MEETING OF FARMERS AT OHAUPO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2536, 11 October 1888, Page 2

MEETING OF FARMERS AT OHAUPO.

Immediately after Mr Buckland's sale on Tuesday, a meeting of farmers was, according to advertisement, held at Delnney's Hotel, to consider whether, by combination, they could not obtain their manures, seeds, &c, on better terms, and also make better terms for tho sale of their produce. Tliete were about fifty present, amongst, whom we noticed Messrs Rkller, Kiwabs, W. Manduno, R. and J. Fisher. W. and J. Scott, Kwen, MoFarlane, Nnrrish, Gane, Finch, Rigsr, Krippnor (2), Morrison, Windsor, Selby, Kyburn (2), Potts, Foster, liosborongh, McKinnon, l.riersou, Ramsay G. Kilgecmnbe, Way, Pickering, Lang and Wheeler. Mr Kusabs moved thai Mr Gano take the chair.—Seconded by Mr Watson and carried. On taking the chair, Mr Uine road the advertisement calling the meeting, and then briefly stated the object* for winch it had been called. Ho said that the fanners had been hitherto plodding along each one lor himself, but that no.v the time had come when they would have to combine, not only to got cheap manures and seeds, hut also to find a market for their produce. The Frozen Meat Company, which a large number of farmers had taken shares in so as to hell) one another, had proved rather injurious than otherwise to the farming interests. Ho thought that the best way to conserve their interests would be to form a Farmer's Association, which should meet at two of the different townships-say Cainbridge and Te Awamutu—as the distnet was bio large a one for one meeting place to suffice. Mr U. Salmon spoke on the action of the Frozen Meat Company in bringing down the price of beef, and stated that the price had not again risen. He also referred to the treatment tho cattle from Waikato received in the trains, and stated that ho know from personal experience that groat dama"c was done to fat boasts by bruising in the"railway trucks. He thought that if united representation? wore made by tho farmers of tho whole district a cattle tram would be pint on which would take the cattle down without the continuous shunting, which was the caiiso of the bruising. Ho proposed, " That this meeting form itsol f into a Farmer's Association for the consideration of mutters agricultural and political." Seconded by Mr Knsabs. Mr .T. Fisher moved that tho words "and political " bo struck out. Seconded by Mr Finch. Mr G. Kdgecunilio said he thought it would be better for the farmers if they contented themselves with matters connected with farming, and left politics out for the present. Mr Windsor was of the same opinion,! as although their opinions of farming matters might be the same, doubtless they would vary in politics. The chairman then put the amendment, and afterwards the original motion, but the forinor was carried by a large majority. The motion with the winds "and political" struck out, was then put and c-irried. MrJ. H. Scott staled th it the. primary object tho conveners of the meeting had, was the purchase of seeds and manures in larger quantities, and ho said that list Viiar several farmers had combined in Puke-i-iiim, and got bonedixt from Sydney landed in Waikato for about £7 per ton, while merchants in Auckland wore charging over £S for the same bonedust. Mr R. Watson said that by o mibination they would bo able to got botti'r b.irgians, both for tlip. purchaso of seeds, manures, and tho sain of th"ir produce. In the formurthcsy at present wore the proy of the middleman, and in tlm 1-itt-sr Iml simply to submit to the dictates of the millers &c. Mr J. H. Scott was appointed secretary, and a committee of tho following: Messrs Gane, J. .Fisher, Salmon, J. Scott, .f. Hutchinson, G. Clarke, J. Hodzsmi, S. Wostno.y, F. Ling, and W. Windsor was appointed to draw up rules to be sub mitted to a meeting to bo held on the 23rd inst. The meeting then closed.