WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2954, 20 June 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

ORDIXAKY The ordinary meoting of the above Club was heH at Cambridge on Monday .it 7 30 p.m. Present; Messrs G. L. Clark (chairman), Jno. Fisher, J. Forrest, D. Oiley. \V. Anderson, K. Oaley, W. B. Soulur, T. Wells, J. Gane, K. Reynolds, J. Taylor, M. H. Pickering, 11. Clark, L. Kdson, A. Gano, (.), Garland, C. Hunter, J. S. Lond, 11. k. Hyatt, S. Seddon, \V. Morgan and T. llartly. The minutes of the previous meeting were read ami duly continued. COKKKSI'O.VDK.NOK.—The correspondence was rather voluminous, but most of it had been dealt with by the committee, and thiiir action wa.s endorsed. A .Mis.si.vo Faioier.—A Sydney enquiry agent wrote asking if a Mr Michael O'Callaghau iv:h a member of the Club. He left Ireland about. 3,1 years ago, and was reputed to be farming nn a large scale in New Zealand.—Mr Forrest: That, shows that in Australia they think all respectable farmed shjuld bu members of Farmors' Clubs. House Show and Pakadk.—The Committed reported they had 51 guineas promised for the above purpose, and the amount would sure to be largely augmented. —The Chairman said Mr Forrest and himself had done most of the collecting, and they had not met with a, single refusal. — Mr Forrest said there would not be the least troublo in raising i!""'.—Mr R. Reynolds moved that the following be a committee to carry out the show with power to add to their number : Messrs G. E. Chirk, Jno. Fisher, H. Caley, J. Forrest, S. Seddon, R. Fisher, J. Anderson, \V. Allen, .T. Taylor, M. K. Pickering and J. McNicol. —Sir Forrest seconded the motion —Mr J. Fisher said it was well-known that he was opposed to shows as not being favourable to tlio prosperity of the Club. When the Club was initiated, it was understood till expenditure should be kept down. Ho had always found that shows hid reviite'. in financial failure, consequently he objected to the Farmers' Club takip;.- i-ne in hand. He migjt be as'ked

why he had net objected when Mr McXic il asked them to manage the late horse. parade. Well, he thought it a pity that the parades that had been sn successfully inaugurated by Mr Buckland should bo allowed tn drop, and he also thought they were ritrbt in haloing Mr McNicil ; but. the parade had frown into a h-ase show, and, he feared, from what ho had heard, there was a probability of it heomiint; a general show. He claimed to bo consistent aud would therefore ask to have hiH name withdrawn from the Committee. —Mr Forrest was surprised at Mr Fisher objecting as all the money was collected beforehand.—Mr Wells thought Mr Kishm's remarks eminently characteristic of the man. Mr Ki«her was shrewd and cautious, and having warned the elub of the danger, he trusted Mr Fisher would allow his name to stand on the roll of tho Committee. —The chairman said he looked upon tho matter as outside the Club altogether, and he had not asked anyone to subscribe to it as a club show.—Mr Fisher then withdrew his objection and the Committee were elected unanimously.—Mr Clark was appointed convenor of the Committee meetings. AuertoxKßKS. —In accordance with notice given, Mr Forrest referred to the manner in which many Waikato settlers had been " fleeced " by auctioneers selling produce and then becoming bankrupt. After considerable discussion and several amendments to the original proposition, the following resolution was passed :—That tho Government be requested to amend tho " Auctioneers Act." as to make it coir.pulmiry on all auctioneers and commission agents to treat all goods and property entrusted or consigned to them as trusts, and to treat tho proceeds of all such sales, whethor by auction or otherwise, as trust moneys, and on receipt of such trust moneys to at once either remit same to vendors or pay same into a trust account at some bank, or ill default suffer fino or imprisonment. A copy of this resolution was ordered to be sent to the Colonial Secretary and to the Hon. Mr Bryco, M.H.R. Statistics,—All menibe.ru who have the statistic forms issued somo months since, were requested to forward the same the secretary of the club not later than S.turday (to-day) as Mr Hyatt, has kie.dlv undertaken to tabulate them and gi'-e tho results, together with the result of his experiments, at the next meeting o1 tho club. Accounts.—One account was passed for payment, viz., Mr Butler 10months salary, US'(is Sd. AXXUAL JIKETIXCi. The aiinual meeting of the Club was then held, the same members buing present. Axviwi, Kkpoiit.-The following is a resume of the report :—Gentlemen,—Your committee have, much pleasure iti submitting the following brief report of the proceedings of the Club during its second year terminating at the end of the present month. The number of members has been steadily increasing during the year, and now xt itids at 1/iJJ, A protest has been forwarded to the Minister of Lands against the importation of --toatrf and we ise'd, the Club believing their introduclion would not be beneficial t-> settlers. Stati-tical forms for agricultural purposes have been issued to members of tho Club, in the belief that in bringing the experiences of miny of our farmers together and the treatment of their crops, etc., weuhl he. bmelicial to ns all as a community. In the spring a burse show ;ut'l .stilliou parade was held, under the management of the Club, which proved a most unq'i iliti"d success, both (in mcially nnd otherwise, and your co'innittee trust this show may become an annual one, as it is calculated to encourage the important industry of horse-breeding, and will leid to a better

