N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 122, 21 June 1909, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

TARANAKI EXECUTIVE JIEETIXG. A meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Fanners' Union was held iu Hawera 011 Thursday. There were present: Messrs J. W. Jones (l'atea), president; W. Rogers (Stratford), T. A. Bridge (Iyapuni), J. Burgess (Warea), A. Voullaire (Riverlea), E. Maxwell (Opunake), J. W. Virgin (Tarata). THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, acknowledging resolution of the Provincial Conference in reference to the necessity of construction the Opunake railway, said he had forwarded the representations of the Conference to the Hon. Minister for Public Works for his consideration. PROPER ROLIJS TO BE KEPT.

Mr. Maxwell introduced tlie question of branches keeping a proper membership roll. He moved, That a form of roll of membership be printed and supplied to each branch with instructions to keep their membership roll according to the form supplied.—Carried. Mr. Rogers moved, That the roll be in book form, the secretary to obtain same.—Carriei It was decided to procure about 50 (books and to supply them to the branches at cost price. PARKAMEXTARY BILLS.

Mr. Burgess moved, and Mr. Maxwell seconded, That the provincial secretary be instructed to procure copies of Bills likely to affect the farmers' interests as soon as possible after they are printed, and that a copy be supplied to each branch in the province.—Carried, f PRIVATE DRAINAGE. A desiraible .amendment in the Drainage Aet, as* applied to private drains, was mentioned. It was in reference to a farmer having a drain running from his place through another person's property. It was stated that while every provision' was made for the construction of the drain through a neighbor's land, ] there was no provision for "the other | man" to clean the drain in his property, i The owner of the drain could clean the drain at his own expense, but members considered that the farmer should not 1)r "held responsible for tlie cleaning of the neighbors portion of the drain. Another grievance was that 10 provision had been made for the apportionment between tlie tiwo parties' of tlie cost of repairing damage, etc.. which may have Ven occasioned throujtfi i;ion-eleaning of the drain.

Mr. Maxwell moved. Thai the proviof part 4 of the Drainage Act should be made applicable to maintenance as well as construction, and that provision be made so that. the yosts arising from neglect or extraordinary damage be assessed against the pers'on canning same. Mir." Burgee s-v-onded the motion, which was carried. ; Mr. Maxwell further moved. That a

clause lie inserted in the Act providing that all preliminary «osts, ini-ltidinj; eost of surveys, registration fees and witnesses and assessors lie allocated ;iy ill? Court. Mr. Youllaire seconded.--Carried. It was decided tlr.it the motions lie forwarded to rlie Dominion ('onfcrcn-c. fjKXKI'AI^. Mr. Viv/iii sii'_"rested it wouH -: 1 'V<' ! the purposes of tlie TCxer-ntive if it inr' [ onee i;i every two months, instead of monthly. Some of llie member* ha 1 ' to travel Ioih; di-tances, and he ditl not j think tlie business wowa itcd immtlilv I meetings. Tie moved In tlie diveetion I culasted, the uroviso tluit tlie I president eIII an extraordinary meeti ■ should eirenmslanees arise.

Mr. Maxwell seconded the motion )>rn fnraii. H" said he was rather ini line I to the movers opinion as tar as (lie liusiness was concerned. Hut if the sitjjger.'tion were adopted there was tlie grave possibility that meniliers would iret out of touch with each other and Tims there 'would lie a danger the Executive filling through. The other members supported "Mr. Maxwell, anil the resolution was lost, onlv the mover voting for it.—Star.