Waimate County Farmers’ Club.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 188, 13 August 1901, Page 3

Waimate County Farmers’ Club.

A general meeting of the above is very largely attended on Saturlyjc dhe County Council charting, Mr N. iTcanuis \(viceresident) presided. A letter was received - from Major :off4nl, stating that the Workiju’a Compensation for Accidents ct was not intended to apply to nm labourers. -The Eight Hours ill was not likely to pass this ugion, and if it did it would ;rt,iiiily not apply .to agricultural 3 | pastoral pursuits. Tire chairman said they had met aether to decide whether they juld.join the Farmers’ Union. If i the secretary of that body oald attend nest week. Mr Ward was in favour of union*, heir own local wants might be .tended to hy the -ciub, but ,rmt»rs should be unite I iu one vjv from Auckland to tbe Bluff.

At the request of Mr Beckett, is secretary read the objects and ln’.form of the Fanners’ Union. Mr Studhohne seconded Mr feds motion, for union was length, and farmers had nothing dose and everything to gain. The motion was put and carried mnimously. Ou the motion of Messrs Crbell ad McGowan it was decided that is subscription to the Union (la lining fee and 2s annual fee) be aid out of the suuscription to the lounty Farmers’ Club. A good deal of discussion took lace-on various pofots arising out [this motion. It was pointed out bat by the Union rules members n[ engaged in agricultural puraio3 were debarred. It was decided that a meeting bi eld next Saturday, at which the rganisiog secretary of the union piiul bo present. ' Mr Ward then gave -some exihaation of the Workers Comicnsation Act, 190). Ha charaoarised it as a vicious law, and saidi would not have been passed had lie farmers been alive to their own atarests. He believed the social igislatiou of the present day would visa a man to be as frightened ofHohiug a workman as he would'a

aUiesmiko. , ■ During discussion it was decided bat the only safeguard a fanner lad from possible ruiu was to osiire his men and to see that no lan tractor of any description did lork for him until he produced a policy showing that his-men were [ally insured. Further discussion took place on She Eight Sours Bill-hs applying to firm labourers, and the meeting, wjaurned till Saturday next.