FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8124, 23 April 1906, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

_i_rt 1MASTERTON BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Maatertoa Branch 'of toe New Zealand Fanners' Union was held on Saturday afternoon. Mr W. Perry presided, and there mere a'so present —Messrs E. Meredith, R. Kibblewhite, W. H. Buiok,E, J. Rose, .J. Burke, J. Col way, J. McGregor, jnr., W. McGregor, D. McGregor, jnr., 3. 0. MoKillop. ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet, which was adopted, showed the receipts foi the year to have been £l6 9b Bd, and the expenditure £ll 14s, leaving a credit balance of £4 15s Bd. The Chairman, commenting on the balanoe sheet, said the financial position was satisfactory. The Dumber of paid-up members was less than last year. A principle of organisation which they were now introducing was to form branches in districts wherever there was a small sohoolhoase, as it was fonnd that farmers attended meetings better and took more, interest in the business of the Union in the smaller districts. In the neighbourhood of the towns it was difficult to get well attended meetings. He considered that more satisfactory results would' attend this scheme. Mr Fowler, the' Organising Secretary, who was now visiting the outlying districts in the Wairarapa, was meeting with very encouraging success. The Provincial Exeoutive was this year oalling on branches for an extra Is on each subscription in order to keep the organising work up to a high standard. The President also referred to the Mutual Insuranoe scheme, which he thought was likely to benefit farmers considerably. The statement made in Falmerston North that the premium notes were invalid was evidently not correot. fie also stated that the Provincial Exeoutive had arranged with an Accident Insuranoe Company to give members a reduction in the rates in the proportion of 9to 13. He urged members to liberally support ttiese schemes and hoped, also, that they would take a livelier interest in the affairs of the Union than they had done. It was decided to write to the Colonial President of the Union suggesting that an official denial regarding the invalidity of the premium notes should be given. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow: President, Mr W. I*erry; Vice-President, Mr B. Eayner; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Q. R. Sykes; Exeoutive Committee, Messrs J. Col way, D. McGregor, jnr. J. Bqrke E. J. Rose D. J. Cameron W. H. Buiok, and J. C. MoKillop; Delegate to the Conference, Mr W. Perry. MEMBERS' SUBSCRIPTIONS. The suggestion of the Provincial Exeoutive to levy the members' subsoriptlona'oo a graduated scale according to capital value of the land held by members was oonsidnred. It was thought that a uniform levy was more advisable, and members' subscriptions was fixed at 10s, an advance of 5s on last year. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr J. Oolway raised the question of discontinuing the Masterton Branch owing to the lack of interest being taken in it by members. After some discussion a motion to that affect was negatived. A bonus of £5 was voted to the Secretary for his past services. On the motion jf Mr Oolway a vote of thanks was aooorded to the Press for reporting their meetings.