Waimate Farmers' Association.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 247, 26 August 1902, Page 3

Waimate Farmers ' Association.

A general meeting of the Waimate County Farmers’ Association was held on Saturday, Mr J. F. Douglas (president) presiding over a good attendance. Apologies were received from three members. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. correspondence. The Colonial Executive wrote, authorising the branch to collect a levy of Is to assist in defending the miilowners in tbeir case with the Workers’ Union. It was decided that this was not Farmers’ Union business, and the letter was " received.” The same wrote, stating price of rules and reports of Executive meeting. It was decided to procure a supply. The President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union wrote, asking the branch to assist in getting np a testimonial to Mr Glass, organiser of the Union.

■lt was decided that lists be sent out for this purpose. The chairman, in rising to speak, said he felt himself in a peculiar position. There was one thing patent to everybody, that they mast have members and funds to carry on as a union. They were now a long way below half the membership of last year. Farmers had a great objection to joining. Unless they did something the Union must collapse. He wanted to know whether they intended to get the support granted last year, which was based on 400 members at ss. They got 260, and did not come out square on that, but they thought a little economy would pull them through. (The chairman read a report of the meeting of the Pleasant Point Union, in which the attitude of the Executive in regard to labour was severely criticised.) The secretary read 'a statement of the position of the Union, which showed them to be in credit.

The question of collecting outstanding subscriptions by printed circulars was discussed. Mr D. B. Buckingham said that he proposed as an amendment that the district should be canvassed, and offered to do it for nothing. The chairman said they should pass a very hearty vote of thanks for hi* generous offer. This was carried by .acclamation. A letter was received from Mr Orbell, apologising fur absence from the meeting. He did not think the matter of severing from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union should be hastily taken up, although it was a useless organisation, and would continue to be so till the Executive saw the necessity #f registering and being

in a position to defend its members in

tne Arbitration Court. He was convinced that members would not increase unless. It should, he thought, be run on the lines of the Australian Pastioralists’ Union.

The chairman said the question was whether the farmers of this district were not going to formulate a new platform. The other parts of New Zealand did not understand the position of South Canterbury, which was .he centre of unionism. Did they think they should continue to run as it present, or bring under the notice of the Executive the hardship they wtre put to in haring to form another union to defend themselves in the Arbitration Court ? It seemed a ridiculous position to be in.

Mr Hertslett thought something should be done to pot the mattei before the Executive; if they would not help them they must help themselves. This was the first trouble they had had.

Mr Ward thought they must hold ogeiher as one union. He did feel that the farmers should not require so much canvassing, seeing that the matter was of so much importance. They were not an aggressive body, but were osly standing up for themselves. As their Ashburton delegate he had been proud to point to the branch as a live one, and was sorry so much apathy was now shown. But except as a body they were useless. He asked them not to get a parochial idea of politics ; they were too much for road board politics. They wanted to send men to Parliament who would fairly represent both sides, Men went there and would vote on neither side because it was against their party. He bad been going to move that the branch go into liquidation, but since Mr Buckingham had made such a generous ofier he would not move it.

It was proposed by Mr Ward and seconded by Mr Buckingham—“ That this Union is of opinion that unless the Union defends its members against any unjust claims made against them by any other union, its utility as a union is gone, and that it is also absolutely necessary that the Union should take up polities—not party politics, but measure! —that the farmers must be properly represented in the House; that this resolution be forwarded to the South Canterbury Provincial Executive, with the recommendation that very strong representations be made to the Colonial Executive that unless they agree to amend the platform to admit of the Union defending its members in labour disputes, and also to discuss politics (not party), the South Canterbury province will be reluctantly compelled, in the intererts of the farmers in this district, to withdraw from the Union.”

The motion was put and carried. Mr Hertslett said they could not get away from politics, but they only desired to watch the measures likely to be inimical to their interests. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Railways protesting against the naw rule compelling sheep to be trucked before the express, so that they stood at the Junction for four hours. The date of the next lecture was fixed for September 13th.