NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10231, 8 May 1911, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

ANNUAL "MEETING OF MASTERTON BRANCH.

The annual meeting of ton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Saturday afternoon, fifteen members being present. The chair was occupied by the Chairman of the branch, Mr J. C. McKillop. The Secretary of the Wellington Provincial branch of the Union wrote, stating that the annual provincial conference would be held on May 30. and the annual levy of branches has been fixed at 6s per member. Mr J. C. Fowler, district organiser, wrote, stating that he wa& prepared to come to the district and organise the branch .on receipt of instructions and a list of member".

Mr McNaught, of W>. nganui. asked that a special meeting, -J the branch be held in July, at which lie would deliver an address on wool-classing by chart. —On the motion of Mr J. C. Cooper, it was decided that the Secretary arrange for a public meeting in the Dominion Hall, and that a charge of sixpence be made for actmission; students of technical courses to bo free. The annual balance sheet was read by the Secretary. This showed that fifty-sevon members had paid their subscriptions last year. The receipts for the year amounted to £34 6s. The expenditure included £l7 2s, for the provincial levy, snV-y £5. printing and stationery i'A lis. There was a credit balance at dale? o? £7 13s.—-• The Chairman staiec" thi.t the membership was salisf.-rttory. It was a pity that the loading 'men of the district did not tn'-o n keener interest m the Union. He pointed out that the Union had done tfoocl work in the past. notaWy in the direction of forming the Wainjrnwa freezing works. Th'iso hnd proved a great service to the district. The prices were very satisfactory for mutton and lamb, 'although there had undoubtedly bean a slump of late. • "Whethe 1 ' thirt was, duo to an over supply' of lamb,' or to the quality of the article sent Home, \\9 could 'vch ray.' At ,anyrate, the local freezing works had secured satisfactory prices for the farmers. There wcro other mntterr. which the Union might reasonably devote ito attention to. There hod recently been a Harbour Board election, which had cost the country an enormous sum of money, with no correspnding advantage. In seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, Mr W. L. Falconer urged that the subscription should be increased to a. guinea a year. He pointed out that the trade unions were moving in tho direction of securing sh irfcer ho"rs for agricultural labourers. The formers would have to rouse then.solve;. or they would be at the mere*- .if ciiy Socialists. Even tlin modest fo.'tiM-y-giH naid her sixpence or a. shilling a week to her union. Mr Falconer thought the members of the Farmers' Union should bo willing to pay a guinea a year.—The motion for the adoption of tho report was then carried. The election of officers for the. ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr H. Morrison; Vice-Pre-sidents, Messrs A. J. Percy and J. C. I Cooper. Committees were elected as follow: —Te Ore Ore: Messrs F. Shaw and J. Morris. Taratahi: Mr W. Perry. Manaia : Mr D. McGregor. Fernridge: Messrs W. L. Falconer and B. R. Rayner. Kopuaranga: Messrs R. B. McKenzie and G. A. Bruce, Opaki: Messrs Foreman and Donovan. Wainuioru: Messrs R. F. R. Beetham and J. C. McKillop.

Mr W. M. Cole was re-elected auditor, and Mr Milne Secretary. Messrs H. Morrison and .J. C. Cooper were elected delegates to the Provincial Conference. Mr -T. C. Cooper suggested that the subscription of the Dnion be fixed upon p valuation the same as was "done .in Pahiatua. the minimum beitiff fivo shillings, and the maximum thirty shillings oer member —On the mot:on- of Mr R. B. McKenzie it was decided that- tire Pnbiatua sys-i tern be adopted by this branch. _, | The question of remits for the j ."ominp: Provincial Conference was J t!lr , ""> discussed. . • '■