FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1916, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI EXECUTIVE. The Taranaki Executive met at lis•vera on Friday, when there were present: Messrs. R. Dunn (president, in the chair), E. Maxwell, R. Lambie, A. E. Washer (vice-president), J. S. Barrow, and J. Swindlehurst. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Messrs. C. A. Wilkinson, G. V. Pearce, «nd H. Okey, M.P.'s, wrote, in reply to the Union's request for advance copies of Bills and Parliamentary papers likely to affect farmers, stating that they would be pleased to do so wherever possible, but pointed out that some legislation was forced through the House very quickly, as notably the Finance Bill last session, which was put through all its stages in one night. This was a Bill which affected farmers materially, but it would not have been possible to have sent Unions advance copies in that case. They would, however, ho pleased to assist farmers in the direction indicated whenever practicable. WOUNDED SOLDIERS' FUND. The Chairman referred to a resolution passed by the Executive recently, asking the various branches to support a special effort by the Farmers' Union to assist in patriotic funds, and to the fact that it had since been found impracticable to give effect: to this resolution as practically all the branches had been associated with local effort* Now there was a suggestion that a united effort should be made throughout Taranaki in the form of a "Battle for the Bullion," and wijthout advocating or otherwise the merits of this particular scheme, he did say that all should work unitedly to raise as much money as possible with the laudable object of relieving soldiers in distress. Only by united efforts could the greatest good be attained. He, knew that in some districts special efforts had already been made, in others no such effort had been made, and there was bound, therefore, ,lo be a certain amount of double-banking, which however, could not be avoided.—Mr. Swindlehurst mentioned that when in New Plymouth last week lie met some returned soldiers who had not been able to get the back pay due to ilhem, and who were walking about without a shilling in their pocketß. Where was fund? The Qhairman: The question of the back pay was a Government matter, Swindlehurst: But whore are our funds? The Chairman explained the efforts which had ueen made to formulate a practicable scheme to administer the funds collected, and this necessarily took a little time.Mr. Swindlehurst: Too long; in the meantime men arc starving. The Chairman continuing, said that he understood the Mayors of the different towns had authority to draw on the funds in hand to grant relief where! necessary. A man could not very well be starving if he had his back pay. Mr Swindlehurst: But if he cannot get the back pay due to him he may starve. The back pay due to one of these men he mentioned was fairly large, and when he went to Mr. Wilson, of New Plymouth (who was chairman of the fund) he was granted one lovely pound out of the thousands subscribed, and even that has to be refunded. It was hard hick for the boys who had come back not to be able to get a few shillings to go on with. The Chairman agreed that that position, if correct, was to be deplored, and some representations should be made to the Government in regard to back pay due to the returned men. So far.as the local funds were concerned he would again repeat that the whole machinery for the administration of them was now all set up, and the scheme would be completed in a short time now. Mr. Lambie mentioned that no man had .come back to his own district and been refused assistance. Mr. Swindlehurst further mentioned that some of the boys who had come back were quit.; able to earn a few shillings a day, but were debarred from so doing. The Chairman said that they were probably undischarged soldiers, and in that ease were still drawing their pay from ther Oovernmcnt. They could not very well serve two masters.

After some further discussion tlic Chairman moved tliat the Executive approve of the scheme to raise funds for tlie wounded soldiers l>y means of the "Battle of the Bullion." In seconding the motion, Mr. Washer said that it appeared other districts had made special efforts, and Taranaki must do its duty also. In reply to Mr. iambic, the Chairman said the Executive would not take any active part in the scheme. The details would be arranged at various meetings throughout the .country. The resolution was duly carried. ARTIFICIAL MANURES. Mr. Deakes, a director of the New Zealand Farmers' Fertiliser Co., interviewed the meeting, and addressed members at some length on the objects of his company. SUPPLY OF RENNET. Tlie Chairman referred to the fact that Mr. Cuddie had said that there was likely to be a shortage of rennet for cheese-making, and he (the chairman) thought that they, as farmers, or rather dairy companies, should do something in tlie matter for themselves. It would be a good thing if the suggestion came from the Taranaki Union asking farmers to interest themselves in seeing whether the dairy companies would take up the question of the manufacture of rennet. It was not an elaborate process; the main thing was to secure a supply of calves' veils or stomachs. At the present time a great many calves were killed in Taranaki and the custom amongst farmers was to knock a few calves on the head and let them lie until they had sufficient for a forenoon's skinning. To save the veils, however, the skinning would have to be done straight away, which might inconvenience these farmers to a certain extent, and to compensate them for this the dairy companies might recompense them. [A member: "An offer of fld apiece has already been made."] Continuing, the Chairman said that tlie dairy companies would have to consider making it worth suppliers' while saving the veils, and if this were done some | of the big companies, having '2(100 to HOOO cows, would very soon accumulate a lot of material for the manufacture of rennet. It might not be enough to fill the whole bill, but it would materially augment the supply obtained from other source, it would be a serious thing for New Zealand if there should happen to be si shortage in the supply of rennet. Mr. Washer said that in the old days farmers used to make their 1 own rennet. He suggested that it might be advisable for the dairy companies to import a man who knew something about the process of manufacture and set up a factory in Taranaki in the midst of the dairying industry. Mr. Maxwell questioned if it would be nc-

."■tsed the j;;«: cf ;n':ii:'f'.-: '.ire We ; a very simp:.; c \ The CI ."intan iee'i moved; f'Thi,! ■[]■■■: K>ee:i!ive ,lr,iw lee attention of liuiry i-ompnh-s to the threatened shai'lagc or rennet and .suggests that a meeting of dairy toninajiy representatives be held at aa earlv s date with a view to dealing with the matter. Seconded by Mr. Swindlehurst and icarricd. On the motion of Mr. Maxwell, it was further decided that Mr. Caddie he asked to supply all the information possibly in regard to the manufacture of rennet, the nature am! cost of buildings required, and whether there were people in New Zealand capable of manufacturing it. RETURNED SOLDIER'S PAY. The Chairman moved: "That the Executive begs to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that there are a number of returned soldiers who have not been paid up their back pa v. and suggests that an officer board tke'transports on arrival at Wellington to pav the men the money owing to them.'' Mr. Swindlehurst seconded the motion. Mr. Maxwell, whilst recognising that there had been considerable hardships and many failures to do what certainly might have been done for the returned men, considered it would be unwise for the meeting to pass this resolution. They must consider that the whole nation was faced with absolutely unprecedented conditions; everything was in a more or less chaotic state, and it was inevitable that there should be a certain'degree of disorganisation. It would be impossible, for many reasons, to do as the resolution suggested, and it would serve no good purpose to' semi this resolution on. Ho had alwavs strongly advocated a local fund so as to temporarily relieve any necessitous cases, whilst a man's affairs were bein" adjusted. His pension and lis pay should be matters for the Government, but temporary relief should be the function of the local comittees. In reply, the Chairman said that he moved the resolution in the hope that they might be able to do something in the'way°of improving the condition of affairs complained of. The least they could do was to pass this motion in order to draw the Government's attenion to the fact that there was a laxity somewhere which they might be able to remedy. On a vote being taken the motion was lost by four votes to two. The Chairman expressed regret at the motion being defeated. Personally he could not understand what objection there was to it. Mr. Lambie: Simply because, as Mr. Maxwell pointed out, *it is impracticable.—Star.