FARMERS' UNION

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The usual meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, the president (Mr V/. Couser) occupying the chair. A report from the lime-kiln committee showed that two other deposits had been analysed, one showing 95.79 per cent, of carbonate of lime, and the other 90.91 per cent. It was decided to postpone the date of the conference of Southland branches to June 18 in order to permit of delegates returning from the conference called by the Board of Trade. Reporting in regard to the finances, the secretary said that the Union to the end of April had a credit balance of £33 18/8. Tit is would leave a shortage of £53 14/-, presuming that the Dominion ie\-y amounted to the same as last year (£B7 12/-). There were still contributions to come in from one or two branches, however. Some discussion arose regarding the best means of solving the financial problem. Mr J. D. Trotter said (hat he would be willing to have a paid organiser appointed. Mr A. J. Nichol said that he thought the solution had been arrived at in the Gore district. The farmers were doing their own organising, and, in a few months there would not be many farmers outside the Union. Mr W. Ford declared that he knew from experience that, when it was a matter of voluntary, collecting, the work was all left to one man. Nevertheless, he was sure there were many farmers not prepared to give money to a paid organiser. Mr G. S. Clark suggested that a circular showing the work done by the Union would be of value if issued to non-mem-bers. It was decided to issue a circular on these lines and to remit the. question to the conference, recommending that young men whose fathers are members of the Union should be admitted to membership at half rates. The president and secretary were instructed to get info communication with leading farmers where branches are defunct in an effort to re-animate such branches.