FARMERS' UNION MEMBERSHIP

Shannon News, 10 July 1928, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION MEMBERSHIP

518; FINANCIAL IN MANAWATUHOROWHENUA DISTRICT.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE SET -HP,

. The Farmers ’ Union in the Mana-watu-Horowlienua district has a nominal membership of 614 and a paid-up membership of 518. These facts were brought out in a return presented to the provincial executive by the secretary (Mr E. N. Budden) on Saturday. The memberships of the branches in the district are as. under: — Levin .... 83 Foxton 31 Linton V. ■ • • 7 Manakau 29 Otaki-Te Iloro . 50 Ohau 34 Pahautanui 27 Paraparaumu 34 Roiigotea 48 Rangiotu 19 Shannon .... 28 Waikanae 15 Palmerston North ....... 11? Total financial membership 518 , Of the subscriptions represented by the above total, the secretary reported that 498 had been paid through the order system and 20 by cash. Orders unpaid numbered 44, and cash subscriptions uncollected by branches 52. A recent revised list from the Dominion secretary had cleaned .up quite a number of the unpaid orders which were being carried from 1927. Most of these were returned as “not supplying” and “'cancelled.” The Mana-watu-Horowhenua provincial lists were now in a much more satisfactory state as a result. AH the branches had their quota paid right up to date. The provincial president (Mr. O. P. Lynch) moved, in accordance with notice, that an organising committee to deal with membership be set up by the executive, and that the branches be requested to appoint similar committees. He mentioned that the Wairarapa district had been canvassed by Mr McAlpine, organiser, whose last quarterly report stated that there were only 50 farmers in the district who were not members of the Union. This organiser ’s canvass lad resulted in increasing the membership by 100 per cent. It would readily be conceded that the institution of tho order system had simplified the work of the branch secretaries. The fact that there were 51 subscriptions outstanding under the old cash system showed the disadvantage of the latter system. The cost of sending. out an organiser was heavy, both to headquarters and the provinces; and he considered that the appointment of small organising committees was the best'way to stop leakages of membership. He proposed that the executive set up a committee of three members, with Mr 11. McLeavey as chairman; This committee could obtain from the secretary a list of members who were in arrears, and send the names to the branches, who would form committees to canvass those* members. The chairman paid a tribute to Mr McLeavey. for the. yeoman work he had done in the Horowhonua district to keep up and increase the membership, and mentioned that he had secured 32 members in his portion of the executive’s territory. The committees now suggested would bo standing committees, to act for twelve months. If the action which he proposed were taken, the membership in the whole district would probably be increased by 200. The chairman’s motion was seconded by Mr Bowling. Mr Bond expressed doubt as to whether it was right for a member to ask a fellow-farmer to join the Union. He thought it a better plan to have a paid organiser. Tho Chairman: I was secretary for eleven years, and each year I never had an unpaid subscription, and never had a refusal when gathering those subscriptions. I always carried a re-ceipt-book with me. Mr Jensen pointed out the advantages accruing to farmers through joining the Union, which had secured concessions for the farming community amounting to far more than the members’ subscriptions. , The motion was carried, and it was decided that the committee consist of Messrs H. McLeavey (chairman), H. Denton and C. Jensen.