N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 340, 21 December 1917, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Sub* Provincial Organisation A conference of branches of the N Z Farmers' Union was held in Pukekohe on Friday last to consider the matter of forming a sab-provincial area for this district. Representatives were present as follows : Provincial Executive : Major Lusk, Messrs R. D. Duxfield, McAlpine, Olsen and T. Cooper (organising secretary ; Waiuku, Mr EL 0. Mellsop; Glenbrook, Mr Haycock; Mauku, Messrs Johns, M. Crispe and E. C. Cuff; Buckland/ Messrs Neil, Gummer and Hamilton; Tuakau, Messrs Frost and McFqrlane; Clevedon, Messrs Faucett, Gandy and Luke; Kama Kama, Messrs Walker and Harrison; Pukekohe East, MessrsGlenie and White, Pukekohe, Messrs W. Johns, H. Keith and' T. B. Hurley, as well as the representatives many members of of the various branches, also attended

Mr K. W. Johns, president of the Mauku Branch, was voted to the chair and explained that this conferi ence of branches had been called by the Mauku Branch with the idea of coming to some definite decision regarding the sub-provincial scheme as applied to this area. Members of the Executive were then asked to place particulars of the scheme before the meeting. Mr E." D. Duxfield, President of the Hamilton sub-provincial district, congratulated the meeting in having such a representative attendance. He stated that there were now four subprovincial districts in operation though the scheme had only been evolved 18 months ago. The membership of these four districts had been increased by the new scheme from under 1000 members to over 2300 at the present time. Not only, said Mr Duxfield, had the numerical strength been increased but members in these districts were taking a much greater interest in their Union. The fact of having a permanent organising secretary in the district and a central set of officers was in itself the means of securing many new and staunch supporters. In Hamilton an organising secretary had been secured at a salary of £3OO and a typist at £2 per week. The members''subscription was risen from 10s to £ 1 per year and they found less trouble in collecting the new subs than the old ones. Farmers were quite willing to pay if they found they were getting value and results for their money and in this case there was no question as to the extra benefits. The sub-provincial Executive acted as the intelligence Department for the branches in their area. In these districts there were many important matters that were of great interest to the local members but not so necessary outside. Take for instance, said Mr Duxfield, the auctioneer's commissions, these are higher here than in any part of New Zealand. Mr McAlpine (Morrinsville) in speaking in support of the scheme said the whole world outside the farmer was organised and the time had now arrived when wa should see I that our business was properly orI ganised. We send all our produce | to people who are properly organised I and then ask them to give us any [ price they please for it. He hoped I this was a commencement of a I'scheme whereby we should have | some say in fixing the prices of our ! produce. The speaker issued a strong word of warning regarding the- operations of meat trusts and showed how riscessary it was for farmers to make every effort to combat this serious menace To show how determined these concerns were Mr | McAlpine stated that five American | meat companies nact pooled 25 milj lion of money last season just as a | fighting fund. We must, he said, j be prepared to meet post war trade and we must wake up to the | we've got to have a say in the tnar- ! keting and prices of our produce if j not we deserve to be where the cow's j tail is (behind) and it will bo entirely i our own fault.

Mr T. Cooper (organiser for the Farmers' Onion) gave numerous instances of 100 per cent increase in membership in brunches since the inception of the sub area scheme. He made a special plea for unanimity in decidinga suitable centre, all parocialisui must be dropped said Air Cooper and a place selected that will be most accessable to all the branches in the area concerned

Mr Olsen (Onewheroj issued a word of warning to promoters to see that the district was large enough to make it a financial success. He considered that at least .'SOO membeiß were necessary.

Major Lusk alluded to a Union that he had been in charge of in the earls days of Pukekohe which comprised every able-bodied man in the district and which by having unanimous support had been able to drive the enemy out. Now, said the Major, w,e want every fanner in our organisation, and he urged every member to act as an apostle to pull in new ones. He hoped that members would be ex'eedingly liberal with their subscriptions and not stick at' the ttw paltiy shillings they had been paying in tue past. Up was certain that all concerned would be moio than couipetisited by ih- o mall extra subscription tor wiiat was now 1 being asked was nothing to whit j most labour organisation* w.-im pay- ' mg aud iarmeis hid miici mure at stake than anyone i he .\ uineii'U-i (ju si i us wi-jo then : asked by the delegates aid alter c'iisiJeral b di.-cu sun it wis proposal . by Mr i flutey aud set: udod by Mr M. Ciinpu " that tins nutting reci mmends (he 1 niiMtiou of it sub provincial area i I the M 'A Farmeis' I niou wirh i'likt-kolio as the centre." This resolution waa later withdrawn in favour of a resolution proposed by j Mr Walter .Johns seconded by Mi ! (jummer, '' fiat this meeting of delegates n'jilt st their respective branches to la'vouiably coiiMder the formation of a sub nroviucjal an n " Tt was dei idol 11 hold another ffieeting in Pukeki he on January 4th when Mr Cooper (organising; secrt-tiry, would be [iresent t> finally decide the iju^stjon. i On the motion of Mr 11. M Crispe seconded by<*Mr Mellsop, MrT. Hur- , ley was appointed secretary to com muuicate with the branches »in I re- j ceive replies.