N. Z. FARMERS' UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 24

N. Z. FARMERS' UNION

OTAGO

The mombois of the Waianiwa branch met on the luth nisi., Mr W. Ford (president) in the chair. t?2\eral matters oi mtcicst to farmers were brought forward, one of ttunn being tho insuring against accident of the men travelling with the threshing nnlli. Hitherto it "as dbubtful who ■.» ould l i e held liable ii. case of an accident, but as two cases had lately been decided by dilfciont magistrates that the mill-owner \uii- ijimiaiily haUe, and as at least two of tiie mill-ovuicis working (his district kept their m<"a covered, the farmeis employ ing tlierr need not be at the expense oi p;mng a second piemium. A r-omit from haadquaiters pro^osirs to «l*ev rule 13. and make members contributions payable on a of rhe capital \&lue of their properties was unanimously disagreed with. The mo^t important subject dealt with was a remit from the Southland executne propc=inn to allihato wuh the Southland branch cf the EmplojPiV Federation. Mr Bea^ en, who is one of rhe executive, briefly explained the object and benefits aetiuinn horn such affiliation, and while all prcrent iccognised and acknowledged the force of Mr Beaven's lemarks, the matter had been sprung upon them, so suddenly, and the knowledge of tht position under such an affiliation was so indefinite, that it was decided to hold the subject cner until the ne\t meeting;, members in the meant line to as much nuoimation a>- posbible on debatable points. Iho quaiterly meeting of the Maniototo branch was held at Mr R. ,W. Glcndinning's homestead. Kokon->a. on ihc Bth inst. Mr O. Inder was \oted to the chair. A report of niocpcdinas of the meeting of the ProiiiiPial Executive held on the 10th of Jai.uarv. 1908. was iced. Among the subjects referred to was a suggestion by the Middle-march branch that meetings should be held twice instead of once a month to facilitate business. The Minister of Lands ii;i<l v.ri'.io'i mtinsr that lip would like a full stiitei i >i of the matter fioin the union, as to iiicomenience caused, etc. Ir was therefoie decided to get expic-SMons of opinion from branches. Another suhI ject on which branches were requested to express an opinion was a proposal by the Wellington Provincial Executive for strik- : ing levies on a graduated seale — \iz., on a .capital value of £1000 or under, ss: with a rise of Is for each additional £500 ; a sufficient amount to be added by each branch to mccl its own working expenses; honorary members' fees to be ss. These were the only two subjf-ctt. in the report^ on which .any discussion took place. With regard to holding Land Board meetings foitmghtly, the Chairman said it was a wise fUffi;cs'tion. Tf a. b»t of important bv.sine-s were sent down a day or two after the meeting, that meant it would be ,a month before it could be eonsxlered. It would be leferred to the ranger then, and it would often be three months before the matter wa» finally disposed of. It now took two days to pet through a meeting, whereas with fortnightly meetings the business would be don€ in one day. There was a biz volume of business to push through, and it did not ?et the consideration it should. The business was rapidly increasing owing j to increasing settlement. Several members having spoken in favour of the proposal, Mr Glendinning mo\ed — "That this meeting is in sympathy with the proposal of the Middlomarch branch — that the Land Board should meet, once a fortnight instead of once a month.''— Seconded by Mr Williamson, and carried. In refeience to the proposal from the Colonial E\.ecuti\e re subscriptions tlip Chairman explained that the Pro\incial Executive needed more funds to carry on its work. The former body got 2s per member, and the latter 3s. which was only about £120 a from the BCO members in Otago. The Secretary (Mr Scott) explained that the proposal aiose through branche' such as their own accumulating funds while the Piovincial Executive was star\ed. This applied to the whole colony. The id«a, was to give the body that did the work and needed the money a better finance. Their own executive had proposed io increase the levy by le, which would give an additional £40 per annum. Mr Mathias thought it would suit them, better to increase the Provinoial Executive's levy by 16 or 2s rather than adopt the proposal of the Colonial Executive. Mr Mathias having asked about the state of the finances of that body, Mr Scott replied that the 2s more than met its expenses. Last year it had a credit^ b?hnce of over £300. Mr

Williamson moved — " That this branch ex-< presses its satisfaction with the present system, and advises that the Provincial Executives increase their lew on branches." — • Seconded by Mr Mathias and carried. In reply to Mr Crutchley, Mr Scott said the branch had about 70 member^. Mr Glcndmnin<r said that a-5 he was ffoing on a trip Home, he would have to resign his .office of vice-president. The Chairman made a few complimentary remarks on the very valuable services Mi Glenclinning had rendered to the union. There was no cccasion to lesign. as they could s-rant him leave of ahsence. He moved— " That (lie branch place on ipeord its appreciation of the Jons: ami -valuable services rendered to it by Mr Glendinnine. and that member? wish him an eniovable trip and a safe return.—Corlied by acclamation. Mr Glendinnint> returned thanks, and expies=ed the pleasure it had snen him to work for the union.

PAIHATUA. February 17.

At a meeting of the executive of the Pahiatua Central Branch of the Farmers' Union it was resolved to urge Ihe Provincial Executive to do its utmost to secure an amendment of any new Labour Bill to the effect that a reasonable percentage of emplojees mv^t be members of a union before the union I*a« the power to cite the employers to appear before the Industrial Court.