FARMERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 142, 16 May 1940, Page 11

FARMERS’ UNION

MANAWATU EXECUTIVE. • ELECTION OFOFFICERS.' The annual meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, Mr H. J. McLeavey presiding over an attendance of 27 delegates. In the course of his report the president stated: “The past year has been a successful and busy ono of quiet, steady progress and conscientious endeavour on the part of all to improve the lot of the farmer and /to ensure that his interests were adequately protected. Perhaps our best individual work was in connection with the evidence 'which had to lie presented to the Shoepfarming Commission. % No effort was spared to adequately represent the difficulties of the sheepfarmer, and I think the Commission appreciated. our report. I know you all regard it as a great pity that the work of the Commission had to be discontinued. In addition, the executive prepared and submitted evidence to the Lime Commission which sat during the year. “The ‘injustices comihittec’ met during the year and were largely instrumental in assisting one man to stay on his farm.” The report also referred to the cooperation by the Sharemilkers’ Union and the attendance of & delegate from the union, and proceeded: “The question is sometimes asked ‘What is the union doing for the farmers?’ During the year a number of examples of the union’s ability to help were demonstrated, two of which are wortli mentioning, and demonstrate the union’s alertness to defend the rights and principles of farmers. The provincial executive was in the forefront in the matter of assisting the Kuku farmers to retain their lands. We also took a prominent part in the recent hides question and assisted the Dominion president in his successful endeavour to allow the farmers freedom to market their own hides and skins, which freedom was threatened by the Government’s suggested control and pool scheme. We congratulate Mr Mulholland on the splendid fight he put up alone on behalf of the farmers against great odds.

“The financial membership is in a strong and healthy position and, although a number of resignations have been received, they comprise members who have given up farming or left the district. A number of our branches, particularly that at Opiki, have made commendable efforts to build up their membership, and the new members they have enrolled have made up for the resignations. However, I think the incoming executive should consider bringing the organiser to the district next year with the object of building up the membership to an even stronger point. The financial accounts reveal that we have improved our position and that the finances are quite healthy. I still think w'e should endeavour to consolidate our position, however, because I feel that we can never be free to do all the things we would like w do until a substantial reserve has been built up. ' “Our representatives on the petrol rationing committees in Palmerston and Levin have regularly attended meetings and have done their best to ensure that adequate supplies of petrol have been made available to farmers. There is still some misunderstanding among farmers on this question and- members -should realise that at any time appeals mav be lodged to the district fuel controllers for additional petrol to ensure the efficient running of their, farms.” . The report also stressed the need for improved accommodation for pigs on farms.

After a discussion on various points the annual report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr McLeavey (re-elected unopposed) ; vice-presidents, Messrs E. 0. Bond and B. F. Lynch; treasurer, Mr W. H. Gimblett; auditor, Mr E. B. Jennings ; executive, Messrs N. Campbell and E. 0. Bond (Awahuri), L. Ballinger (Linton), J. D. Aitchison (Opiki), C. Webb and H. Sorensen (Levin), H. Bowling (Manakau), S. C. Saint (Ohau), B. F. Lynch (Paraparaumu), A. G. Bear and D. B. Rowe (Rongotea), G. G. Mitchell (Shannon), V. J. Cottle (Otakil, J. T. Kent (Waikanae), B. G. Gower (Foxton), J. T. Moore and T. J. Spelman (Poliangina).' D. H. Scott (Aokautere), J, E. Hodgson (Whakarongo), W. H. Gimblett (Rongotea) and L. Wilton (Tokomaru) ; delegates to Dominion conference, the president and Mr Bond; delegates to Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs, Mr A. G. Dear; delegate to AVellington District Rig Council, Mr L. Wilton; delegate to Manawatu District Young Farmers’ Clubs’ committee, Mr D. B. Rowe.

Mr Gimblett was appointed a contact officer to represent the nnion at the Bobby Calf Pools’ Federation. Mr Bond was appointed delegate to the Primary Production Council. The action of the executive in admitting a representative of the Sharemilkers’ Union to its meetings was endorsed. REMITS DEALT WITH.

A remit from the Pohangina branch, “That the union ask the Meat Board for information as to how the schedule price for fat stock was arrived at and request it to furnish details of the present season’s costs from farm to f.o.b. compared with last season’s costs,” was carried. ■ A Tokomaru branch proposal was “That this branch favours a scheme of zoning and pooling of pigs on similar lines to those operating in the bobby calf pools.” Mr Wilton, in moving the remit, said that if some system of pooling and zoning of pigs could be brought about a great deal of the costs could be eliminated and it would give a great saving throughout the whole of the season. The bobby calf pools had shown -what could be done. Tt was decided that the remit be sent to the interprovincial conference. A remit from the Rongotea branch, “That any alterations of the sharemilkers’ agreement be first submitted to a committee consisting only of employers of' sharemilkers before any recommendations arc made,” was carried.

The following remit, from the Ofcaki branch, was carried and will be referred to Dominion headquarters;— “That legislation regarding the refund on petrol used for agricultural purposes should be amended to cover petrol used exclusively for agricultural purposes in a vehicle in respect of which an annual license fee is payable, when" used within farm, boundaries.” A further remit from the same branch, which will be forwarded to . the interprovincial conference, was as follows: “That the union objects to the new heavy traffic regulations imposing 50 per cent, of fees on farmers’ lorries.” The mover of the resolution, Mr Cottle, said that the same objection applied to paying 50 per cent of the previous traffic fees as to paying all the fee. The object of the remit was that’ no fee should be paid. The following remits from the Levin branch were cafried;—“That it be a recommendation to the provincial executive to institute a scheme similar to,

that operating in the Auckland district whereby, at a moderate cost, farmers are assisted in compiling their taxation returns.” “That this meeting supports the Stratford branch of the union in its protest against the introduction of fresh-water snails into the Dominion.”

“That the provincial executive he requested, to set up a committee to inquire into the method of levying hospital rates, with a view to making contributions by rural dwellers more equitable to those of urban dwellers.” Messrs Webb, Bond, Dear, Hodgson and the secretary (Mr L. T. Pliminer) were appointed a committee to investigate tile matter.

A remit from the AVaikanac branch, that the Government be requested, s in view of the high amount of hospital taxation, to institute State lotteries on the lines of those in New South Wales, was carried.

Sir Ivoohler spoke of the advisability of having a federation of the primary producing industries, so that they could work in line in matters of mutual benefit. He said that the ultimate ideal was a co-operative movement on a non-trading basis. A motion was carried, to be brought before the interprovincial conference, supporting this viewpoint. The president said that a good deal of work was already .being done ill the matter.'