WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 317, 21 July 1898, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB

BRANCH AT OHAUPO. There was a very large and representative gathering of farmers at Ohaupo on Tuesday morning, when the question of forming a branch of the Waikato Farmers' Club at Ohaupo, or holding ((uartcly meetings of the Glu'< there, came up for consideration. Mr Ed. Allen occupied the chair, and Mr M. Butler who was present, read the notification of the meeting in THE Waikato Akous. The Chairman, in introducing the subject for discussion, said that on cwo or three occasions the Waikato Farmers' Club had received communications from Ohaupo settlers, asking that they should either bo enrolled in the society or that quarterly meetings should be held at Ohaupo. The object in oiling the meeting was to obtain an expression of opinion as to whether they should form a branch or not. Mr Johns said ho thought it would he better to have an affiliated branch of the existing Ciub. If an independent Club were established, the two bodies would doubtless differ on many little matters and instead of strengthening the Waikato Club, it would have, the opposite effect. A branch would prove a great support to the existing Club. Mr Turney agreed with the previous speaker. Mr 0. Finch also favoured this view, and considered that it would materially strengthen the Cambridge Club, and create widespread interest throughout the district. Mr .Johns was of a similar opinion. He proposed that an affiliated branch of the existing Farmers' Club be established at Ohaupo, meetings to be held quarterly. The following gentlemen were then proposed as members of the branch, Rule 10 being suspended for the purpose : W. Turney, F. Potts, E. McCabe, J. Tozer, E. Dunne, If. Deaville, W. Taylor, J. Corrigan, W. J. Hunter, B. Martyn, V. Marshall, J. T. Edwards, A. Forkert, I. Hodgson, G. Totty, P. C. O'Connor, J. Fisher, J. Bryant. W. North, G. McKinder, J. Hutchinson, J. Reid, T. Holder,, R. Kay, T. Bond, J. Pollard, R. Bosanko, J. Mandeno, W. M. Shaw, F. Gibson, T. McMicken, M. S. Laurie, W. H. Mandeno, J. J. Graham, Win. Rae, T. K. Davidson, H. Rhodes, J. Bell, J. Munro, D. Monro, E. Robinson, 1). McKinnon, T. Hall, G. Finch, J. Ryburn, sen., J. Ryburn, juu., C. S. McCallnm. F. C. Germann, P. Fry, W. Macky, Wallace Jones, li. Bell, W. Jones, Wm. Johns. The Chairman sa : d it gave him the greatest pleasure to welcome so many new members. When the Waikato Club was started many predicted that it would only lust a few months, but it had now been in existence over nine years. It had been of great help to the farmers, aud its opinion demanded respect in all branches of commerce and trade. The yearly subscription of 5s was a small one, but it had always proved ample to cover working expenses to send a couple of delegates down to the conference, and still left a small credit balance at the end of the year. Mr Johns said if the officers' of the club resided in Cambridge it would be necessary for one or more to come over to each quarterly meeting, as they would require to have some recognised head to carry out the proceedings. The Chairman said some of them would make an eiiort to get over to the meetings, but it would be bettor, he thought, to elect several members in the Ohaupo district to the executive committee. This, however, would have to he done at the ordinary meeting of the Waikato Club, but thevc was nothing to prevent them electing a sub-committee, with power in the meantime. Mr Fisher thought the suggestion a good one. The following sub-committee of the Waikato Farmers' Club was then elected: Mes-ts Wm. Johns, W. 11. Mandeno, Hodgson, M, Turney ami F. C.jGerman. The secretary (Mr Butler) reported that he had just received from Mr W.H. Herries a copy of the Orchard and Garden I'est Bill, dealing with phylloxera and apple scab. Mr Julius protested against this Act, as it placed the farmer simply at the me> - cy of the Inspectors ; it gave too much power to them. The Fruitgrowers' Association had taken action in the matter and protested strongly against the Bill. Mr Fisher proposed that the meeting should support the fruit-growers in their protest against the Bill. Mr Ganc seconded this motion, which was carried. Mr Johns said the great objection to the Bill was its stringency. There were no known specifics of the pests enumerated in the Bill, and under these circumstances it simply tried to compel the farmer to do that which was practically impossible. The Chairman considered that the place was worried out with inspectors, and it was monstrous that they could come and destroy trees and make the unfortunate owner pay for it, when there were no known specifics. The Chairman said that at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Club the Noxious Weeds Bill had been discussed. They had objected to a man being compelled to cut down a thorn hedge when called upon to do so. Another objection was that the Act did not include Road Boirds in districts where tlu Counties Act was hung up. Mr W. 11. Mandeno did not think the duties of enforcing the conditions of the Bill should fall upon the local authority, but rather on the police. Mr Gane thought it would be a retrograde step to place themselves in the hands of the police, who were always more or less irresponsible people. He contended that the County Councils or the Road Boards should deal with the matter. Capt. Runciman considered the clause dealing with the cutting of hedges a decided infringement upon private rights. A 3 far as road or boundary fences were concerned it was all light, but he did not consider it just that a constable or local authority should have power to compel him to cut hedges he had raised for shelter. He strongly favoured the Bill with this exception. Mr Finch "thought that if this clause were omitted it would ruin the effect of the Act, and if a man liked he could i>row noxious weeds in the hedges which would menace the surrounding country. The Chairman said they referred only to thorn hedges. Mr W. H. Mandeno proposed that this meeting recommend the members for Waikato and Bay of Plenty to endeavour to have an alteration made in the Act, whereby the services of the local police force should be available for administering the Act if requited by the local bodies. Mr Ryburn thought members of Councils were not doing their duty unless they carried out the Acts. It was quite unnecessary to pass the resolution re the police. If the County Council notified people to cut down their weeds at tli2 proper time and allowed several months' notice that would be all that was required. Mr Mandeno said it would have the effects of placing members of local bodies in an unpleasant position as regards their neighbours, Mr Ryburn was quite right in his remarks—they could take legal proceedings; but still he did not see why the duty should be thrust upon the local body. The Chairman remarked that one of the recommendations made during the late Police Commission was that policemen should not be engaged in any of these side duties, as such duties had the effect of disorganising the police. Mr Mandeno thought the only recommendation which had been carried at the

Commission was that they should have 10-s work and more pay for doing it. (Laughter). The Chairman said if the local body was called upon to do the work they would get very few men to stand for the Council. Mr Finch thought the enforcement of the provisions of the Act would cause a gieat deat of enmity between neighbours. Mr Maudeno's proposal was seconded by Mr Johns and carried by 17 to 5. Mr Cane said Mr Turney had taken a great deiil of trouble in endeavouring to establish a branch of the Club in Ohaupo, and great credit was due to him for the success he had attained. The fact that such a large number of nismbers had joined so readily was a proof that the settlers in the Uhaupo cud of the district had conic to the conclusion that whatever had been done at Cambridge was in the in'erests of the settlers as a whole, and that the club had been acting rightly in the agricultural interests of the WaiUato. He thought a vote of thanks was due to Mr Turney. Mr Turney said lie would like to thresh out the matter of Pond's analysis. Mr Allen remarked Mr Pond had said he could not give them the analysis unless they furnished the manufacturer's name and a copy of his previous analysis. However, the secretary and he were going to Auekltnd on Wednesday (yesterday), and they intended to intervie'*' Mr Pund upon the matter. This closed the meeting.