FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI J.'XF r, nTIVE. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Executive was held at Hawtra on Thursday, when there were present; Messrs R. Dunn .president (in the E. Maxwell, A. E. Washer, ,!.. Swindlehurst and J. Hodge. MANUFACTURE OF RENNET AND SUPPLIES. The following letter was received from Mr. D. Cuddie, Director of the Dairy Division:—"With reference to yours of the 25th, ve the above, .1 regret to say that we have no specific information as yet regarding the cost of buildings and plant for the preparation of rennett. W T e have been, and are stiil. making enquiries regarding this important question. Outside the firm of Messrs Murdoch and Co., Dunedin, who claim to be able to manufacture rennet, we know of no one who has had any experience in connection therewith. From information received, however, it would appear that the dairy companies need have no immediate concern as to supplies of rennet for the rest of this season and probably for a portion of the next one. W r e are also informed from a reliable source that plenty of rennet will be available to fill later orders, provided, of course, that it could ho shipped from countries of.origin. At the same time, our opinion is that the dairy people concerned should at least take an early opportunity of discussing ways anil means of. procuring a supply of rennet in New Zealand, and decide what action, it any, may be necessary so as to guard against disappointment and loss in the event of the imported rennet being in short supply or perhaps unobtainable later on. We have no hesitation in saying that there need not be any cause for anxiety regarding immediate shortage." Mr. Maxwell thought that quite apart from the question of shortage of supplies, the manufacture of rennet was an industry well worth considering.

A PATRIOTIC MEMBER. Tlie chairman road the following letter which had been sent to him: "Mr. E. Dunn, chairman Taranaki Executive N.Z. Fanners' Union. Dear Sir, —As a member of the Exexcutivc of the Taranaki branch of the Xew Zealand Farmers' Union, and having been duly accepted for active service, and also having nearly completed our New Zealand training, with regard to which, as a soldier, I feel confident of standing any physical strain or endurance, I at this period beg leave of you and your committee to accept my resignation as a member of your Executive. In conclusion, I beg to thank you and the members of the Executive for the consideration always accorded to me during my period with you.— (Signed) Ontram M. Young." The chairman said that the Executive could not accept this resignation. Mr. Young had been an honor and a' credit to the Executive in having offered his services to fight in defence of the Empire, and he (tiie chairman) wished that it had been possible for every member of the Executive to havp followed his example. He moved that the Executive write to his mother (Mrs. Young, of Otakeho), conveying to her ,tlio Executive's appreciation of hov son's action in volunteering to fight for tlie Empire. His seat on the Farmers' Union Executive would be retained for him, in the hope that lie would soon return to again occupy it. The chairman's motion was unanimously carried.

K.Z. FARMERS' FERTILISER CO. Mr. Johnston, on behalf of tlio New Zealand Fanners' Fertiliser Co., waited on the Executive and discussed the Articles of Association and tlie prospectus of the company. Mr. Maxwell reviewed the Articles of Association at some length, and voiced a fairly general opinion when he said that as at present framed it was doubtful if they would suit the farmer. He had not the least doubt as to the future of the company, and as a speculator he would invest £IO.OOO in it tomorrow if he had it available; but as a farmer he would not invest in it. Its value to the farmer would be in the rebates lie would get on the purchases of fertilisers.; a matter of, say, :!0s rebate on £;") worth of fertilisers, calculated at their present market value, w»s of vastly more importance to him than, say, JO per cent, or 20 per ocnt. on the amount of capital invested. As at picsent constituted it seemed fairly certain that the company would ultimately be a proprietary concern practically before many years had pone by, existing more for the purpose of paying dividends to shareholders than of giving' rebates to farmers on their purchases. Then, too, then; appeared to he a weakness in the fact that a farmer holding a single £5 share could order 100 tons of fertiliser (although he may only require 10 or !.■) tons for his own use). and, after receiving his shareholder's rebate on the whole purchase, sell the remainder to his neighbors at a good deal under current market values anil then pocket a handsome profit. Those were points on which the farmer must have his position assured before he could be expected to fake up shares. In reply, Mr. Johnston said the remedy was for the farmers to take up the share capital and make the company essentially a fanners' concern. It lit they wqpld not provide the necessary capital to enable the company to piocecd. and so capitalists had' to come to its -assistance, and having done so they were entitled to a fair rate of interest for the capital in-vested.-Star.