SHEEPOWNERS MEET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 9

SHEEPOWNERS MEET

WAIRARAPA FEDERATION FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. CONSTITUTION OF MEAT BOARD. The first annual meeting of the Wairarapa Sheepowners’ Federation was held in the Farmers’ Rooms, Masterton, yesterday, Mr A. McDonald, president, presiding over a fair attendance of members, many being unable to attend on account of shearing operations. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the chairman referred to the fact that on two or three occasions the federation had combined with the Farmers’ Union, the last time being when a mass meeting was held in the Opera House, when the meeting decided against any suggested guaranteed price being accepted for meat and wool. Since then the war had altered things and the British Government had arranged with the New Zealand Government to take over all surplus meat, wool and other products at certain prices, and all farmers would still be able to market through the usual channels. Mr McDonald said he had waited on Messrs Thos Borthwick and Sons when they had given him all the information they had available regarding costs and freezing charges under the commandeer. Regarding sales of hides and pelts, the freezing companies were in the same position as the farmers. They were very much in the dark, as there had not at the time been any sales of hides and pelts. He thought this was the information they should have had from the Meat Board. It was decided to ask the Chairman of the Meat Board to visit Masterton, and meet the farmers, as under the present system of electing members to the Meat Board they had no representatives in this district who could give any information. The meeting unanimously agreed that the constitution of the Meat Board should be amended and brought under the ward system, when each district would be represented on the Meat Board. On two occasions Wairarapa nominees for a seat on the board had been rejected. The meeting was in favour of the amalgamation of all primary producers' organisations into one Union, so as to be able to speak for the whole of the primary producers. This was also the view of many farmers. The following, officers and committee were elected:—President, Mr A. McDonald; vice-president, Mr R. F. R. Beetham; treasurer, Mr W. F. McLaren; committee, Sir Wm. Perry, Messrs M, McLeod; C. H. G, Hewitt, Jas Andrew, H. R. W. Beetham, R. W. Kebbell, C. J. Bennett, A. H. Falloon, J. E. Broad, J. M. James, Trevor Beetham, J. W. Buchanan, H, Morrison, D. McGregor, L. T. Daniell, Hearn Smith, and W. James; auditor, Mr H. H. James. During the first year it was reported, 100 members had been elected. Since last month three new members had been enrolled.