Pahiatua Branch

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 2

Pahiatua Branch

THE FARMERS’ UNION A meeting of .the Pahiatua branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the secretary’s office yesterday afternoon; there being present Messrs E. S. Heckler, chairman, J. A. Walsh, secretary, J. H. Bremner, J. Algie, H. Eglinton, A. Finlay, T. J. Cotter, W. Fulton, A. T. Sinclair, F. T. Horne, J. T. Baron, J. A. Gibson, C. J. Eising, H. Cotter and J. Campbell. Mr Heckler stated that the objject of the meeting was to call members together to discuss arrangements for a visit of the Dominion organiser (Colonel S. J. E. Closey, M.C.) for the compensated price campaign. Mr Bremner said he had read that one of Mr Closey’s meetings in the Manawatu district had lasted till well after midnight, and for a meeting to last till that hour it must have been very interesting. Colonel Closey, was a lecturer engaged by the Farmers’ Union, and has the facts on compensated prices and it was for them to decide how long they were to have him, a day or a week, said Mr Bremner. Mr Campbell suggested that they have four meetings, one at Pahiatua, Mangatainoka, Ballance and Hamua. It was left to the secretary to make arrangements to hold meetings in the above districts and to make tlio dates in the middle of March. Mr Bremner told the meeting that he was very pleased that the Pahiatua cartage charges for pigs had gone back to the old rates. Mr Sinclair spoke of the noxious weeds that in this district were increasing and urged that the union take steps to combat the increase. Mr Heckler two years ago had spoken to the County Council about tho weed nuisance and they had referred him to the Agricultural Department. It was a hard thing to stop spreading, especially when there were so many travelling sheep on the roads. Mr Bremner suggested the county stock ranger would be a good man to take over the job. It was decided to write to the County Council about this matter. Mr T. Cotter mentioned it would be a good idea to have a labour bureau in the secretary’s office.—lt was left to the secretary to inquire if a licence was necessary for tho purpose.