N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 151, 25 September 1919, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Thames Valley Sub-Pro-I vincial Executive Meeting "• A meeting of the executive of the < Thames Valley Sub-Provincial District • of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, . was held in Morrinsville on Thurs- ' day afternoon. • Mr. J. B. Thomas (Waihou) presided, and others present included P Messrs. W. A.' Wallis (Tatuanui), P. ■ 8. Philpott (Morrinsville), D. John--Bon (Springdale). G. W. Horn (Elstow), F. C. Barnett (Putaruru), J. Lawson and L. Mapp (Walton), E. M G. Land (Manawaru), A. Wright (Te 11 Poi), B. Williams (Waitoa), H. J. Mc--1 Intosh (Motumaoho), E. C. Old J: (Brookfield), W. H. Allen (Tirau), jL' Munro (Netherton), J. I. Whitehouse (Matatoke), and L. H. McAlpine, hou. organiser and secretary. M . The minutes of the previous meet- '■'. -ing, which had been circulated, were trr ~ taken as read. REPORT Mr. McAlpine submitted a verbal report, stating that since the last meeting he had continued the usual organising work, and had visited gj£ many branches (about 15 in number), and at all the meetings resolutions-«e~rr-wcre unanimously passed in favour of 9 the Unions taking active part in con- .;• nection with the forthcoming political M campaign. The meetings passed refc:. i solutions asking the Executive to H choose* candidates representing the | farmers'"interests, and they pledged g themselves to support the candidature of the Executive's choice. Mr. McAlpine mentioned that Mr. E. C. Banks had announced his candidature for the Rotorua seat,, and Pastor J. Clark had decided to stand for the Ohinemuri seat. He had not been •'■ :. able to get into. touch with anyone likely to stand against Mr. Rhodes for Thames. Mr. Rhodes was hardly a suitable man to represent the farmers in the House. One man had been • spoken of, an exceptionally fine platj form man. The speaker was not sure, but he had an idea that this man was . inclined to hold too closely to the Labour platform. The Cols. Allen had been approached and asked to stand "*—for the Tauranga seat, but both had declined. Mr. B. C. Robbins, of Tauranga, had intimated his intention to contest Tauranga seat, but the speaker could not say much about his position. Mr. McAlpine/ mentioned that he had visited Patetonga. He expected to receive a letter from the branch there which would probably consideration at next meeting. Reference was mad© to the cost of travelling, the upkeep of the car being exceptionally heavy during the winter months. He hoped that during the summer months the cost of getting about ''among the branches •would be lighter. As far as the land was concerned, he had effected one sale, the proceeds of which would enable the agency to " keep the pot boiling." Mr. McAlpine appealed to the members of the Executive for as- ' sistance in connection with the agency, and stated that he had only received assistance from only ' two members of the Executive. He asked members to advise him of properties for sale, of probable purchasers, and give whatever other assistance they could. The organiser mentioned that arrangements were being made for him to address a series of meetinga from Opotiki to Katfkati. The itinerary providing for 20 to 24 addresses—-mid-day and evening meetings—were being arranged so as to save time. There was every evidence of keen interest being taken in the affairs of the Union, for these meetings had been asked for by the various branches along the route referred to. Mr. McAlpine went on to deal with the correspondence that had been despatched .by him since the last meeting . and the replies that had been received. RIVER SILTING Mr. McAlpine said that he had written to Sir William Fraser, the Hon. W- H. Henries, and Mr. H. Poland, with regard to the silting up of the Hikutaia River, and'the pollution of the water of the river with the tailings . and debris of the goldmining company operating at the head of the waters. Mr. Hemes replied stating that he would be glad to confer with the Minister for Mines on the matter. Mr. Poland said he had referred his letter to the Minister for Mines, while Sir William Fraser said that he was ob- . tftining a report on the matter, and would communicate with the Executive later. Mr. M. Ray asked that similar action should be taken with regard to the Waihou River, Mr. G. W. Horn said that this matter was a more difficult one than at first appeared. If the rivers referred to had been declared sludge river, then the mines had the right to throw their tailings into them, and unless the law had been altered of i recent years even the Minister for Mines could not help the position. Mr. Horn said he believed the Hikutaia had been declared a sludge channel. . Mr. 3-. B. Thomas: We were hoping to get, our application in before such a declaration was made. Mr. McAlpine: Much of the dairying country at Hikutaia depends on that stream. Mr. Horn: This matter is not new. Mines were established and built, having in view the use of certain streams^I

in which to dump their tailings'. The use of the streams was a most important matter to the mines.

Mr. W. H. Allen: The action of the mining companies is costing the country thousands of pounds.

