FARMERS' UNION MEETING

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 40, 25 May 1915, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION MEETING

CONFIDENCE IN MAJOK LUSK

A meeting of the Pukekoho branch of the Farmers' Union, convened tor the purpose of deciding on the remits to be forwarded for consideration at the annual Farmers' Union Conference to be held in Auckland on 27th and 28th inlt, was beld on Saturday evening last, the attendance being limited in number. The president, Mr J. W. ; Johns, controlled the meeting. Mr 13. U. Hamliton read the contents of a reprint ot the report of a conference of representatives nf Waikato branches, held et Hamilton recently, which appeared in a a Waikato journal. The reprint wa9 Hsued to members by the Provincial Executive lor their intoimation. It went to show that at the conference mentioned ia the reprint dissalisfactiun was expressed with the Executive of the Farmers' Union, and it was decided to forward to the Executive the following resolution?, viz.:-!. "That the by-laws of the Unpn be amended to read that the period of office of ihe Provincial Council and the various branches of the Union te limited to two years."—2. "That Mr Ross, vice-president uf the Provincial Council, should offer himself to be nominated for the position of president for the ensuing year. —Mr Hamilton informed members that ss far as he himself was concerned he was quite satisfied with the Executive, m reference to the suggestion that Mr Rosa should offer himself for election for tne presidency, Mr Hamilton explained that Mr Ross had been a candidate tor the office on one occasion, along with Major Lusk, and was defeated The Waikato brarchrs were represented with. delegates at conferences. It was accordingly clear to bim "that the majority of the delegates were satisfied with Major Lusk's services in the past. Ha therefore could not reason otherwise than that the criticism was unjustified and accordingly uncalled for. —Members acquiesced with the speaker.—The following resolution was carried unanimiuly: "That the Pukekohe branch cf the Farmers' Union are thoroughly satisfied with the paat saniceßof Major Lusk as president of the Farmers' Union, and that he bs asked to seek re-election as president." A circular letter wus received from the Marlborough branch of the Farmers Union, inviting the suppctt of the Pukekohe branch to the following resolutions passed at a general meeting of the Marlborough bracch held on the Ist inst:—l. "That in reference to the proposed war tax, that this meeting condemns anything in the nature of class tax and considers that all should contribute according to their means, and that the meeting favours a universal tax on incomes. "—2. "That the the above resolution be a remit to the Dominion conference. "—lt was the general opinion of memberß that an income tax would be the fairest way of levying a tax.—The delegate, Mr Johns, expressed himself iu favour of an income tax being levied.—He was accordingly given power to vote as he thought fit on condition that he would not support a tax on imports and exportß. A reply was received by the Auckland branch of the Farmers' Union from the Auckland Auctioneers' Association stating in reference to a petition requesting the Association to instal weighing machinery at their saleyards, that at a "local' meeting the committee could not see any reason for acceding to the request of the petitioners. It w;h asked, however, that an estimate, for the cost of the proposed machinery and alterations which would bs necessary to the yards be forwarded U the Association, togetner with the amount of contribution the petitioners proposed to make towards the expenditure. It was further asked as to the advantage the petitioners anticipated clearing from these proposals.— Letter received.