N.Z. Farmers’ Union

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42766, 17 August 1905, Page 2

N.Z. Farmers’ Union

MEETING OF THE WAISO BKANCH. A meeting of the Waihou branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on Tuesday evening last in the Waihou School. Mr Thomas was ic the chair. The Secrefaiy, Mrßorrie, read the minutes of last meeting, and they were con* firmed. Quotations from various firms for seeds, manures, and etc., were then read and discussed. Mr O’Driscoll asked if Calcutta bone-dust was always of one quality. On the chairman referring the question to Mr J. C. Allen, he said ho thought that all the bone dust in one shipmeut was of one quality, but if bone-dust was unadulterated there was ho thought, very little difference in qualify. Mr O’Driscoll askod if, in case of analysis of a supply of bone -dust be ing made, and it was found to contain a large amount of foreign matter, could a claim be made ?

Mr Hetherington replied that he thought the quality was usually so much above that which was guaranteed that it would have to be very bad indeed for any claim to be sustained. Mr Allen : one advantage of getting bone dust direct from the ship was that, not having been in a store there was less chance of it being adulterated. Mr Hetherington said it would cer trinly be an advantage to get their manures direct from the ship’s side. Mr Cooper, speaking of the various estimates which were submitted, said lie thought a great deal of trouble had been taken and that almost too much imformation had been gathered. The question of making up a com bined order for manures was then dis * cussed.

Mr O’Driscoll said it was no use discussing the matter if members',would not be loyal to the Union and all take their supplies from the firms decided upon. It .was then proposed and parried mat Mr Craig’s offer for bone-dust be acc >pted aud that he bo asked to quote for superphosphates. An amendment was added by Mr O’Driscoll that the' firm should be asked to advise the secretary when the boats are expected to arrive. The subject of short weight of sacks was tlieu touched up >n.

Mr Allen said that it had once been suggested to him that he was not getting full weight of bone-dusy so ho had some of the sacks weighed, and found th it thej" all came up to weight. Mr O’Driscoll said that a firm had ouce imformed him that the weight of sacks of bone-dust varied, and that they could not gu irantee the weight.

Some discussion was then entered into comparing the qu t ities and prices •of various brands of superphosphates, and it was moved that the members should be notified that a firm had been selected to supply superphosphates, aud asking them to give, if possible, the probable quaurity they would require. This motion was (bopped. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Allen for getting the qu nations. Mr Allen, replying, said he was glad *o be able to help the Union forward, aud that it was only by sticking together that reduc i ns in prices can he obtained. Mr Bor. ie said that some kind of Agricultural Bauk was wanted here ; he believed something of the kind was working very satisfactorily iu Germany if someone with about £3OO could lend it to his neighbours ; he thought this was possible m some form, but it was at present merely a suggestion. Mr Cooper said he thought some.* thing of that kind would be of great: bonefi 1 to some members who found it fall very hard on them to guarantee to take a certain quantity of manure or othei supplies in a given time. The Chairman said he believed the Farmers’ Union of Ohristehuroh and Tiuiarn not only helped the farmers to buy their supplies, but finauced them as well. A meeting was shortly to be held in Auckland to consider the advisability of starting a Farmers’ C>*op there, and he would nek Mr Allen to go to Auckland to represent them at the m eting there. Mr Alleu thonght. it was rather early to start a Farmers’ Union i t Auckland. It had heou tried before and was not successful.

Mr Borne thought that if the Union had a provincial agent to get quotalions ia Auckland, whereby lower quotations might be obtained, and a discount ail-wed on he total, amount of business dmw, this discount would pay the agent’s commission and leave it balance to be paid to the Union, Tiiis would bring the people together , nd be the foundation of a wider Co- . porn ive Union. The lueeiiug was then adjourned.