FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 32, 20 January 1912, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION.

TARANAKI PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Executive N.Z. Farmers’. Union was held at Hawera on Thursday. Present: Messrs J. W. Jones (president), J. Swindlehurst, R. Lamhie, F. J, Virgin, W. Cleaver, J. Davidson, R. Dunn, .1. Thompson, A A oullaire and A. Hunter. Branch Subscriptions. The Auckland Provincial Executive wrote asking what method thcTaranaki Executive adopted in fixinp branch subscriptions. they uiuloistood that the subscriptions were levied on land values and chaigcd according to size of holdings. Tlie secretary stated that he had replied explaining that in this province each branch fixed its own subscription—that no rule was laid down for the fixing of subscription. The secretary’s reply was approved. Agricultural Scholarship. A letter was received from the Wanganui Board of Education statim that the amount contributed toward: tho establishment of agricutural scholarships was £25. Scholarships, each of the value of £6 had beei awarded to the following boys on con dition that they continue their studies during the next year in the agricultural course at a technical o: district high schcool: —Herbert Bur ton, Hawera; Stanley Martin, War. ganui; Rangi Hiroti, Marten; Geialc Levicn, Feilding; Edward Abraham. Taihape. The Board had also awarded on of its funds scholarships of five pound; each (£5) to the. following girls t enable them' to continue their studio: in the domestic course for auothei year:—Leah Gould, Feilding; Ethc Kennedy, Patea; Doris Heuderson Hawora, and Ivy Smith, Taihape. Mr Dunn remarked that the cor tributions to the scholarships wer not liberal.

The secretary was instructed i' forward the £5 contributed by mem bers of the Executive.

Organisation of the Union.

A letter was received from Mr F J. Virgin intimating his intention b resigning from the executive. Mr Virgin, who was present, ex plained his reasbn for the stop wa: that the branch lie had represonte! was in a languishing condition, alshe had of late, come-to, the couclusio: that the Union as at present co". stituted was on wrong lines. The ii tercsts of : 3’airy farmers and shee-j farmers were not identical, hence the did not unijte‘for a .common purpose. , Mr Davidson in (Wed , 'and Mr Thom son seconded, that Mr Virgin lie ask ed to reconsider his intention to resign- . ~ Speaking to the motion, Air Davie son said an organiser or organiser; should be appointed by the Domic ion Executive, each branch or exe cutive to contribute its share to tin expenses. The union iKuPdono- goo-f work, and he ; limped' '|dr Virgftf-’ whuk reconsider his intention. Mr Dunn said if the federated la hour unions were going to go on a: they had been doing it would cans* the farmers to combine more. strong ly-

Mr Jones said he did not see ey to eye with Mr Virgin in his state xnent. Although the interests of tli sheep fanner and the dairy farmei were not quite identical, still thej were both producers, and as such they ahoidd stand or fall together. Legislation that was good for the on was good for the ether. He w;r candidly of opinion that the J in’.o was coming when a hotter condition o of things would obtain. E' J ■'.■-.ugh' the farmers would wake up to the seriousness of the situation because i they did not federated labour wouh rule. The union had moved slowly but still it had done good work. Mr Virgin hoped the executive would not misunderstand his position < He believed the union had done gooc work, but he hoped for better thing if there was some compelling community of interest among its men hers.

Mr Hunty was inclined to ti.i opinion of Mr Virgin, and thoughthe compelling force should cornfrom the bottom, and not from tin top. The motion was carried and M Virgin intimated his intention of vo training on the executive. Mr Davidson moved that the D i minion executive lie asked to appoint an organiser or -organisers, fo: the whole of the North Island, antthat each executive contribute share of expenses.

Mr Lambie supported the propos.d heartily, hut was of the opinion that ea< Ji pi'vincial district should have its own organiser. He thought tin l the pr'ze essays had done a lot of good. The federation of labour wou'd compel farmers and other employers to combine. The reason that the union was not better supported was the apathy of the farmers. If they wore asked to join he believed they would. if farmers would combine and put tlc-ii hands in their pockets they need not be afraid of any other organisation in Neiv Zealand. They asked only for what was just. Mr Thomson was in favour of tho proposal, but thought there should not bo too many organisers. If they had one good man to start with he would be satisfied. Mr Cleaver had pleasure in supporting tho proposal. lAt present the lack of enthusiasm was disheartening. He believed farmers could not be persuaded until they wore further harassed. They should stick together and to their flag in spite ol all their bufi'etings.

Mr Dunn also heartily supported the motion. He felt certain if an

rrganiser were appointed ho would pay for himself by the increase in membership. It would ho doubled. :’f, iii the near future they found iome ships with their produce on loard stuck up as had been the case in the Old Country they would reaise the necessity to organise. Tho motion was carried unanimously. Resignation of President. Mr Jones stated that ho would bo caving the province in the course ol .wo months and would have to tenler his resignation as president ol die executive.

Mr Davidson said that as Air (ones would not bo going till after text meeting he would like that his 'resignation should not take effect till hen. He moved that Air Jones’ •esignation be accepted as from the 10th February, with great regret. To said Mr Jones had been a hard nd conscientious worker for the niion, and reserved tho hearty thanks if all the branches. The whole of the members spoke n the most complimentary terms of Hr Jones’ sincerity, enthusiasm, and ibility and regretted bis departure. The provincial secretary and Air Russell (for the press) also added their ribute of appreciation. Air Jones, in acknowledging the rtc, said bo fully appreciated the ompliments that had been paid to im by all present. The present was

time when he was drawn both ways. Te would he sorry to leave them, but 3 felt it a duty to his family to go ito fresh fields. As' Mr Lambic had

’.id bo had been working on a leaseold which had not been a good spec, nd now he bad made up bis mind i make a home of his own. As their

•esident, ho had done what ho could at he often felt that one occupying iat position should have more time i his hands than he had. If a predent could get about and moot the ranches and others, a lot of good mid be done. What lie had done id been done ungrudgingly, and noing had'given him more pleasure um to meet the members at the reentive meeting once a month. It is the one public function he ro■etted leaving. i Prize Essays. The president stated that there 're some 20,000 copies of the prize says on hand, and asked the exntivo to give a direction as to how •ey should be disposed of. They

iglit put thorn in the booksellers’ inds for sale, or they might distriite them free.

It was pointed put that some of the ecutives had not taken any and it

is resolved to write to those oxecn■os and to further deal with the dis-

ibution at next meeting. Mr Diipu gave .notice to, move at -x;t -meeting that 50 copies be disputed free to each branch in this •evince.