere), J. F. Mayne (Patetonga), T. Parkinson (Motumaobo), F. C. Hansen (Waitoa). During the absence of the president Mr J. B. Thomas occupied the chair. ORGANISER’S REPORT. The organiser submitted the following report: Since the last meeting of the Executive I have been occupied with ordinary organising work, and have visited many of the branches’ monthly meetings. We have also succeeded in forming a branch at Wharepoa. In company with Mr Hansen, of Wharepoa, I canvassed every farmer in the locality with the result we had what the settlers call the best meeting ever held in Wharepoa hall. We certainly had a most interested company and all but one in the hall joined the branch. Mr Hansen (brother of our Subprovincial president) was elected secretary.

I attended the monthly meeting, in Auckland, of the Hydroelectric league, and among other initial business the officers and committees were set up. We are to visit the head works of the Hora Hora scheme, also Waipuni some time in November. There was a committee set up to obtain data regarding all the alternative schemes. This information is to be submitted to the executive which will then finally come to a decision as to which scheme to support. lam of opinion it will be Hora Hora, for the reason other parts of the North Island are going in for local schemes in preference to one only to serve the whole of the North Island. Re good roads movement. —We arranged two meetings in this connection, one at Morrinsville and one at Te Aroha. In neither case was the attendance of farmers in proportion to the importance of the subject. Mr Wynyard, president of the Good Roads association, gave an interesting address after which he answered many questions.

Seedy'wood.—l attended a conference in Auckland of wool growers, brokers, and others interested in this question, on the 30th. The result is yet to be seen, but it was generally conceded that the agreement re sale of wool was loosely drawn. No provision was made for seedy wool, the term “ average pre-war price ” being used, which in many cases brings the seedy wool down to 2d per lb as against 5d to 7d pre-war price. The Imperial and also our own representatives gave us a fair and friendly hearing and admitted the question should be opened. Unfortunately the chief sufferers are the new back-block struggling settlers. I think the conference will result in benefit to many of our needy back-block settlers. By appointment I met Mr Tristram, secretary of the Eltham Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire and Accident association, and am duly appointed agent with power to appoint sub-agents throughout our Sub-provincial district. I propose with your approval to confer our operations to financial members of our union only. Land Department.—l beg to report having done much work in this department since your last meeting. I succeeded in selling one farm at Walton upon which we only get half commission. We will not be able to do a great deal in this department this year except get ready for the next selling season. Speaking on the seedy wool the organiser explained the position was the Government took the mean of the highest and all prices and when they obtained this the Government appeared to revalue the wool. In his opinion this was an absurdity. As was pointed out by one speaker if the mean was Is Id that should be

the price; to deduct from that was not securing the true a verage and the small settler was suffering. The chairman referred to the importance of a Hydro-electric scheme to the farmers and the necessity of taking conjoint measures to force “ the powers that be ” to take action. Mr Stewart asked if it was meant that if Horahora was taken over the country would get the full benefit of an electric scheme. Mr Whitehouse thought that the idea was that the city, which had a plant, would continue to supply the city and that the Horahora supply would be for the the country districts. The organiser said nothing was fully determined, but in his opinsuch would be the case. The report was approved. PARLIAMENTARY. Mr E. C. Banks, of Matamata, who is out in the field as a candidate for parliamentary honors for the Rotorua electorate was present and put some of his views before the meeting. He spoke on the necessity of improving the existing system of education. The further the present system went the less he liked it. He referred to the lack of agricultural education. If the Education council had its way it would try to alter it. A remit had been carried by the Education council that every boy between 14 and 17 should receive half-an-hour’s education every day. The result of this would be that there would be district high school at all small centres. The head master and first assistant should possess a science degree. Each school should have attached to it a mi nature farm of some 30 acres. On this practical experiments would be carried out. He contended that the Ruakura farm was only carrying out experiments in breeding that the farmers were doing themselves. He had been largely responsible for the establishment of Farmers classes. He believed in improving education, and he thought that every man desired to see his son better educated than himself. A great many educated men would be required to carry through the hydro - electric schemes. He outlined at considerable length his ideas on the improvement of the education system, which would le id to the benefit of the farmers. “It was not Dick Seddon who made New Zealand but the man who invented the refrigerating machinery ” and it was for that reason that they wanted their young men to b 8 well educated. He advocated the adoption of the Victorian roading system—study it and improve on it were his views. In the Matamata district he had been trying to get metal areas in the eastern part. Electric power would reduce the cost of crushing and haulage. Labor speakers he had heard were casting stones at farmers in connection with the increase of prices. To this he took exception. He took the case of wool. The farmer got 5d a lb more but his wife had to pay 13s a lb more for wool for knitting. Who was making the extra money. Allow 4s a lb for extra labor, the other 9s went to the profiteer. The same applied to leather. The biggest profiteer was the shipping companies, which he characterised as parasites on the farmers. He had always supported co-opera-tion. Ho spoke against the system of taxing co-operative concerns, contending that it would be only a fair thing to individualise the taxation. He had never liked the political railway construction system contending that it did not tend to a speedy and economic result. He did not believe in dear land for settling returned soldiers on. He thought the Government^should buy up areas of good unimproved land. Then put on the returned soldiers in gangs of 10 under an experienced farmer and pay them wages. When the land was broken in the returned soldiers could ballot amongst themselves for it. If they did not wish the land it could be thrown open to other settlers. It was rumored the Hon. McDonald was going to stand for the Rotorua seat. “If he does I am going to give him the fight of his life” Mr Banks concluded.

