EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 130, 1 May 1919, Page 4

EXECUTIVE MEETING.

Thames Valley Sub-Pro-vincial Union. There were present at Thursday's meeting: The President, Mr. F. C. Hansen (Waitoa), and Messrs. J. B. Thomas (Wailiou), C. Neal (Okauia), F. W. Walters (Springdale), P. Rushton (Tatuanui). W. McLachlan (Morrinsville), F. C. Barnett (Putaruru), W: H. Allen (Pateterc), Land and Law (Mamawaru), Hall (Ngarua), J. Whitehouse (Matatoki), O’Carroll (Turua), C. J. Thomas (Hikutaia), Wilson (Paeroa), G. W. Horn (Elst-ow). FINANCE. An application from the Provincial Secretary for a list of financial members was the cause of a lengthy discussion, taken in committee, of the position of the various branches. It was decided to forward the information. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet, which was submitted, showed the expenditure to be working expenses £505/1/10, capital £305/7/3, whilst the receipts were subscriptions £467/14/3, transferred from trust account £llO, sundries £O. The outstanding accounts were set down at £173. The organiser stated that the Land Department had earned £406 in commission. The balaneeseet was adopted subject to audit, and Mr. E. McGregor was appointed auditor. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The president remarked that the election of officers should have been held that day, but as many branches had not held their annual meetings it was possible that the delegates might be changed, and under the circumstances it might be well to defer the election until next meeting. A motion to this effect was carried. POLITICS. There was considerable discussion on the matter of the union entering politics, and from this a motion was passed that the Provincial Executive be urged to set up a committee to formulate a Farmers’ Union platform for submission at the conference. HIKUTAIA CREEK. Mr. C. Thomas mentioned the two batteries contemplated putting theiT tailings into the Hikutaia Creek, which had never been proclaimed a sluice channel. This would ruin the creek, and he detailed the experience of the Ohinemuri River, Mr. Whitehouse pointed out that the creek was a water supply to many people, and the tailings would spoil it for this purpose. Mr. Horn suggested that the people who objected should sign a petition and send it to the Government. The chairman: Have you protested? Mr. Thomas: No. The chairman: It is no good this meeting passing a resolution supporting your protest unless you have sent it in. It was decided to wire away, endorsing the protest ns soon as intimation was received from the Hikutaia Branch that it had been sent in. PUTARURUMr. Barnett, on behalf of this branch, said it was an absolute disgrace to farmers and the union that they should trade on the organiser’s goodnesi for his services. Farmers were not paupers, and it was disgraceful that they would not pay their organiser for the good work done on their behalf. He hoped every delegate would place those views before his branch.

Mr. McLachlan said all brandies thought the same as Putaruru, but pointed out that the change had been made at Mr. McAlpine's request, so that it would give him a more dignified position. Mr. McAlpine was not going unpaid. Mr. Barnett said he intended resigning the chairmanship of his branch, but would still retain his interest in the union. As this was his last meeting, he thanked all the delegates for the kindness and support they had given him. The chairman expressed his regret at Mr. Barnett’s intimation, and spoke appreciatively of the good work he had done. REMITS. The meeting then proceeded to go through the remits, 73 in number, which will be presented at the forthcoming conference. Prior to the discussion, Mr. McLachlan pointed out that the remits usually went before the branches, who instructed the delegates how to vote at the executive meeting. On this occasion no branches had received the remits. Delegates stated that they had not received copies and had no instructions in the matter. The chairman thought all remits from sub-provincial branches should go through the executive, who could throw out those which they did not consider worthy. The organiser spoke strongly of the action of many branches in regard to remitß, contending that ut present they were frequently a menace to the union. It was their duty to see that the branches did not pass ridiculous and frivolous remits and make the union a laughing-stock and injure its dignity and status.

It was thought desirable to discusß the remits, as it would enable delegates to give their branches the opinion of the executive.

Remits dealing with the reorganisation of the union and the entry of the union into politics were approved.

The suggestion that branches must affiliate with sub-provincial districts was not supported, it being pointed out that it would seriously affect Matamata, which was a powerful branch. “A live branch, but lacking in missionary spirit,” was the comment of one member.

The early construction of the Bay of Plenty railway was supported. A series of lengthy remits on land settlement were generally approved. A suggestion that special boards be set up in each land district to prepare a detailed report on all unused lands and what form of settlement each was most suitable for, was amended by the suggestion that the boards lie constituted of local men. A remit that the 10 per cent, rebate on rents of crown leases be discontinued was regarded as trivial, several members expressing the opinion that it would be a good tiling if local bodies were allowed the power of granting a rebate to ratepayers who paid their rates promptly. A proposal that land which is not being brought into production after a certain term of years might be resumed by the Crown at the original price, plus l 2\ per cent, compound interest, was considered a good idea. “If they held the land for thirteen years and did nothing, they were land blockers,” said one member. Several members thought the term was too long. A series of resolutions on soldier settlements, most of which have been discussed at the executive and branch meetings, were approved. There were several remits of taxation, all of which met with approval, excepting one that suggested that the Land Tax Act be amended so that the farmer will pay land tax on the total unimproved value of all land owned by him after by way of special exemption from that value total amount of all mortgages owing thereon. On this remit the general opinion appeared to be that the present system was quite fair. The introduction of the Victorian system of road management and a desire that the Government should take over all arterial roads were the principal features of several remits on roads.

The removal of all protection from Californian quail and that the Government be asked to take immediate steps to eradicate the cattle tick menace and at the Government’s expense were approved. Remits dealing with afforestation, protests against Government interference of prices, uniform school books to be provided free, Government contribution to the butter-fat fund were all approved. Of a series of remits and miscellaneous subjects, many of which have been on the agenda paper before, two were considered very important. The first was a proposal that a literature committee should be set up consisting of representatives of the labour and the Farmers’ Union, to compile leaflets showing the conditions of trade as shown by the cost of production and prices charged to consumers, and the Provincial Executive arrange for a conference between the labour unions and the Farmers’ Union. The second was the proposal that as a memorial to soldiers who fell in the war, the conference express its approval of the proposal to construct a grand highway from the far north to Invercargill, and that u suitable pillar be erected in each district ns a memorial to fallen soldiers.

When a remit regarding the establishment of a guarantee fund for the purpose of offering rewards for conviction and expenses for prosecution in cases of sheep and cattle stealing was reached, the chairman pointed out that under the present law no criminal charge could be laid against a person taking stock from a paddock unless he offered them for sale. This in his opinion was very hard on the owner of stock, for anybody could take a team of horses from his property and work them and his only remedy was a civil process.

Mr. Whitehouse: Then a man could collar some of your dairy cows and milk them and would’nt be a thief. The chairman said that was so legally. He moved that the executive forward a remit to the conference that the law in regard to the theft of stock be amended so as to place it on the same basis as the theft of property.—Carried. SLAG. The chairman moved a motion that the Government be urged to request the Imperial Government to remove the embargo of the exportation of slag. Speaking to the motion he said farmers should do their best to endeavour to have the embargo partially if not wholly lifted, so as to permit .slag being sent to the Dominion, ft was a most useful manure for this district. Delegates agreed with the views expressed, and the motion was carried.