Farmers’ Association.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 109, 1 October 1901, Page 3

Farmers’ Association.

A general meeting of members of the Waimate Farmers’ Association was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr J. F. Douglas in the chair. A resolution passed by the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, asking the Association to drop fchoir building scheme and provide suitable rooms for an amalgamated association was read. After a short discussion it was unanimously decided to accede to the request contained in the resolution. Faumeks’ Union. The meeting then terminated, and a meeting of the local branch of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union was held. The Chairman reported that the Farmers’ Association had agreed to the proposal of the Union. A letter was read from Mr Glass stating that the Tiraaru branch had decided that a South Canterbury Executive would be preferable to one for the whole of Canterbury. A circular was also received from the provincial secretary with reference to the election of a representative at the conference at Ashburton. Mr Douglas said that they had an excellent representative in Mr Ward, a man who had had experience at all kinds of conferences. He moved that Mr Ward should be their delegate. Mr Beckett seconded this, declaring Mr Ward to be a good man., xMr Ward protested against Mr Douglas being passed over. They should send their best man. He moved that Mr Douglas should bo sent. Mr Douglas stated that he had no time to go, and Mr Ward was elected delegate. Mr Ward returned thanks for the honour done him. He would have been pleased if Mr Douglas had been able to go, but hb would do his best. It was decided that tha committees of both tbe Association and the Farmers’ Union should form tbe committee of the new association.

The question of getting rooms for the association was left to the committee.

The platform of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was considered at length. The delegate was instructed to vote for allowing all crown tenants the freehold after 10 years of lease.

The meeting instructed the delegate to vote against the proposal for the Government to provide short datefl loans to farmers with good security.' Mr Beckett suggested that in case the branch could get 200 members before the conference they should appoint a second delegate. Mr ,1. Corcoran was appointed a delegate if a second one was wanted.

The delegates were instructed to strongly oppose the Limitation of Profits and Prevention of Rings Bill.

The chairman spoke strongly against the Factories’ Apt, especally as regards freezing works. Mr Henderson pointed out that a woolshed was a factory under the act, and a government inspector could make them pay overtime after eight hours. Mr Hertslett said if a man’s wife and daughter were washing together they constituted a factory, and had to work no more than eight hours a day. (Laughter). The meeting. declared against the State Fire Insurance Bill.

.Talking of rating on unimproved value, Mr Douglas said they had nominally rating on unimproved value now, but the values put on the land were fictitious, and the delegate should be instructed to get the land valued by a competent valuer with an umpire appointed to settle' disputes. „ . i Mr D, R, Buckingham agreed

with this. In his case the value was taken off his house ab’d outbuildings and put on his land. ..

Mr CoTcoran moved that it should be an instruction to the delegates to oppose the granting of the rebate of reht to crown settlers altogether or that it -should be made unive sal. Mr Henderson seconded this and it was carried.

The delegates were instructed to support freedom of Contract. Mr Douglas pointed out that if farmers had to wait for unionists to come along in harvest time they would be in a very poof position very often.

Mr Ward opposed the prosecution of public works by co-operative labour. He did not think they could do m.uch to oppose it. It was a most expensive way of worki ig, because the rates of pay were fixed to give useless men wages and good men could make small fo: tunes at these rates. : '■■ ■

On the motion of Messrs Bofrie and Bitchener it was resolved that the delegates should discountenance 00.-operative works as much as possible.

Mr Douglas referred to the representation of Waimate County 'on the Timaru Harbour Board. The County paid one third of the rates and had two . representatives, Timaru paying about one third of what Waimate County paid had three representatives. He moved that the delegates should give attention to this.

Mr Hertsletb seconded this, which was carried. Mr Corcoran moved that each branch should have a delegate for every hundred or fraction of a hundred membefs they hadj and this was carried.

The delegates were given a number of Bills now before-the House to go through and make any recommendation they considered necessary.

Mr Corcoran said the delegates should enter their protest against the Government increasing the salaries of officials already highly paid.

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.