FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1940, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA EXECUTIVE STOCK HOLDING PADDOCKS. CONDITIONS IN DISTRICT. A meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in the Farmers’ Rooms, Masterton. this morning, the president, Mr Hugh Morrison, presiding over a fair attendance of members. Several apologies for absence were received. With reference to the views expressed at a meeting in November of representatives of the Farmers’ Union, Mas,terton County Council and freezing companies, the secretary, Mr R. H. Williams, reported that he had written to district county councils pointing out that the meeting felt that the question of holding paddocks and water supply should be in the hands of the counties. Counties were asked to take a census of all holding paddocks in their areas, with a view to acquiring these by purchase. or by lease, with the idea of controlling them. It was also suggested that the drovers in each county should be asked if the present paddocks were sufficient. Mr Williams said the Wairarapa South County Council had appointed a committee to go fully into the matter and report to the council. The Masterton County Council was in complete sympathy with the proposal, the Mauriceville County had referred the matter back to the Union with the suggestion that the law should be amended to provide that no paddocks should be used for holding stock unless a plentiful supply of water was available, and the Featherston County Council stated that it owned quite a number of holding paddocks in various parts of the County. The matter was referred back to the special committee to deal with.