FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1918, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI EXECUTIVE MEETIXC The Taranaki Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union met on Thursday. Present: Messrs R. Dunn (president), E. Maxwell, R. Lambie, B. Dawes. J. Swindleburst, B Orr, A. E. Washer, IT. Hodge, H. A Sutherland, and fi. H. Buckeridge (secretary). Leave of absence was granted to all absent members. REQUISITION OF WOOL. The Dominion Secretary (Mr. B 0, .lack) forwarded a circular from the Premier addressed to all branches of the Union in reference to the requisition of slipe wool, sheepskins, and hides. Replies had been received from the War Office covering very important proposals, and as these would have a very far-reaching effect on the disposal of the country's produce it was considered advisable to hold a conference in Wellington in the near future of all the. parties interested to discuss the position. It was decided to ask two gentlemen to act as delegates of the province at the conference, the date of which has not yet been arranged. KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS. The Director of Education (Dr, Anderson) forwarded a copy of the regulations for the Kitchener scholarships. In a covering letter the director wrote: "From these you will see that preference is given to young men between 1(5 and 20 who have had at least one year's experience in the practical pursuit of agriculture or dairy work, and have attended a com\:o of instruction at' technical classes. Failing a qualified candidate of this kind the scholarships are to be open to young men who have completed a course of two years in agriculture or dairy science at a high school. Tbe scholarships are to be awarded on tbe results of the Senior National Scholarship examination in (1) agriculture or dairy science (400 marks), (2) outdoor work in field or garden and laboratory work (200), and (3) in two or more subjects chosen from the following, so that the total possible shall be 1200-to 1400 —physical science (400). ge%ra.phy (.WO), hygiene (300), botany (300), zoology (300), mathematics (400), bookkeeping and commercial correspondence ,(?.00), free drawing (100), instrumental drawing (100). Candidates must also do satisfactory work in English and arithmetic- It will thus be seen that the scholarships are intended for boys who have done good work in a secondary school course of two or more years in agriculture or dairy science. The scholarships are to be tenable at Lincoln College or Weraroa State Farm, and should enaWe the holder to obtain a practical or scientific training in agriculture or dairy work leading, If he so desires, to an appointment to a position in the Department of Agriculture in our schools, or if preferred the bolder may take up fatan work." Members supported the proposed scholarship, and on the motion of the president and Mr. Washer it was decided that the secretary write to tbe Director of Education, thanking him for the information supplied, and, that it will use its best endeavors to disseminate the knowledge and raise interest in the proposal; also that the executive wishes, on behalf of the farmers of Taranaki, to express its appreciation of the generosity and public-spirited action of the endowers in regard to their interest in agriculture. ORGANISING THE. BRANCHES. The secretary stated he intended to make a start with meetings for the purpose of resuscitating some of the languishing branches, and also endeavor to form new ones. In order to arouse the interest of farmers in the union he proposed to use Maxwell's system of book-keeping. The first of these meetings had really been held. This was the Eltham meeting, which was one of the best yet held by that branch. He hoped to address about sixty (meetings before the annual conference in Mav next. J The executive approvel of tbe proposal-