FARMERS' UNION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10624, 1 May 1912, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION

EKETAHUNA BRAMCH .

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Eketahuna! branch of the Farmers' Union wae held on Saturday, there being a moderate attendance. The .minutes of the previous unuual meeting were read and confirmed. CM AIRMAN'S (REVIEW. ... The cliaivman, Mr W. B. Mathe.s.oll,. -in a review of .the past year's work,. stated that seTcit .meetings had" beeu held,, the ■ chirf (business being (1). The-handing.over of the field day and (horticultural show to a Show Committee including farmers and business men; (2) a series of .wool-class-ing lesson® by Mr MciNatight, who disposed of charts -useful for reference; (3) In getting a meeting of fanners together .to hear Mr Singleton on. cow testing, which resulted in an Association ibeing formed that should prove 'a financial .{benefit to .dairy farmers. The finances are none too satisfactory, but there is reason to hope that with the new secretary our position will be retrieved' and better (progress <m;ith> in future. Tho. vaiue. of the Union iies, not so much in branch work done as in. the fact that the combined branches have become recognised by the community as representing farmers'; interests and influences decidedly our commercial position, and the framing and administration of our laws. The labour question is becoming a- prominent one, and a.s> most farmers began life as wage,earners they would like to see labour "well treated in the Domin-ion,-ibut when* agitators stir labour' unions to demand uniforjn hours and i wages for each brajicli of farm labour, to demand thait the whole revenue shall ibe collected from land owners, and to incite men earning good wages to drop tools at a (busy seasonand to clog the wheels of industi\, the position cries aloud for union on the iar-t- of formers not to quarrel with | the workers, 'but to sc-o that Nofl Zealand is not brought to disa&tei tin-, der .the system of compulsory -socialism. He appealed to farmers- for the ■sake of themselves and children to strengthen, the Union- by outspoken support until no farmer stood outside it. OFFICERS'. The election of officers iis follows : President, Mr B. Morris®; Vice-President, Mr J. O, G. Executive Committee, Messrs F. O. 'Tumor, G. IT.. Hickman,/\V. A. Cittadini, J. Henry, W. ill. Waldin, !'• Nielsen, T/ -Moss, W. H. Bridge, J. P. Harrison, IT. Calton, J. Scott, E. To ml in.son, W. H. 'Maiheson ; secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Bedding; auditor, Mr F. Wlsr; delegate to conference, Mr B. JVWrks.