FARMERS' UNION.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 3 June 1913, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

TE PUKE BRANCH. A meeting of the Te Puke branch of the Farmers' Union was held in the Mission Hall on Saturday. There was a fair attendance of' members, and Mr W. A. Bennet (President) occupied the chair. A letter'was received from the Rotorua County Council stating that,..the work of putting in a culvert' at theMangorewa bridge was now in hand, also that the Tapapa water scheme was under the jurisdiction of the Matamata County Council. The Chairman briefly outlined the proceedings at the recent Farmers' Union Conference at Anckland.' He stated that the Conference was a most successful one. The Ta Puke remit to the effect that the Betterment Act be repealed, and that land taken under the Public Works Act be paid for by valuation, was carried. The remit would now \ carried to the Dominion Conference and thence, if approved, to Parliament. With regard to placing Native lands on the same footing as European, Mr Bennett stated that the Native Minister nad expressed himself in favor of this step, but there must be individualisation of the lands first I The opinion was expressed by I those-present that Native land | affairs were in a worse condition than ever, and it was resolved to write to the Native Minister, directing his attention to the congested and unsatisfactory state of Native Land Court business at! Rotorua, and urging that a sit- ! tings of the Court be held, if possible, at Te Puke, which was tha most central and convenient for* the settlement of native affairs in this portion of the Bay of Plenty. ' The Chairmnn then Introduced the subject of the railway goods shed. He considered the size proposed was altogether inadequate. If twenty settlers had goods to receive on one day, the limited space in which the consignments were packed would ■entail a lot of handling before each man got his own articles. Even at Papamoa as much as 41 tons of lime'had come to hand in one day. A .man bringing in chaff, for instance, iwould beat a great disadvantage, owing to the limited accommodation. As the train, would probably be running within six or eighty weeks they should take steps to have the matter rectified. He suggested that a delegate be sent to meet Mr Massey at the Reform League Conference in Auckland.

Mr Lemon asked whether it would not be better to appeal to Mr Macdonald as representative of the Bay of Plenty. Mr Herries, since he became Minister, seemed to have forgotten them. The Chairman said the matter was an urgent one, and they wanted to prevent the shed being started.

Mr Gill considered an urgent wire should be sent to the Minister for Public Works requesting that the erection of the shed be delayed

Mr McGhie was of opinion that the matter of most importance was to have a shed at the Mount. Mr Gill said from whathe could gather, a shed was not always built at-a port. The goods were discharged into tracks, and covered with tarpaulins. This, however, was an additional reason why they should have increased accommodation at Te Puke. Why the proposed shed would not suffice for Messrs King and Co. They would require at least a shed 40ft in width with the rails running thro igh it. As a matter of fact Hon. MrFraser knew nothing of the resources or requirements of the district. Mr McNaughton questioned the statement that railway goods sheds were not erected at ports. There would be sheds at Paengaroa,.Te Puke, Papamoa, and other places, from whence produce, etc. would be consigned to the Mount. Where were the goods to be stored when they arrived there ?

Mr Hillier asked whore a steamer was going to discharge her imports. Mr Gill: Into the trucks. Mr Hillier: Why they have not sufficient trucks for requirements in other places. He considered a shed was needed.

Mr Gill moved that a telegram be sent to the Minister for Public Works directing his attention to the inadequate accommodation proposed for TePuke, and urging that the size of the shed bs doubled, also, that accommodation be provided at the Mount.

Mr Lemon suggested that M.* Gill Wait on Mr Massey in Auckland, and bring tho matter under

his notice. Mr Gill having signified that he was willing to make the trip, the motion was carried unanimously. Mr McGhie moved that in view of the number of accidents at railway crossings the Public Works Department be asked to divert the road near the 22 mile peg on the Paengaroa road so as to obviate the necessity of settlers having to cross the line twice. Seconded by Mr McCracken and carried. Mr Tees said he understood a syndicate was negotiating with the natives for the timber rights ontheOtawa Blocks. He pointed out that the destruction of the bush on this range of hills would have an adverse effect on climatic conditions, whilst the land was practically useless for pastoral purposes. He moved that the Government be asked:to have' this block declared a reserve, and be also asked to throw open for settlement r the Otanewainuku Reserve, which consists of good agricultural and pastoral land. Mr Tees' remarks were endorsed by several of those present and the motion was carried without dissent. This concluded the business.