FARMERS' UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 54, 24 December 1912, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

Smoke Social at Bombay.

There were about fifty members present at the first annual smok? social held a! the Bombay Hall on Friday evening, the President of the branch (Mr W. H Thomas) in the chair.

A liberal supply of refreshm nts were dispe s.d. Afte» the lcyal toast had been honcured the chairman welcomed all present. Mr Thomas mentiontd lhat having start'.d with 15 members the Bombay bianeh now had 50 numbers, and tt.ey hoped to add arother 50 next year. (Applause). Mr A. French p;opoad "Defeace," to which Captain Colbeck r< plied, giving his views as to New Zealand's best methods of defence. Captain Colbeck urged that New Zealand should pay £500,100 per annum towards the British ravy, and declared that the 2s per head wr.nh was being paid h the Dominion was altogether inadequate. It was a scandal, he taid, lhat while half-a-m'llicn of mnrey was being spent every year on the Territorials, there were still, after two years' work, some 50 per cent, of them who had rever handled a live cartridge. It was essential that the waterway to the Home markets should be kept open, and New Zealand should be prepared to bear their full share of th? Empire's naval burden. A musical interlude was provided by Mr B. H. Andrew, who sang e topical ditty to the delight cf tha audience, and had to lespond to a recall

Mr H. Sawyer proposed "Our Parliament." From the present Parliament, he said, they had nothing much to fear, but he thought it could be improved upon if at election time the farmers sluck together and returned more practical farmers to Parliament. (Applause). -Mr R J. Eames wss railed upon to respord. To the tuast of "Ltcal Bodies" Mr P. Evans responded. Referring 10 Road Boards he said they did excellent work. Forty years igo Bombay read >as covered with stumps, but thanks to the local unpaid representatives a good road was now enjoyed. Insufficient funds hsd prevented work from being done in a comprehensive way, but tte sler.der means available had been mide to go as far as possible. He thought that ihe Courty Council methods of government would not be so economical or so efficient as the Road Boards, and the people should be satisfied with what they had. (Applause). Mr Morcon, Mercer, recited a humorous piece, which provtked much laughter and an encore. Mr P. Wyatt proposed "New Zealand Farmers' Union."—Ceptain Colbeck, in rf ply, congratulated Bombay branch upon having now come fourth or fifth on the list in such a short sp»ce of time. He paid a tribute to the value of the Union meetings ss schools of instruction in public speaking. It was the trtding tide of the Union which was drawing mo«t of the members together, but he held that the political side was the more important. He dealt with various aspects cf Farmers' Union activities which manifestly appealed to his hearers. As against pUntirg forests in New Zealand he suggested that the tiuty should be removed from timber so that cheap supplies could come in fiom other countries, and local forests could be conserved. With regard to motor car, hotel and auctioneer licenses he urged that the moneys from that source ought to be paid into the hospitals and charitable aid fund, so th«t the people of the country would get their fair share instead of, as at present, the moneys all going to Auckland and other cities. Various other matters were dealt with in an interesting fashion. Mr Andrew anecdoted.

MrR. Donovan proposed "Labour," to which Mr A Best responded. The proposer expressed the hope that in the year 1913 they would see master and man working together in harm ny. Mr Thomas proposed " Tne Visitors" in a hearty fashion, and respnc: e was made by Mr Morgan, mutual compliments and congratulations upon the success of the gathering being exchanged. "The Ladies'' were proposed by Mr H. Flay and responded to by Mr Andrew. Songs and recitations were given by Messrs Morgon, W. Evans, J. Fahey, R. Donovan, and E. Fahey, and a speech by Mr Broujihtun. "The Press," proposed by Mr G. Clarke and responded to by Mr K. J. Eames, and "The Chairman," proposed by Mr Andrew and replied toby Mr Thomas, brought a happy evening to a close.