N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 22 August 1910, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TAIRiAiNAKI 'EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the Taranaki Executive of the Nie<w Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Thursday. Present: Messrs J. W. Jones (president), R. Lambie, J. t B d o° n ' *? eaver » J- Thomson and J. B. Sim (provincial secretary). Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs Virgin,. Maxwell, Sergei, Sutherland, Allhusen and Rogers. THE AGRiOUI/TUiRAL JOURNAL. A letter was read from the Minister for Agriculture thanking the Union for the resolution approving of the first issues of the Journal of Agriculture. The Minister added: "It is exceedingly gratifying to find such kind support from the members of the farming community, whose interests it is my constand endeavor to promote." 'LOCAL GOV<EKN<MEX<T BILL, I

Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., wrote saying 'he would send the Union a copy of the Local Government Bill as ®oon as it was issued. It might be some time before tihe Bill wag issued as the Government had stated that they would bring resolu- , tions before the House of Representatives and; then draft the Bill according I to the resolutions. * ° A resolution was received from the) Ktiponga branch protesting against the j action taken by the State Fire Department in trying to force borrowers from the State Department to transfer their insurance from tihe office in which they are already insured to the State Office. The 'branch also protested against the Advances to Settlers Office in giving the confidential information of borrowers to the State Fire Department.

LAND AGENCY PROPOSALS,

A letter was read from Mr. L. Mapp, of Auckland, thanking the Executive's delegates for having assisted the passage of his land agency proposals through the Dominion Conference. Mr. Mapp said he 'gathered from speaking to farmers that there would be a great many becoming members of the Union when the proposal was introduced and they asked that their property might be placed for sale with the Union. The president said the land agency pro-' posals had been referred by the Dominion Conference to the various provincial executives for further consideration. • '

It was decided' to thank Mr. Mapp for his letter and to inform him of what had been done at the Dominion Conference, and further that the Executive •hoped that before long some workable scheme would be evolved.

Discussing the proposals, Mr. Lambie considered it would be a good thing if some workable scheme could be introduced. He thought that the greatest difficulty which would arise would be in connection witlh the financial arrangements, but still that might 'be got over. He thought if they could work the land land agency business it would l tend to help forward the Union.

Mr. Davidson ■ said if the financial institutions knew that the Union was doing agency business they could get in communication with the secretaries of the various 'branches, who would then know where to obtain financial assistance for clients.

Mr. Cleaver thought it would be a good thing to refer the matter to the branches for their opinion. Mr. Lambie said at present they had no real scheme to submit to the branches.

Mr. Davidson suggested that Mr. Mapp be written to to give the Executive full particulars of his scheme so that the proposals could be. placed before the brandhes.

The president considered that perhaps it would be better to hold the matter over until a fuller meeting, when the Executive could try and form a scheme for 'submission to tihe branches. Mr. Cleaver moved, That the discussion be held over until next meeting, and that in the meanwhile the secretary obtain all the information possible from Mr. Mapp a'bout his proposal. Mr. Davidson seconded, and the motion was carried. CONCESSIONS FOR MANURES.

A! letter was read from the Patea Fanners' Co-operative Freezing Co. intimating that the company had decided to increase the discount to Farmers'

Unions to 7% per cent, for manure for lota over 5 tons. A communication was also received from the Waitara Freezing Works offering 15 tons to 30 tons at 7% per cent, discount, and over 30 tons 10 per cent, discount. It was decided to thank both companies for their liberal offers. BOYS IN THE CITIES.

The secretary of the Wellington Boyf' Institute wrote: "Realising that it would be a benefit to the boys themselves, and through them to the country at large, if more of the city boys would take it up as a vocation. If the Executive would forward lists of vacancies for boys on farms the Institute would endeavor to find suitable boys to take the places offering." The scheme was favorably commented upon. The Executive resolved to inform the Institute that the scheme would have the sympathy and support. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROPOSAL. The secretary of the Wanganui Education Board' wrote saying that Mr. P. O'Dea had intimated that tihe Union had expressed its intention of donating the sum of £75 towards a fund for the establishment of scholarships in agriculture, a scheme which was now under consideration. The Board thanked the Executive for its generous action. The president: How about this £75 you fellows promised when I wasn't there?

Mr. 'Davidson: It was never promised. Only moral support. The secretary said that nothing had been done since the matter was before the Executive when it passed a resolution approving the suggestion and that the question of finance would be considered at a later meeting. Subsequently Mr. O'Dea attended at the request of tihe Executive and said that a mistake had been made by the Board. He pointed out that 'he had explained to t'he Board that the farmers would probably support the scheme. Mr. O'Dea said the proposal would not be gone on with this year, but next year it was sure to be going. The president intimated that the question of giving financial assistance would probably be placed upon the order paper for next meeting. Mr. O'Dea suggested that it would be a 'good idea to get subscription lists out j during the year. He asked if the Executive could not promise to give one scholarship. The president said they could not pledge the Executive at this meeting, which was not a representative one.— Star.