FARMERS' UNION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 473, 6 March 1933, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION

Our District Representative)

b.o.p. branch MANY IMPORTANT REMITS DISCUSSED BY DELEGATES GOOD ATTENDANCE

(From

Opotiki, Friday. The sub-provincial executive of the Bay of Plenty branch.of the N.Z.F.U. held here to-day was largely attended by delegates from all parts of the district. The president, Mr. A. ' Martin presided, and fihe provincial seeretary, Mr. A. E. Robinson, was also present. _ reply to the union's representations regarding the. advisability of amalgamating power boards and thus reduciug the cost to"consumers and also to the union's claim that huge profits Were being made from the sale of electricity and applied to other purposes, the Minister of Public Works, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Goates, stated that the matter was in the hands of the local authorities and fhe Government was reluctant to interfere but the matter would be considered when the question came up for review. Mr. Bradshaw stated that the Minister's- feply was a complete volte face from his attitude when the liydroelectro schemes were being propounded and he considered Mr. Coates should he asked to give the reason for his change of views. A motion to this , effect was carried.

After considering the Minister of Lands' (the Hon. A. E. Ransom) reply to the executive's representations regarding the desirability of the State acquiring compulsorily absentee owned and uncultivated jands in the Tauranga area in which the Minister stated that the necessary legislation existed to deal with the matter, the Tauranga ^delegate, Mr. Keen explained that strong efforts were being made by Tauranga local bodies to have fresh legislation passed to simplify the procedure as every time a move was made it was held up by a tangled mass of red tap>e and thus the settlement of large areas of good land was being prevented. It was resolved strongly to support the efforts of the local bodies interested.

Putting Them Off The Prime Minister's reply to letters from the executive regarding derating and the alleged charging of double fees on fruit by auctioneers to the effect that both matters "would he considered," was characterised by the meeting as unsatisfactory and th'e opinion was expressed .that the Minister was simply putting them off. It was deeided to write and enquire the result of the Governhient's promised "considei'ation."

The seeretary advised that-no reply had been received to his lettefi to the Government expressing the sub-pro-vincial union's agreement with "the Thames sub-provincial resolution, "That the meeting endorsed the speech of Capt. R. Rushworth, M.P., which dea.lt with the ineffieiency of the present Parliamentary procedure and the failure of the Government to face the facts of the existing situation and considered that not to fully discuss the present farming situation on the fioor of the House would be a betrayal of the country's interests." Cattle Tick Regulations Mr. Bradshaw placed a remit before the president asking the union to take up the matter of enforcing the importation of cattle tick regulations . which he suggested were not being enforeed as rigidly as they might. It was deeided to forward the remit. The president pointed out that it was not desirable that individuals should bring remits before the subprovincial conf erence but thjat the remits should be forwarded by the, various branches. Maoris on Relief A brisk discussion took place when Mr. Keen (Tauranga) introduced the question of Maoris. and relief work and after the position had been thoroughly reviewed the following resolution was carried unanimously. — "In the distribution of relief to the Maoris and with a view to conserving the public funds, greater consideration should be given to the standard of living of ^ the native race. Th'at in the opinion of this meeting gross abuse is being made of relief fund j by many natives who should be quite independent of relief funds. and further eonsiders the whole position should be reviewed." The Awakeri branch forwarded -the following remit, which was adopted: "That in view of recent legislation reducing taxation the Minister of Finance be asked to approaeh the banks asking them to reduce the cost of lceeping accounts from £1 to 10/- per annum.