After several questions were asked and answered Mr Banks was accorded a vote of thanks. STATE OWNED SHIPS. The provincial executive asked support to the following resolution: “That in the opinion of this executive it is imperative that the strongest possible pressure be brought to bear on the Government with a view to some steps being taken to provide ships, either by purchase or having such built to be owned and controlled by the Government in the interests of the people of this Dominion.” The Dargaville executive forwarded the following opinion : “ That this executive favors an Exporters Co-operative Shipping Co. as an alternative to a state owned shipping line.” The chairman said the Provincial executive were of the opinion that whilst a co-operative company might be preferable it would be a great deal quicker if the Government directly after the war commenced to purchase vessels. To organise a co-opera-tive company would take A very long time. That was why the Provincial executive favored the resolution forwarded. Mr Alexander was not altogether in favor of an Exporters’ Coy. Make it Farmers’ and he would support it. Mr Allen explained that the president of the union was going to interview the Prime Minister on his return, and the motion was to strengthen his hands. Mr McLachlan said a Farmers’ Shipping Coy. was a thing for after the war. He moved that the executive’s resolution be supported; and the motion was carried. HAWKS. **■ The Auckland Acclimatisation society asked if the Farmers’ union would offer 6d per head for killing hawks. It was pointed out that the society had been paying this and the destruction of hawks was just as important to the farming as to the sporting community. The chairman: He did not mention the rabbits hawks kill. I believe the hawk is just as much a friend as an enemy to the farmer. Mr Mayne: Does the hawk kill rabbits? If it does it kills lambs ; the hawk is a perfect nuisance. The letter was received. CATTLE TICKS. The Provincial secretary asked whether cattle ticks were prevalent in the district, and the opinion on a motion asking the Government to suspend for six months declaring North Auckland an infected district. Mr McLachlan did not think the farmers had much to complain of, and the conditions were in their own interests. The chairman did not like deferring the matter for six months. By that time there might be tick infected cattle all south. Mr Stewart was opposed to any delay. Mr Parkinson thought it would be a serious thing if tick infected cattle were brought to the district. It was resolved that the executive were of opinion that if Dr Reekes considered it desirable precautions should be taken. SUBSCRIPTIONS. The opinion of the executive was sought by the Dominion executive on the adoption of a universal basis of subscription for the Dominion on a graduated scale, computed according to the unimproved valuation of the land farmed by each member respectively with a minimum of £l, and that part of the subscription be paid to the Farmers’ Union Advocate, and the members receive a copy of the paper. The chairman approved of the sliding scale, if all the farmers would agree to it. He was afraid however the larger farmers, might take objection. It was decided to refer the letter to the branches for further consideration. WAI MARIE CUT. The chairman of the Provincial Executive’s committees writing in reference to the proposed cut to divert the water of the Waihou river at the Waimarie bend, and opposition of the Farmers’ union' to such a course said that the chief engineer stated that no positive decision had been come to in the \ matter, though the engineers are j of opinion that the cut is the best' remedy for combating the silting I evil. There was no present intention of making the cut, and« that minor operations are likely to be undertaken to at any rate partially obviate the damage done by silt damaging farming lands on the banks of the river.

RETURNED SOLDIERS. It was decided to request that the Department in refusing any application from a returned soldier for the Government to acquire a block of land that the reason be given. SIDIRG GRADES. The District Traffic manager, replying to the executive’s letter relative to grade of sidings at stations on the Thames line, stated the public loading sidings at Waihou, Wharepoa and Matatoki are all level. Mr Whitehouse said it was absolutely incorrect. If the manager had to push a truck at Matatoki he would know there was an up-hill grade. The chairman : I tako it what he means is that it is not mountainous country. Members laughed and the next business was proceeded with. SETTLEMENT OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. The Kerepehi branch wrote: That this branch considers the Government has failed to realise the importance of the matter of dealing with the settlement of returned soldiers, and views with concern the lack of sympathy displayed by the Department and suggest that the executive should forward some protest. The chairman did not think it was lack of sympathy on Mr Guthrie’s part; but he thought more expedition might be shown. On the motion of Mr Mayne was resolved that the executive forward a resolution to the Government desiring them to show a more active policy in land settlement generally. SOIL SURVEY. The resolution passed by the Kaipara Sub-provincial district that a request be made to the Government to make a soil-sur-vey of the Dominion was endorsed. STOCK DEALING. The Kaipara executive forwarded the remit: That this executive views with disfavor the private dealings among the staffs of the auctioneering companies, an'd suggest to the management of the auctioneering companies that they should take steps to removo this evil. Mr C. C. Neal considered they should go a step further and no employee of an auctioneering coy. should have any other occupation. Mr McLachlan pointed out that many farmers could not attend the sales, and relied on the employees to buy in for them. Members, whilst agreeing with the principle of the remit, were not unanimous on details. Mr Mayne said some employees were largely dealers and it caused friction. The remit was endorsed. FARMERS’ REQUISITES. Another remit from the Kaipara executive was : That this executive bring before the Government the constantly increasing price and the difficulty of procuring fencing wire and manures of all kinds and other requisites necessary for the farmers which will before long certainly affect the country’s output of foodstuffs. The chairman suggested passing the resolution as a war measure seeing that the prices of farmers’ products were regulated. The suggestion was approved. MEETINGS. A motion moved by Mr Law, that after next meeting no meeting be held for two months, was lost. WAITOA ’PHONE HOURS. Mr Taylor said that the union around Waitoa were endeavoring to secure an eight to eight ’phone service and had, he believed, sufficient subscribers. He moved that the executive support the application for the Brookfield, Springdale and Waitoa branches for an eight to> eight ’phone service.. The motion was carried.