FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1939, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

GREYTOWN BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING. HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENCES. (“Times-Age" Special.) The annual meeting of the Greytown branch of the Farmers’ Union was held at Morison’s Bush on Wednesday night, the chairman, Mr W. G. K. Wiggins presiding. In his report, Mr Wiggins made reference to the fact that the branch had lost by death during the year four valuable members, Messrs Hugh Morison of Glenraorven, W. J. Kempton, W. J. Feast and H. Hawke. A motion of condolence was passed with the relatives. The branch cordially supported a proposal to invite the Dominion President, Mr W. W. Mulholland, to address the conference to be held in Masterton in May. A proposed . winter tour for farmers td North Auckland or as an alternative a trip up the East Coast, Waikato and West Coast was placed before the meeting but in common with other branches it was felt that economic conditions did not warrant a combined move being made for a tour of this kind this winter. Two nominations were received for the position of chairman, those of Messrs W. G. K. Wiggins and J. C. Feast, and a ballot resulted in the re-election of Mr Wiggins. Other officers elected were: Vice-chairman, Mr N. F. Skeet; members of Wairarapa Provincial Executive, Messrs Wiggins. G. R. Thompson, R. L. Field and W. A. Tate (the latter representing fruit growers); delegates to Interprovincial Conference, Messrs Wiggins, Field and Tate. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr H. C. Cook in appreciation of his past services to the branch and expressing best wishes for the future.' A remit passed by the Masterton branch urging that hospital rating be collected by means similar to those adopted under the Social Security Act as a measure of relief, to general rating, was heartily supported. It was decided to reinstate last year’s remit asking for the abolition of heavy traffic licence fees for farmers’ lorries. Arising from a letter read by the secretary on the question of heavy traffic licences, it was decided that the subject matter of the letter be referred to all Wairarapa county and borough councils with a view to a combined conference being held with the union at a later date.

A member submitted the following remit in writing in his absence: That all telephone rentals in town and country be on a flat rate. The remit was not accepted by the meeting, pending the result of a deputation to the Minister.