FARMERS’ UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9464, 5 June 1909, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION.

MANGAWKKABRANCH, The annual meeting for the election of officers was held in the Assembly Rooms on Saturday after noon.' There was a large and representative gathering from all parts of the district present, presided over by Mr Otuiokahank. The balance-sheet showing a credit balance of £9 12s was read and adopted. r In reply to one of the members, Mr secretary, stated ' there were 44 members associated with the Managaweka Branch, 18 of whom had paid np. The Chairman, Mr Orniokshank, said it was the beat he had seen presented at an annual meeting. Last year they-started with a balance of 4s 6d. He deplored the subscriptions not coming in. If the subscriptions were too high he would prefer to see them reduced. --If all the farmers joined the Union the expenses would be infinitesimal. The Union . was a source of great benefit .to 1 the farmers, and whatever subscription was levied there should not be a defaulter. They required the namerical strength and the financial aspect would then be of a secondary consideration, Mr Tansey maintained that when the subscriptions were much lower than the present scale, their^nn inters did not increase. He thought it was a poor farmer who could not afford to pay the levy. It would be impossible to carry on with a smaller fee. He instanced the attitude taken up by the workers as compared with the farmers. Those men made no objection to paying 50s per year to their Unions. He thought it would be a mistake to reduce the Mr Orniokshank then addressed the meeting. He explained that the annual meeting should be held before but he was away from home and could not conveniently attend. When the Branch was started twelve monts ago, it was prophesied it would fall through. However, they were still very much alive, and he hoped the farmers in the district would join the Union. He knew there were many points on which the farmers were not of one opinion, but there were numerous matters of vital importance to them on ; which they should all pull together. Politically he was sorry to say the farmers were not united as far as the Union was concerned. The majority of the Union was on the Opposition side while he believed the great majority of the farmers were on the other side, and on that account would not join the Union, in fact a good many had left the Union, like Mt Orabbe, of Feilding, whose reason for leaving was the stand taken by soma of the Branches at the General Election. He was still of opinion that until every farmer joined the Union party politics must be absolutely avoided. Personally be felt be could not support the candidates selected by the Branches. At the same time he would stand by the Union while he had a breath left. He thought the farmers wfere to be congratulated by being represented in the neighbouring electorates by Messrs Newman and Guthrie, men . who were able, honourable and straightforward, and thought the Union was to be congratulated on having men of means in it who could afford the time to run it. If the small men came forward their views could be represented as they could out vote the others. There were many questions snob as shearers accommodation, dairy regulations, cow tax, etc., in which the big and small men’s interest were identical, &ud in which their views should be made known through the Union and their representatives in the House, and thereby justice done them. He thonght a question of great interest so the farmers was the question taken up in the Wairaraipa of the establishment of new freezing works. He looked npoa most of the stock breeders as being practically shareholders directly or indirectly in the existing freezing works. If the companies made too much profit their books should be inspected by Government. It was an astonishing fact that meat was retailed in London at a very much lower price than in the Dominion. It should be the aim of the Union to bring consumers and producers in closer touch with each other. He again exhorted the farmers to combine as they were neglecting their own interests if they did not do bo. Mr Orniokshank received & hearty vote of thanks for bis address, several members testifying to the good * work done by him during his connection with the Managaweka Branch, The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr A: Oruickahank; Secretary, M. Tansey; Committee of Management, Messrs A. Lusmore, J. T. Oarr, A. George, W. F, Stevens, R. B. Hornblow, L, Weston, J. Schwass, T. S. Haigh, W. A. Officer, D. M. Watkins and' D; Gallaway. About a dozen members joined at'the meeting, which closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.