FARMERS’ UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8899, 20 August 1907, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION.

Sancion Branch

A meeting of the Saudou branch t tho Farmers' Union was held in ' le Council Chambers last Saturday : ight. Present. —Messrs T. Masters, .. McHardie, J. McDouell, S. 'enuv. A. Harris, M. Road, O. Trelain", G. Williams, J. H. Perrett, b Pearce, Secretary and J. G. Wilou, in the chair. Mr Perrett reported haring recited a reply from tho Chief Oliom■t, stating that ho would do all he ould to assist in carrying out exorimeuts. lu tho meantime It was bought advisable to got the soil ssteil by the wire basket method, so s to complete tho three methods, u;—Basket analysis and plot exleriuiouts in the bold. It was also tatod that the supplying of manures or experiments was under considoraiou. On the r>tli instant t!io conihttco were favoured with a visit tom Mr Raylis, an officer of the Agricultural Department, and it was lecidod that the size of plot be foueighth of an acre, with eight plots fjeach variety experimented with, o addition to these it was further lecidc.l to try other plots with the •Motor generally used in the disdet. At- the request of Mr Baylis a saplo of soil was forwarded to Welington for analysis. Air Perrett also ■“ted that he had received a letter fom the Agricultural Department, a which they stated that they would apply all patent manures required ;,r the experiments and this state*at was received with satisfaction, ft was proposed and seconded, 'liiat in tho‘opinion of this branch “picultnnil labourers should he exuded from the operations of the phitratiou Act, because the natural cannot ho carried on with “fsamo regularity as manufactures, that tho Executive he asked to action to have this carried out. ’’ Another resolution was carried, .That in the opinion of this branch HWould bo wiser for tho Farmers’ Non not to .register, hut leave it Nile Labourers’ Union to cite® all S® farmers to defend themselves iu■Ndually. ’ ’ ft was proposed that this branch of Farmers’ Union should elect one !t more members as fire inspectors, 81 distributed that they may not to travtd more than four or five Wes to inspect a risk offered, and following wore appointed fire ypectors for this branch : Messrs I'. Jasters, S. Penny and G. Williams. , • H. Perrett" was asked to try !> arrange for an adilress from Mr Tiie .meeting then closed. I; Kimfiolton Branch. ■*A well attended meeting of the ■ .‘fillers' Union was hold on Saturiffuiglit in tlu> Druids’ Hall, Mr ■rJft Grubb in the chair. Bt‘he minutes of the previous meet■l? having been read and confirmed, Hotter from tlic head office of the BgN was read, requesting the apHfNnieut of fire inspectors for the Mutual Fire Insurance AsIt was ]iroposed by Mr SB™! and seconded by Mr ClapiV 1 ' that the following gentlemen MB appointed : Messrs McNeill, |Hk‘ c t, Morton, Shaplcski and the HBfNan. —Carried. J. McNeill and Murray HBr sleeted members of tho Union. ■■Dfrcnlar' from tho Provincial BHPiP; re the demands of the Agri■■gal Labourers’ Union as to labour, rates of wages.

holidays and sleeping accommodation, etc., was road and. discussed. Mr L. E. Jackson pointed out that although the cost of living had advanced materially, the rate of wages had not increased proportionately. Hence the combination of the labourers against their employers Ho urged the farmers to approach the matter in a liberal spirit, resisting only what they might consider unjust demands. With regard to the finances of the Union, lie remarked that had the several branches of the Union contributed funds in the same liberal manner as the labourers had contributed towards their own unions, the farmers would not ho placed in the unenviable position in which they now found themselves. It was proposed by Mr Jackson and seconded 'by Mr R, M. Mcßeth, “That this branch urges the Executive to sot up a committee of this ; Union to undertake the defence of ■

fanners.” —Carried, The question of hours of labour was then discussed, but no decision was arrived at. As regards wages, Mr Haythorue. drew .attention to the discrepancy between wages paid to boys working on farms and to those engaged in oilier trad.es. In the former 17s (id per week was the recognised wage, while in other trades only 7s Od per week was paid. Ho contended that this was a gross injustice to farmers and bo put np with. Mr Fowler then’moved, and Mr li. K. Hodge seconded, “That this branch recognise the increased responsibility thrown jon the Executive by the now proposals of the Agricultural Laborers’ Union and urges the Executive to increase their levy so as to he in a better position to meet extraordinary dome uds. ’ ’—Carried. The balance sheet of the “Annual Dinner” Committee was then read and passed for payment, and the meeting closed with a vote of hearty thanks to the committee.