NEW ZEALAND FARMER'S UNION.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 24, 1 November 1901, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FARMER'S UNION.

A meeting of farmers in the Motueka District was held in the State School room on Wednesday evening for the purpose of forming a permanent Committee. The meeting, convened by Mr Stuart Wratt, acting chairman of the provisional committee, was fairly well attended. Mr Wratt being voted to the chair. The various members of the committee handed in their reports which •were co isiderecl most satisfactory. The chairman said he had procured 46 names in his district; there were 46 for R'waka, 21 for Moutere, and 27 for Ngatimoti. Mr Robert Pattie w r as deserving of unstinted praise for having so assiduously canvassed his district, Riwaka; so far as Motueka was concerned he would admit it had not been so well canvassed. Referring to the business of the present meeting, he said they had to elect a committee which should be representative of the district as a whole. Regarding the present movement for Union, he said that though farmers generally were slow to take action, "the present movement had come to stay* He suggested

the following names as a committee : Messrs R. Hursthouse, R. Pattie, R. J. Trewavas, S. Wratt, E. James, C Fry, D. Drummond, HI. Everett, F. Holder, A. Strachan, F. Herrick, W. Royce and H. Drummond. Mr Pattie, referring to. his canvass of Riwaka, said he was pleased at the reception he had met 'with in his district, not a single direct refusal having been given. Mr Drummond moved, and Mr Pat-, tie seconded, that the persons mentioned by the chairman be a committee to carry on the business of the local branch of the Union. Carried, Mr W. D. Harkness, who was present, said that Mi' Glass, the organising secretary of the Union, proposed to visit Nelson as soon as his present engagements permitted ; if he had time he would also come to Motueka. As soon as a sufficient number of branches were formed a Provincial Council would be held ; he did not think a meeting would be convened till" tne organisation was stronger. The minlnum number of members necessary to establish a branch was 50 ; if the branch had a membership of 100 or over the delegate would have two votes. The Union was registered under the Unclassified Societies Act. The subscription in Nelson was three shillings a member, which was a lower fee than paid elsewhere. Mr Harkness answered a number of questions as to the financial and other details. Mr Everett remarked that there was a good deal of vagueness about the constitution of the Union. He considered the farmers knew what they wanted without having to w 7 ait for Mr Glass to instruct them. If the farmers met to consider abstract, questions they would soon get tired. Were they to combine politically ? If party politics were introduced, there would be dissensions. -**'-r Ha?*,kT>e«= said £he ixieE>ib*n-s over his way preferred to await the arrival of Mr Gla.-gs? before a Council meeting was held. Replying to other questions he said that when delegates were sent to the Conference they would be supplied with written instructions : there was nothing to prevent Riwaka. or any other district, provided they had the specified number (50) forming separate branches. Mr Wratt was elected Chairman of the local branch, Mr Everett Secretary, R Pattie Treasurer, and R J. Trewavas Auditor. On the motion of Mr Trewavas, seconded by Mr Drummond, Mr Wratt was unanimously elected delegate to the conference. Mr Wratt heartily thanked them for the compliment, and said he would do his best for the district.

The meeting was then adjourned for a fortnight.