N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 55, 23 July 1912, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION

TARANAKI PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in Hawera last week. Present: Messrs J. Davidson (.president),.E. Maxwell, R. L&mbie, G. Capper, J. Thomson, R. Dunn, J. Swindlehurst, G. H. Btickeridge, A. E. Washer, F. J. Virgin and E. Marfell. ORGANISATION. The organiser, Mr. G. IT. Buckeridge, reported that 'he had visited and held meetings at Kaimata and Auroa. The meetings had l>een well attended and several farmers joined the Union.

Mr. Capper said that Mr. Buckeridge had done a lot of good in going to Kaimata, and Mr. Dunn spoke similarly of the Auroa meeting. BEQUEST TO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Mr. Lambie said that as a body representing the farming community they should place on record their appreciation 1 of the valuable 'bequest of the late Sir I John Logan Campbell 0f£20,000 to found f and maintain a Chair of Agriculture at Auckland, and lie moved accordingly. Mr. Washer seconded, and the motion was carried. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. Mr. Maxwell, stated that he had received a copy of the Local Government Bill, which he had perused, and he was dis-

appointed with it. It was regrettable that the 'Minister did not see his way to submit the Bill to local bodies and delegates to the conference before it was circulated. The Bill was very different' from the finding of the conference and contained some dangerous clauses. One dangerous clause was in connection with overdrafts. Under the old law a local

body could overdraw to the amount of the previous year's revenue. Under the new Bill a local body could overdraw to the extent of uncollected revenue only. This would prove unworkable. Mr. Dunn thought that the Bill should provide for the consolidation of loans, and moved that the Executive's delegates to the Dominion Conference raise that point in connection with remits 70 and 72—Mr. Davidson seconded the motion, which was lost by seven votes to four. The Executive then went into committee to consider the order paper for the Dominion Conference and to give a lead to its delegates on some of the remits.—Argus.