se.l.'c'.lou being cxerc'ujd. In response to a r 'q'i.'.sf, made by the M irigire Farmers' Ol'ih, this club drew op a milliner of suggestions f"i' the f,i,-ui'jti<m of a Farmers' Union, but, ini to the present, no practical results havo foMnwed. Messrs S. Se.ddon aud K. Reynolds read two excellent, papers on "Sheep-breeding'' and "'ilie Hairy Ow," respectively. They led to c m-ider-tihte, discussion, which iiroiigh". t" lieht many facts that will prove of benefit to the farming community. Mr Dick gave a lectin*! on " Manures," and au analysis on some Pukerimu soils. Tins also uiu.it havo bu"ii of groat beuelit to tanners. Tho Secretary then read the balancesheet, which showed the funds of tho Club to bo in a healthy statu, there being a cash balance of £7 'is Id, aud £12 os still duo for subscriptions unpaid. The Chairman moved the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, and said tho interests of the Club were not on the wane, although they could wish they were supported in a more hearty manner by the. presence of members. Many individuals seemed to think that if they paid their ss, that was all that was required : but it was not so, for they wanted every member to take a lively interest in the Club —- to be present at the meetings, and to take part in the business aud -discussions. Some of those who held aloof from the Club asked what good was to be derived from it. He thought they had all benefitted by the various discussions that had taken place, and one great good that had been done was the final settlement of the bag question. There were manv other questions that they were capable of improving, if the farmers would all join for then they would, in connection with similar associations, present a united front aud command attention being given to their requests.—Tho vice-chairman (Mr John Fisher) seconded the motion. —Mr Wells congratulated the Club upon the completion of its second year. He thought it had been quite the success they had anticipated. Good work had been done, and ho urged the members to each take a personal interest in tho Club, which would make it second to none ill New Zealand. — Mr Forrest said there were many questions of importance that had been discussed in the past that required to be kept in view—viz., (1) a workable Act of Parliament for the suppression of adulteration of artificial manures ; (2) negotiations with the Minister of Lands to encourace the limeburning industry ; (3) a concession from the Railway Commissionois to enable farmers to forward a single, truck load of more than one kind of farm produce, at the present r.ite per truck. For years the one ditty they had heard was Foster the mining industry," but now the Government showed by the questions they had asked the Fanners' Clubs that they were becoming aware that agriculture was of greater importance than mining. He spoke in high terms of Mr H. R. Ilyitl, and said the Club owed Mr Hyatt a

great debt for the trouble he had undertaken on its behalf. He thought the finances of the Club should be in a more flourishing condition, but there had been many expenses in furnishing the Clubroorn, &c., that were not likely to occur again. The Club was 153 strong, yet lie knew of a score or two other men that should join. These men said: "What is the good of joining ? The Club won't rise the present low price of potatoes, chaff, <fcc." To this he replied that tho lime, manure, and freight questions were each and every one worth a five years' subscriptions, and if all joined they could make an effort whereby they might be able to competo with their Southern neighbours. Those who did not join at present reaped almost ,'Il, much benefit a-.; the members, and that matter wanted rectifying. They could not form a union to crush out Southern pro dnoe ; but they could form a union and affiliate with other Farmers' Clubs in the province that would give member;! some benefit ,->ver non-members. It was a question of life and death to all Farmers' Clubs that the members should have more benefits: than non-member;.—Tho motion was then put and carried unanimously. Officers.—Afte.' considerable discussion, the following officers were unanimously appointed for the ensuing year :—President : Mr John 1 ( isher. Vice-President : Mr R. Reynolds. Committee : Messrs R. Fisher, S. Seddoti, G. R. Clark, J. Forrest, aud <T. Anderson. Secretary anil Treasurer : Mr M. Butler. Auditors : Messrs J. S. Bond and T. Hartly. A hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing officers closed the proceedings.