N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 20 March 1911, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

TARAXAKI PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the Tarannki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held at Hawera on Thursday . Present: Messrs J. \V. Jones (president), E. Maxwell, R. Lamhie, A. Hunter, S. Forsyth, J. Davidson and J. Thomson. Apologies for absence were received from and leave granted to .Messrs A. Allhusen, W. Cleaver, VV. Rogers, H. G. Sergei, V. J. Virgin, G. Preeee and E. Marlell. AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS. The Kaponga branch of the IJnion seut the following resolution: "That the executive be asked to circularise all local bodies in the northern ward of the Wangaiuii education district asking them to raise the necessary funds for the proposed agricultural scholarships,'the executive to point out to each body what their approximate share would be on their valuation." Mr. Allhusen, who was unavoidably absent, wrote with regard to the resolutions that it had been found very dillicult to collect subscriptions from the branches on a three years' guarantee, owing to the shifting nature of the population. It was therefore thought ■it would be better to go to a permanent body for the necessary funds. The share that would fall to each of the bodies concerned would be comparatively small, and would really be infinitesimal compared with the great amount of good , the offering of the scholarship would do ,'to the whole district agriculturally, as it would not only benefit the actual winner of the scholarship, but would materially stimulate the interest of every pupil at the school in agricultural subjects. ' He was quite sure that the ratepayers would be agreeable to the. expenditure. Mr. , Allhusen attached a list of the local ' bodies in the northern district, together 1 wih their approximate shares, based on their capital value at 14s per £IOO,OOO. The shares would be a,s follows:—Egmont county £9 7s, Opunake town district 10s, Eltham county £lO ss, Eltham borough £2 2s, Kaponga town district "7s, Waimate county £B, Manaia town district Bs, Hawera borough £3 ss, Hawera county £l3 Bs, Normanby tywn district os, Patea county £ls 13s, Pa tea borough Bs. Wavcrlcy town district 8-, Waitotara. county £111; total, £77 Us. Mr. Maxwell was not sure that the local bodies could legally contribute to agricultural scholarships, and before taking action on the matter they ought to make sure on this point. He did not think that they could make any contributions of this kind, particularly outside , their own respective districts. Mr. Davidson could see no harm in circularising the local bodies. They would then be in a position to gauge what could be done. Mr. Thomson said, the branches bad endeavored to finance this scholarship and had failed, and ho did not like the idea of sending it on to the local bodies. Mr. Lambie did not see it in that light. He thought that by the local bodies providing the scholarship the contributions would fall equally on all ratepayers, but if the Union did it it would fall on a very few, Mr. Forsyth was in favor of the move' ment, but he thought they should be sure of their ground before asking the local bodies. It was resolved that a committee, consisting of the president, Mr. .Maxwe.ll and the secretary be .set up to enquire into the legality of the local, bodies contributing to agricultural scholarships, the committee to report at next meeting. DOMINION LEVY. The Dominion secretary wrote arvwing that the Dominion levy for 1!>11-1!)12 had been fixed at 2s (id per member. Mr. Lambie brought up the question of members' annual subscriptions to the Union and said that there was a move in his branch to ask that it be raised to £l. He was of opinion that it would be necessary to do this. The work of the Union had been languishing for lack ot funds, and he did not think that any farmer who had the interests of the Union at heart would grudge paying £1 a year. In fact, he thought that those who did so were not worth having. Mr. Jones spoke very strongly on the apathy of farmers in their support of the Union.

Mr. Davidson said that the I'nion had not acted honestly towards those who had carried on its work. Members of the executive had not been sparing in giving their time and means to carry on the work, and it had had scant recognition by a very great number of farmers. He thought it was time to speak. Mr. Maxwell moved, "That brandies be asked to consider the advisability of raising the annual subscription to ,-Cl, as this executive realises that, to carry out the work of the Union properly, i't will lie necessary for both the Dominion and Provincial Executives to considerably increase their levies."—Mr. Davidson seconded the motion, which was earied unanimously. —Argus.