NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

TAiW.VAKI KXKCUTiVK. aiKKTINM. A Meeting ,if the T;irawtki imiriurkl e:\ectti ,>i' ut the A'ew Ai'ahiml ! a nuns' 1 nil " .. :ts Jn-ltl oil 'I hursda v. There I were : .M«wr» A. K. \\'a»li.T* (vicc-pn'-lderi,), i-1. .'tiaxvtcil, i!. Lainbie, S. i;.irro\i-. (irr, .1. S\> iiidlehur.-i a!!■ 1 ii. ibsl;;;, lii the unavoidable absence of (lie president (Jlr. 1!. Dunni, tin: vice-president acted as chairman of the H H ■! '1 i l:<i. The \ ice-president brielly extended a warm v/eh-onie to the new members, v.lit>, lie «•«» sure, would do good win'!: on till 1 ex< ruti\c. At the same time tin l ab-ence »f many old faces, particularly that of Mi', d. Thomson, who, had hern a useful member of the executive for many years, caused regret. lie moved: "That this executive place on recurd its appri cir i ; .I|| of the services of Ml', d. Thomse ,;.iring his long connection villi the executive, and also places on record its appreciation of the services of the members who have retired from the executive.

-Mi - . Mr. I!. I.ambie, "who seconded the i!i<ition t spoke eulogistically of Mr. Thoms<,ii's work, lid whs sorry that i!v Thomson whs leaving the district, lie ) also regretted that the executive had lost the services of oilier valuable member*. -Mr. Xwindlohurst also added his tribute tii ill - . Thomson's service to the executive. The motion was carried unanimously. The Dominion secretary (ill - Jack) forwarded a copy of the revised rules of the union, which were approved. A letter was received from Mr. i' Dunn (Auroa) thanking the Provincial Conference for its resolution of sympathy, which he appreciated. lie was progressing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. The Dominion secretary advised that the annual Dominion, Conference would commence in Wellington on July Remits should reach Wellington early in

June. The provincial secretary (Mr. J. }i. j Win) said the remits had been sent to th« Dominion secretary. Reference was made by the members to tho valuable work being carried out by Mr K. Browne in agricultural instruction, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hodge, seconded by Mr.! liarrov, that Mr. Browne be invited to give, a lecture in Hawera upon agriculture, top-dressing, etc., and that nil farmers in Taranaki be also invited through the Press, to be present; the I chairman and secretary to arrange with Mr. Browne as to the place and date of the meeting. A telegram was received from the i president asking the executive to try i and induce the branches to take up the wounded soldiers' fund! His cheque for £5 would follow. The vice-president said that, if he remembered rightly, something was said two or three meetings ago as to far- ; mors giving their stock to be sold by ' auction, the proceeds i.o be devoted to this fund. Tliis was a very good time m .which to push the fund. Tli<" opinion was expressed that where 1 (here were no committees formed, the . | brandies of the Farmers' Union should • ! be invited to take the matter up. Mr. Swindlehurst moved, that in dis- ' triets where there are no committees for collecting funds for the relief of ' wounded soldiers and their dependents, t branches be asked to form committees for the purpose. Mr. Barrow seconded the motion, ' which was carried. , ft was mentioned that the executive . was the first to start a fund for the rc- ' lief of the wounded and soldiers' dependents. The question of the distribution of the fund was discussed. The vice-president said there appeared ' to bo a (inference of opinion with re- > gard to the administration of the fund. .Some favored the fund being controlled by a national committee,, and others, ; again, considered that each district should administer its own fund. Mr. Maxwell said that while there ' might be strong arguments in favor of i a -National Committee, personally he ■ thought there were stronger arguments in favor of tho funds being controlled i by the local committees. In discussing ■ the question of funds previously, he had stated that there were certain matters , which should be attended to by the . Government—for instance, the equin- . incut of forces, the payment of pensions to the widows and dependents of those killed, but with regard to relief funds he thought a great deal of assistance could be given by private subscriptions and local committees to manage the funds. A big central committee could not know the immediate eases of distress which must arise. What might be an ample sum for a widow in the country, might be starvation for one in tin' city. Each, district should have some benevolent funds handy to deal with cases of urgent distress which /light crop up. He was sure a great deal of harm would be done if all tho funds were centralised. There had teen, he understood, a conference in Welling-' tin to discuss the question of tho control and administration of the rdief trud.:-, but, as far as lie could . ec, n > d-Ji-.iti' course of ad I'm hud Lie 'll agreed I til. Mr. Swindlehurst favored the funds ' lim ; >- administered by local ois(riyt coin, mittec*. ' | . it WHS pointed out that there was a prn'bnl)ility of a Taranaki conference being held to consider the administration i of the fund, and the vice-president gave noliee d motion, '-That ill tin: event of a Taranaki fund being formed, tho monies now in the hands of the Executive he put into the fund." Jt was then decided that further consideiation of the question should be deferred for one month. It was decided, on the proposition of the vice-president, and Mr. Orr. that the Executive extend to the members of the I'nion who have lost relative's thiM.igk the war. their sincerest sympathy. Special references Here made to the ; In,s sustained by .Mr. Loonev. of Or nake. in the death of his soli, wl' ."'.' been killed ill the DardlUlell- ,l 1 "1 Mr. I). Vouif.' attend- ' -■*• the afternoon, an-' ' ■-" t! ' i; '"ediiig in . ( ]] ..bvnt m- ••' "W-O wii* li'riuitcd to "' ' ~.ulier.i,—Star.