FARMERS’ UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9138, 6 May 1908, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION.

KIMBOLTON BRANCH,

The annual meeting was held yesterday afternoon, Mr E. H. Orahb being in the chair. There were 25 members present. The Chairman said he was glad to be able to state that the branch had made steady, though quiet, progress, during the last twelve months. The membership had increased from 52 to 56. The financial position was also satisfactory. The total of the subscriptions received amounted to £lB 6s, as compared with £8 9s last year. He had, however, to call attention to the fact that many ; members were in arrears. It would

much ease the work of the officers if dues were promptly paid. During the year eight meetings had been held, and the attendance had been satisfactory. The chief events were the shearers’ dispute and the agitation for a railway in the district. In aid of the defence fund in respect to the shearers’ dispute £9 4s 6d had been subscribed by members. The representations in the matter of the branch were largely followed in the final settlement. In the matter of the railway things were progressing satisfactorily, the Minister of Public Works having promised to inspect the route at an early date. He would urge upon members "of the branch the advisability of supporting the erection of a room ;to the Kimboltpn school for instruction in technical education. The present state of the labour dispute seemed to point to the probability of the agricultural industry being brought within the scope of the Arbitration Act. In order to prepare for such a contingency it was necessary that farmers should organise and he would point out that the Union formed a fitting nucleus for such organisation. It was, therefore, necessary that farmers should snpdort the Union both personally and by enrolling members whenever possible. During the past year, jen any member leaving this district for anothei, he had writtem to such district branch notifying the removal and he had been told how pleased those members had been when they were received by the new branch in a friendly way, and not as strangers. He felt sure if that course were adopted generally, the Union would gain largely in membership. In regard to the erection of a room, the Minister of Education had promised that if £SO were raised locally the room would be put up. The cost would be £350. The County Council would contribute £25 ana £53 would need to be raised by subscriptions. The balance-sheet showed that the branch started with a debit balance of Is and ended the year with a credit balance of £O.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr E. H. Orabb was re-eleoted chairman; Mr Reutoui, secretary and treasurer, and Mr Baddeley, auditor. Mr O. Dick was elected vice-chairman. A vote of thanks was passed to the officers and committee of last year. The following were elected a committee:—Messrs Nesdole, Fowler, Hodge, Warner, Shapleski, J. Watt, Morton, Bartlett, Smith, Redd, Brown, Parsons and Cornish. It was decided that the subscription remain as before. It, was resolved that the following resolutions be brought before the Conference That as the labour leaders in the towns seem determined to bring the agricultural labourers under the Arbitration Act, and as in that case it is necessary that members should have expert advice on all awards available the Colonial Conference be urged to oousidrfi the advisability of "affiliating with the Employers’ Federation. It was rs.iso resolved —“That as the provisions of the Band Act of 1907 give a guarantee that the holdings now held under lease in perpetuity will not be re-aggregated, this Conference urges upon the Government the need of granting the freehold to all such tenants on some more equitable basis than the Act now provides for.” Mr W. Morton was elected delegate to the Conference. In this connection it was pointed Cut that the chairman being a member of the Executive would, because of that, have a scat at the Conference. ““in'” v of alteration of rules the meeting was favourable to farm h.b :urers benia: members cf the.

Union, in case of proper provision being made to preserve the funds in case of dispute.