FARMERS’ UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8823, 27 May 1907, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

Ronfiotaa Branch. A meeting of the branch was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr H. H. Hunt in the chair. The attendance was small. Mr Stewart McKenzie was elected a member of the branch. A letter was received from Mr Edward Newman, of the Martou branch stating that the president had suggested to him the advisability of his giving an address on the Lpud Bill and offering his services.—Accepted with thanks, leaving Mr Newman to fix a date convenient to himself. Owing to the small attendance it was decided to defer consideration of means of dealing with the rabbit unisauco until next meeting.

Speaking on the subject Mr R. B. McKenzie said when driving recently in the Himatangi district he saw 24 rabbits on the road in about two miles. Fears were expressed that farmers in the district would not realise the seriousness of the danger until the rabbits became a general nuisance and cause of great loss.

During the discussion of the Conference order paper, which contains proposals relative to the Laud Bill, the opinion was expressed that in case of limitation of area it ought not to be brought about until after several years of notice, so that agreements now in force would not be affected and large laud owners would be able to reduce their areas gradually and not be forced to place their laud on a congested market. The meeting could not agree on the proposal for the adoption of the rating on unimproved value. The meeting was not in favour of giving further assistance in aid of emigrants. The meeting was opposed ’.to the proposal to abolish trial by jury, and to the proposed amalgamation of branches.

The other proposals on the Order Paper were approved of.