FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1919, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

MAKETAWA BRANCH (From Our Own Correspondent) Thero was a meeting of the Makctawa branch of the New Zealand Farmers'' Monday, kith inst., when only a sufficient number of members turned up to form a quorum. Mr W. Marshall, vice chairman, presided in the absence of Mr J. Stephen, chairman. The secretary (Mr J. B. Simpson) reported that he had written to Major Hine, M.P., as instruc'.sd, re the carrying of lime on the railways, and read his reply, in which Major Hine stated that he hoped all farmers' necessaries would soon be scheduled "Goods to be carried." A telegram from the Minister for Agriculture was also read, which stated that that gentleman had communicated with the Minister for Railways on the subject of the conveyance of lime for farmers, and had been informed by him that lime consigned,direct to fanners is being accepted, and that no restriction has been imposed on its carriage under the curtailed services. Mr Simpson considered that these prompt Teplies to communications should show farmers the .value of combination, and act as an inducement to them to support the Union;, and so by united action get the importance of their position recognised. It was reported that some branches of the Farmers' nionU favored the admittance of returned soldier fanners to the Union free of charge, and the proposition was discussed, though no action was taken, members expressing the opinion that in most cases the returned soldiers, as soon as they recognised the value of the Union to the farming community would prefer to bo on the same footing as their fellow member's, also that such a question should be left to the consideration of a fuller meeting, or even be the subject of a notice of motion. Various suggestions of means to make the Union more, popular amongst the settlers, notoriously, in such matters, a very difficult body of people to arouse, iw.ere discussed, and though in time no doubt this branch will take steps in that direction nothing definite was aecided on.. The secretary, who is a keen enthusiast in all matters of or pertaining to co-operation,' Said he would make enquiries into the question, and hoped to have something to propose at the nest monthly meeting, and if we know our J.BS. he is not the man to let such things sleep, nor are the Maketawa farmers slow to back up any move in the right direction to forward rural interests generally .