FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1919, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

MAKETAWA BRANCH The monthly meeting of the above branch was held at the Maketawa factory on Monday 15th Inst., Sir Wilfred Marshall, vice-chairman of the branch, presiding. The secretary (Mr J. B. Simpson) reported bavins written to the secretary of the Provincial Executive as Instructed, hut that he had not been able to arrange for Mr Buckeridge to give addresses to farmers as hoped. The hope of the farmers that the Taranakl Farmers' Freezing Co. would be able to undertake the manufacture of manure to supply the requirements of shareholders was brought up. and aftor the secretary had explained the company's position, as It had been described to him, tlie following remit to the executive was passed, on tlio proposal of Messrs J. Dombrowski and \V. Corney: That It Is desirable for every branch of the Taranakl Farmers' Union to point out to its members that In their own interests, where possible, they should take up share? or iucrease the number (they already hold In the Freezing Company ■and to provide the capital necessary in order •that they may be their own suppliers to them, ssclves, of the fertilizers they requlro. i, After the secretary had read the letter from ;tlie executive covering a reprinted article on r.-cattle tick. It was resolved: That'this meeting fct the Maketawa branch of the N zr.U. fully (recognises the magnitude of tho danger If the cattle tick pest is allowed to spread! and trusts that the Union throughout New Zealand will jesert Its influence with the Agricultural Department to take immediate stap3 to eradicate the pest whore It now exists, to check Its further spread within the Dominion and close every possible avenue by which it is likely to . fce Introduced from ovigßea Until quite rocently local post offices have existed at this factory (Te Tawa), the factory's Durham Road creamery (Piakau) and Norfolk Road School (Mlro)—offlcial names In |braekets —but owing to change in managership of tho factory and mastorship of the 'school these have now been closed, nor is there any pleasant prospect of their're-open-ing. Mr J. B. Simpson, secretary of the branch, described enquiries he had made, with results, compared the convenience and advantages In postal matters enjoyed by setters as far away from Inglewood Post Office as 25 miles, which under present conditions settlers near Maketawa, only six miles from that office, could not share. He explained that It was beyond the power of the chief pustmaster at New Plymouth to grant the help desired, and read a letter which he (Mr J. 8.5.) had drafted for transmission to the Postmaster General asking for assistance out of this condition of hardship. This the meeting approved, and authorised him to forward as well as a copy to the representative of the district. The Hon. ,1. B. Hlne, M.P., seeking his support to the request. Mr A. W. West drew attention to the disadvantage settlers here labored under who desired to Insure their buildings with the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Society owing to there being no local agent nearer than Elthara He proposed and was supported by Mr. C. faiurence that the Provincial Executive bs abked to tako action in the direction of appointing Oil agent, at Inglewood with power to accept local risks.

The recommendation of the Induslries Commission, in the. vc>ry important matter of forestry, occupied the attention of the meeting, and considerable interest in .he >iucstion was shown in its application both as a national and personal undertaking . Experiences of members of the meeting were Riven of their own work in this direction, and Mr (Jamlin, of Inglewood, was named as a practical man, demonstrating his filth in tho value of afforestation of waste lands by planting this season, on his various holdings in tho Moa, no less than 10,000 pine trees. It was very evidently a subject that appealed strongly to all present, and the discussion it gave riso to is well deserving an article to Itself Suffice, however, to say that tho following remit was authorised to be forwarded to the Provincial Executive: That the Government be urged to encourage the planting by landowners of al waste ground with trees adapted to such waste places and to use all suitable n'eans, such as bonuses prizes, the supply of the best kinds, of trees under sclentiflc practical guidance, or the exemption from taxation 011 the cost of such protecting fencing aj may be necessary for plantations, made to induce the farmers of New Zealand to check the unnecessary destruction of trees, and replant where advisable such trees as will in tho future be most valuable to the coining gene-a-tions.

Tho meeting authorised the executive of the branch to procure sufficient lamps to light the room In which these monthly gatherings are held, and on the chairman asking for an expression of opinion as to whether through the busy season, now just beginning, monthly meetings shall be continued, tho voice of the gathering was a very definite "Tea, but let us have them regular; not meet on tho wrong night," after which the twelve good men, and true, whom the meeting comprised, dispersed for home, to meet again on Monday 6th October.