Mr. Horn: We have boon complaining for years about the matter. Mr. McAlpine, in explaining the hardship which was imposed upon farmers, mentioned tliat nt Hikutain the Government was taking 32 acres from one man, offering to him .C2O per acre for it. Land in the district was selling at £6O per acre. This was done through some technical clause in the Act, which did not offer the man an opportunity of protesting. Reference was made by the speaker to the "Waimarie cut," and said that as the result of objections made by the farmers and Farmers' Union of the district, alterations were made in the plans of the Department. Discussion took place ns to the reason for the " Waimarie. cut," Messrs. Horn, J. I. Whitehouse and McAlpine taking part. It was agreed that nothing further could be done with regard to the' complaints from Hikutaia and Waihou until the Minister has submitted his promised report on the matter. RETURNED SOLDIERS Mr. W. F. Stark, secretary of the Motuiuaoho branch of the Farmers' Union, wrote suggesting on behalf of his Union that a representative of each soldiers' settlement of the district be invited to send a delegate to attend the meetings of the Executive. Mr. Whitehouse moved, Mr. Horn seconded, "That wherever there is a soldiers' settlement in the district, an invitation be sent asking each settlement to send one delegate to the meetings of the Thames Valley Sub-Pro-vincial Executive of the Farmers' Union." The motion was carried unanimously. The -Rotorua branch of the Farmers' Union wrote asking the Executive to support a remit requesting the Government to extend the period of the availability of the returned soldiers' railway privilege tickets from 90 days to 365 days. Mr. McAlpine said that this was a matter which required careful handling. Members present agreed, stating that soldiers that they knew were having no trouble about their passes, knowing that as soon as the railway restrictions were relaxed they would get their passes on application. It was felt certain that the soldiers would not lose their chance of.getting the trip by the delay. Mr. Allen moved, Mr. Munro seconded, "That the matter be left in Mr.. McAlpine'a hands to deal with." —Carried. POLITICS Mr. McAlpine then read the rough draft of the political platform forwarded to all branches by the Auckland Provincial Executive. When he had eoncluded members voiced their approval of the main points of the platform. The chairman expressed the opinion that it was a good progressive policy. A letter was read from Motumaoho endorsing the policy in the main. Motumaoho asked what was meant by proportional representation and preferential voting, as were referred to in the policy. They expressed the viewMhat great care should be taken in seeing that only suitable immigrants should be sent out to New Zealand. They considered the Upper House should be 'abolished. Rates charged on carriage of imported goods, were,, in the opinion of the Motumaoho branch, excessive. Mr. Allen explained that the circulars sent out by the Auckland Executive were sent out in mistake. The policy finally decided upon may be different from the one just road. The platform would be more complete, and the rough draft as read should be subject to revision. He said the Executive had had conferences with the representatives of the Labour Bodies. These representatives were not at all unanimous with regard to abolition of the Upper House. Many of them considered that there should be a body of legislative experts to see that hasty legislation was not made law until it had been properly revised. Mr. Allen said he did not think the Upper House should Inabolished. Mr. Mcintosh said he was in favour of the elective system. Mr. Allen: The elective system is the law at the present time, but during tin' period of the Coalition Government this law was not made operative. Mr. Horn declared himself opposed to the principle of four months' training for territorials, and considered that the old system was the best. That, also, was the view of a number of returned soldiers with whom he had spoken on the matter. Mr. Allen: Ido not think the moral aspect of such a system to be too good. I think the old system is by far the better. Discussion regarding the platform was freely indulged in. Mr. Philpott said the Morrinsville branch had opproved of it, though the members had had no time to discuss it. Several mentioned that. their branches had not received the platform. Mr. E. V. Land said lit! had received the circular, but he did not got a meeting.

Mr. F. C. Barnett said the Putaruru branch had unanimously adopted the platform. Mr. Wright placed on record the adoption by the To Poi branch of the platform. The old system of military training was regarded as the best. To Poi regarded the Upper House, as at present constituted, "a receiving home for political defuncts." Mr. L. Mapp said the question of proportional representation had evidcntlv boon overlooked. The proposal to divide the classes such as proportional representation aimed at would cause a revolution in the country—he did not moan a detrimental revolution necessarily. It was a matter that required considerable study. Mr. Mapp warned the Union against attempting to exercise compulsion in regard to showing the farmers how they should vote. Such an attempt had sounded the death-knell of unionism among fanners in Taranaki, and such would be the effect in the Waikato unless care were taken. Proportional voting was explained and discussed. Mr. McAlpine explained that the platform was somewhat open in its terms. It necessarily followed that in the issue of such a platform, general terms alone, should bo used. Where there was such a multiplicity of views as existed among farmers the use of fine definitions and concrete terms would have meant no end of difficulty. He suggested that the Executive adopt, the platform in the main, and send it back for further revision if necessary. Mr. McAlpine contended that the interests of the Reform Tarty and the interests of the farmers were in the main alike. He appealed strongly for cohesion and co-operation in connection with the forthcoming election, and warned his hearers that if they did not win this election, it would be a calamity to the whole Dominion. The speaker said the Auckland Executive wished to have the opinions of the various branches in hand before October 13th. Mr. Lawson suggested that special' meetings of all branches be called, at which the platform should be discussed, and the result forwarded to Auckland. Mr. Munro moved, Mr. Whitehouse seconded, " That we agree in the main with the rough draft, of the political platform of the Farmers' Union, and that we refer the proposals back to the Auckland Executive for further alteration and revision."—Carried Pursuant to notice, Mr. Harnett moved, " That those delegate's who are in a position to do so be given opportunity of discussing the politics of those Parliamentary candidates who had announced themselves as supporters of farmers' interests. Mr. Wright seconded. The meeting went into committee to discuss the claims of the various known candidates for Parliamentary honours. It was announced that Mr. E. C. Banks had come, out for the electorate, and that Pastor J. Clark had decided to stand for the Ohinemuri electorate. Nothing definite was known with regard to the Thames and Tauranga electorates. It was subsequently made known that Mr. E. C. Banks be the farmers' nominee of the Farmers' Union for the Rotorua seat. It was resolved that the selection of candidates for Ohinemuri, Thames, and Tauranga, bo left to the committee, and they move promptly and without delay.