Farmers’ Union.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 112, 8 October 1901, Page 3

Farmers’ Union.

A meeting of the Morven branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the Morven schoolroom on Friday evening. There was a good attendance, and Mr Beer occupied the chair. Mr Glass, Organising Secretary of the Union, was in attendance.

The objects and platform of the Union wore read and discussed. Considerable discussion took place on the clause to allow Crown Tenants to purchase their holdings, and the Union vfatf unanimously in favour of tenants (under the lease-in, perpetuity) being allowed to pay off the value of their holdings down to, say £1 per acre. ’ ~ . A number of. members joiied the branch, and during the evening it was announced that over 70 members had joined.

With that number of members the branch was entitled to send a delegate to the conference to be held at Ashburton to-day and tomorrow.

Mr Corrigan was unanimously elected delegate. Mr Corrigan returned thanks for the honour done him, and said he would do his beat in the interests of the Morven branch.

The delegate was instructed to vote for Crown tenants being allowed to pay off the value of their holdings down to £1 per acre.

Mr Henatridge said that better accommodation should bo provided on the railways, and that loading banks and stages-should be provided for the better handling of produce. It was considered by the meeting that the size of sacks of corn should remain as at present. After discussing the Compensation Act, it was proposed by Mr Henatridge and seconded by Mr G. Sides, that farmers and farm labourers should not be included in the Act, and that Parliament should not reintroduce the Eight Honrs Bill to apply to farmers. Mr Corrigan was of opinion that farmers should paya uniform harvest wage. Mr Henatridge opposed this, and said that farmers should use their: own discretion in that respect, as some men were worth more than others, and should be paid accordingly. The following decisions were also come, toContracts given to.the Government for produce should be fulfilled by the producers without the middlemen getting a profit. The Agricultural Department should supply more and better information as to the current prices of produce. The valuation of 'land should' be done by competent Valuers. The secretary' to the' branch should find out from the siationmaster the amount of business transacted at Morven daring the past year.! Loaded trucks should have quicker despatch at seaports, and merchants and farmers should be charged alike for delay in emptying waggons. The next meeting of the branch will be held on the first Tuesday in November. "