FARM NOTES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 237, 17 May 1928, Page 6

FARM NOTES.

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

MORRINSVILLE BRANCH. Monthly Meeting.

There was a large attendance at the monthly meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union which was held on Saturday evening. The president, Mr. J. M. Allen, was in the chair. Mr. Kennedy was re-elected to the branch.

The president and Mr. J. B. Thomas were deputed to represent the branch at the annual conference of the Auckland district. In the event of the president being unable to attend Mr. P. S. Philpott was authorised to represent the branch. Messrs. B. J. Pirrit, H. Howie, T. Thompson, P. S. Philpott and Philp, who were responsible for the success of last year’s smoke concert, were appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, to arrange for another smoke concert, to be held towards the end of June. The question of securing a more commodious room for meetings during the winter was discussed at some length and another hall was decided on. Members are to be asked to pay 6d each meeting for supper. The president reported that the committee appointed to consider the

matter of forming a rural intermediate credit association had passed a resolution that in its opinion the scheme could be worked most advantageously through the dairy companies in this district and that to this effect it be referred to the various boards of directors to take action.

It was decided that the dairy companies be invited to express their opinions at the next meeting of the branch.

The secretary said that if there were 20 farmers in the district who desired loans there was nothing to stop them from forming an association. If the names were handed to him he would be prepared to take steps to secure the articles of association and get the thing going. MATAMATA BRANCH. The Annual Meeting. ■There was, comparatively speaking, quite an atmosphere of success about the annual meeting of the Matamata branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, held on Wednesday night, the president, Mr. H. Rollett, being in the chair. The attendance, though not large, was much better than on many previous occasions, and the year’s work, as outlined in the presidential report, which will appear under another heading, was a very

useful record. A few vocal items and supper during the evening made all the difference to the social atmosphere, and addresses by the provincial secretary, Mr. A. E. Robinson, and by Mr. S. H. Judd, chairman of the Pig Marketing Association, gave added interest to the business. The chairman of the Matamata Town Board, Mr. J. Buchanan, and the pre- . sident of the Matamata Chamber of Commerce, Mr. B. C. Taylor, were present by invitation, and had some graceful things to say. The arrangements were upon lines very suitable for the occasion, and no doubt desirable to follow in future years. An apology was received from Mr. P. Finlayson. Election of Officers. Mr. Rollett made a strong bid to be relieved of the office of president, which he had held for many years. ‘He would s'.’ll work for the union, but greatly desired that new hands should take the reins. i

Mr. D. B. Higgins proposed that Mr. T. H. Prowse, who was absent, be asked to take up the position as president. He was sorry to see Mr. Rollett give up the position, but they could hardly expect to work the willing horse to death. Mr. J. Price seconded, and in doing so said the retiring president had done magnificfient work, and that Mr. Prowse had doubtless profited by the experience under Mr. Rollett. Mr. Rollett retained the chair for the evening. Other officers elected were : Vicepresident, Mr. G. H. Seed ; executive committee, Messrs. T. Prowse, H. Rollett, G. H. Seed, P. Finlayson, J. W. Simpson, H. Harding, J. E. West, H. Sutherland, J. Price and W. Were ; auditor, Mr. E. C. Banks ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. J. Tong.

Mr. Rollet proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the secretary, Mr. A. J. Tong.—Carried heartily by acclamation. Provincial Secretary’s Address. The provincial secretary gave a brief address. Mr. Robinson thought the members were sometimes too much inclined to localise their outlook. Unless the authorities knew that the majority of the opinion among farmers was behind the union their representations could carry no weight. Economists declared that primary produce must drop to the level of 1913 prices ; then there would be trouble, and the time to face it was now.

There was not much credit attaching to an administration that could function only when prices were rising. Farmers should be united, otherwise the farmers would go down before the organised industries. In other countries the income tax was increasing largely, but not so in New Zealand. All the duties came back upon rural backs. If the capitalist was increasing his profits without doing more for them then the rural lands had to carry the burden. City values had increased out of all proportion to country values, and the interest thereon had to be paid by the farmers. If the union could pay back £5 in value it would pay handsomely, but it did much more. The rural credits scheme was due to the union’s agitation for an agricultural bank. There were many good things done during the period of the union’s existence, as a perusal of the minute books over the past 25 years would amply prove. In committee Mr. Robinson gave a review of the financial position. The new scheme of organisation involved the attendance of the provincial sec-

retary at quarterly sub-provincial meetings, the organisation of which bodies would be done from Auckland, as the old scheme of local organisation had always proved a failure. Mr. A. A. Bowler questioned the practicability of the provincial organising scheme owing to the difficulty of getting meetings. The better method was for branches to go direct to the provincial executive with their requests. Mr. Robinson replied that ’ the scheme worked excellently in the Bay of Islands. Unity was wanted, and the scheme would give a wider community of interest. He hoped that every farmer in Matamata would be brought in, and when this was the position generally the union would be respected. The best thing that could happen to New Zealand would be for the country to be run by farmers in the interests of New Zealand. At present things were not run in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, was quite right in his remarks about the need of farmers organising. Mr. Rollett agreed with Mr. Robinson’s views. If the farmers were well organised there would be no need for a country political league, for the organised votes would sway any Government.

Mr. Rollett asked whether the paper Farming First was run in the interests of the political party. Mr. Robinson said there had been a few objections, but mostly the support had been enthusiastic. The rule book said that one of the objects of the union was to put into Parliament men who would further rural interests. The columns of the paper were quite open, and anyone could write in favour of any party at all. Either all would have to be tied down or none, and if political advocacy was cut out altogether the paper would be valueless. A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Air. Robinson for his address. Several vocal items were given as follow, Mr. P. Ingham presiding at the piano : song, Mr. E. Fielder ; song, Mr. E. Beagrie.