EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 105, 7 November 1918, Page 4

EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Of the Thames Valley SubProvincial Union. There were present at Thursday's meeting: Messrs F. C. Hansen, president (Waitoa), J. Whitehouse (Matatoki), W. McLachlan (Morrinsville), T. Parkinson (Motumaoho), W. H. Allen (Patetere), J. B. Thomas (Waibou), G. Stewart (Elstow). Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. W. Roe. ORGANISER'S REPORT. The organiser, in his report, stated that since the last meeting ordinary organising work had been his principal work. Dealing with finance the report stated: "Funds are coming in very slowly indeed. I am sure.it is only want of thought on the part of our members that this is so. They fail to realise that the organisation cannot proceed without funds, and simply because of this they neglect to pay their subscriptions. I would feel obliged to the delegates if they made a point of asking the branch secretaries to make a special effort to collect and remit funds. We have earned over £2OO by land commission, the whole of this, less a small amount used in the Land Agency Department, has gone into the general funds." The organiser supplemented his report by stating that he thought some farmers resented a paid secretary. There were some who realised that a man could not live on " thin air " ; others appeared to hold a different opinion. He asked members to think over the idea whether his position should not be honorary, which he was prepared to make it. He would carry on his duties just as he had done. He believed he could make just as much as he was getting through the land agency and insurance branch. If he earned this there could be no objection to his taking it. He suggested his present salary could be devoted towards sending the Farmers' union official organ to every member. Mr J. B. Thomas said one of the reasons in forming the Subprovincial union was to get over the difficulty of a few good men having to do the work for nothing. That was why they had gone in for a paid organiser. Any farmer taking exception to a man being paid for his services was very small-minded and had evidently done nothing for the public interest. Mr MoLachlan: He is no acquisition to the union. Mr Whitehouse thought that it would be almost dishonorable to ask a man to work and not pay him for it. Mr McLachlan characterised the men who had taken up the attitude referred to by the organiser as a " contemptible few " who were always prepared to take all the benefits of the union and pay nothing. ,

Mr Allen agreed with previous speakers. The chairman pointed out that the organiser's view point was that he would carry more weight in an honorary than in a paid position. Mr Stewart asked if the organ-* iser thought he could make enough money out of land agency etc., to pay his salary. The organiser could not answer that point but said if he did not he would! go short.

Mr Stewart: I do not think you should.

Discussion on the matter was deferred until the next meeting, in the meantime the members placed a motion on record expressing their appreciation of the organiser's generous offer. When the portion of the report dealing with finance was reached, Mr Thomas said it was not because members had not got the money* but because they thought the amount too small to write out a cheque. The organiser pointed out that it interfered with his utility if he had "to collect subscriptions. The less he asked for money the better basihess he would do for the union. He therefore hoped that the secretaries .would try to get in the subscriptions. It was noteworthy that the new branches were sending in their subscriptions far better than the old ones. In moving the adoption of the report Mr Thomas added that the executive request all secretaries to do their best to get in the subscriptions and to promptly forward monies as they came in. The motion was carried. THANKS. Votes of thanks were accorded i ; Messrs S. Walton and H. Wade, j chairman and secretary respectively of the Matatoki branch, (■ who are leaving the district, for J tbe services they had rendered the union. OFFICIAL CARDS. The Matatoki branch suggested that an official card of member-

ship should be issued to every financial member of the union. Mr Whitehouse, in supporting the remit, pointed out that if a man left one district to go to another there was no proof that he had been a financial member, and it was to remedy this that the remit was brought forward. The chairman did not think the card would be of much use unless all districts went in for it. Mr Whitehouse said it was his idea to have the Provincial executive attend to it.

Mr Stewart asked if it was necessary as at present any member could get his transfer by applying for it. Mr Thomas suggested the use of receipts for the dual purpose. Mr Whitehouse moved that the sub-provincial executive issue uniform receipt books to all branches. Mr Stewart seconded the motion which was carried. SCHOOL HOURS. The following remit was forwarded by the Matatoki branch : "That considering the great disabilities under which country children attend school particularly in district, where[they have to depend on train service to convey them to and from school, this branch wish to enter a very strong protest against the curtailment of school hours during February and suggest that the Board of Education leave the question of shorter hours in country schools to the discretion of the school committee, they being more fully conversant with the conditions in their districts." The chairman said this matter had been raised the previous year. Personally he thought Matatoki had good cause of complaint, though it did not apply to Waitoa.

Mr Whitehouse in proposing the remit said that during the winter months many children at Matatoki were often penalised through the bad roads. In summer they had to wait for several hours for the train or walk 3 miles in the broiling sun- The country school was penalised quite sufficiently as it was. Mr W. McLachlan pointed out that if all the schools closed during the hot months they would have the Teachers Institute up against them if they kept a few schools open. Mr Whitehouse replied that the teachers were paid an annual salary so it could not affect them. Mr Thomas considered there was a strong argument in favor of the motion. He seconded the motion which was carried. This is to be sent to the Provincial Executive to be forwarded to the Auckland Education board.

ROTOR CJA BRANCHES. Tokoroa branch approved of the suggestion of a conference of the hranches around Rotorua with the idea of appointing one delegate to attend the Sub-Pro-vincial Executive meeting. The organiser pointed out the inconvenience of the train service for the Rotorua branches. He suggested that the Ngongotaha, Rotorua, Tokoroa and Mamaku branches be allowed to form a sub-union of the sub-pro-vincial union. Other branches near by could join. Then if they had any important business a delegate to represent all the branches oeuld attend the subprovincial union meeting. Members approved of the suggestion considering it was an excellent idea of getting over a difficulty. HYDRO-ELECTRIO SCHEME. The chairman and organiser were authorised to appoint a representative to attend the deputation to Cabinet in regard the hydro-electric proposals. Mr Stewart said he had been asked by Mr Strange to bring forward the matter of a trip to Horohora and Arapuni which was being arranged by the ' Thames Valley Hydro-electric league. It had been suggested that a plan of the district be prepared. Mr Tempest who had addressed the meeting at Te Aroha, was willing to accompany the party. It was suggested that all the delegates to the executive should be of the party. The organiser said it seemed probable that the Auckland Executive would favor the combination of Arapuni and Horahora, but that the latter should be the first step in the bigger scheme. Mr Thomas said they had obtained a great deal of valuable information from Mr Tempest. It was part of their duty to see that whatever scheme was adopted the Valley did not suffer. It appeared to him essential that a plan of the district would have to be prepared, and it might be essential to have to make a canvass to ascertain how many people would take the current. In view of the general trip on November 27th no motion was passed and it is probable the Thames Valley League will join the party on this date. ]