WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3031, 17 December 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Thk CambridßO members of this Club met in thn Club-niMin, IJuke-stroet, nn Monday at 7.30 p.m. There were present: Messr.s J. Fisher (cliainnaii), (i. K. Clark, .1 Anderson, W. Selby, Jas. Itnlly, li. (Jarland, S. Seddon, V. Hicks, JI. J. Turner M. ISuttlß. H. R. ITyntt. M. Butler, T. Ifartly, J.-is. Korrfßt, C. Hunter, W. Wallacp. J. Fisher, jmir., C. Roberts, Gau. Wntt, R. Fishnr, Major Wilnun and Archdeacon Willis. A deputation fr.nn the National Assuciatinn was also present consistincr of Mesnrs Jno. Batger (urasident), irancisHull (secretary), D. B. McDonald, and Ed. Belt.—The minutesof the prorious meeting were rend and duly continued. Sympathy.—Mr 11. Buttle sußßested that tile Club should adjourn all business as a mark of resppct for, and sympathy with their vice-chairman, Mr R. Reynolds, who, they were awira, had suffered a [treat loss under particularly painful circiimHtances.— The chairman thought they mi(?ht deal with tha correspondence, which consisted of one item only, and then adjourn.— This wiw aRi-eed to. Thk Governor's Fhozkx Shkki , .— The Chairman said they were all ilunbtWs aware of the splendid manner in which Lord Onslow had endeavoured t> give the frozen meat trade of Xew Ztvdand a lift. The method adopted was the fine.-t advertisement that it was possible to twt, and he was sure the settlers of New Zealand all felt tlmikful to the Governor for the trouble he had taken in thu matter. He knew that their Clnh would, one mid all, wish to thank His Excellency; therefore he (the chairman) had sent him the following telegram, as soon as the innttur appeared in the papers: "The Waikato Farmers' Club thank you for j'our capital idvcitiacmerit of New Zealand riultin.'—The follnwiiiß reply had been received : "IHh Excellency the Uov.irmr has received with much pleasure your teleeium anprociativo of his efforts to popularise in London New Zeiliind mutton. R. Walrond, P.S." Mr Forr-'it, rc.ffiiTßd to a letter thai, apppiirnd in TIIK W.MKATO TIMKS sholtly rftr-1- I.he .SUCCESS of Hid «iovernor"sH\pr-rini"iit was timde known, which contlined m.-vr-r.d (,'<i'>d sueprestions. Hβ (;.iv.i notice that Im should movi) in the matters, a-i mii»go<ted in the lot.tiT, at thu next montinir. Tlpi letter referred to oiiiain:it/jil from TaoUoioa and was signed CXI.Li. Thk Bl'sikkss AiwouKSEi'.-Xfajor Wilson hairing consented to adjourn the IWldini? of his paper r-il " Foot-rot ill .Sheep," Mi liuttlo nnv.-d tint all further business be adjourned till m-xt mcpl.inp: and that the cliairnian. (-ecretaiy and Mr Clark draw up ;i lett.r .if c ■nululuimu on beli.vlf of llih Club, its sympathy with thoir in lii-i lanif ntalile (rouble. .Seconded by Mr Seddon and un aniinoiisly agreed t). TIIK X.vriOX.VL A«SO(JI,\TION.

The chairman said they had a deputation of Auckland gentlemen pr.won , ., who hud come to tell them about thu National Association, and althcmah they ha i adjourned their ordinary bu-iness hu ihouuht they might hear what the deputation had to say. This being agreed to, Mr Batge.r, the resident of the Association, briefly explained why the deputation were pr-!»unt, and i-anl they had not coinn to deliver addresses —but would rather discuss the various matters embraced by tho platform of thu Association in a conversational mautirr. Ho then explained why nnd how the Ausneintion had come into exist 'iiico. Its principle objects were to oppose .-ill class legislation and the direct attack now being mailo on the principle of freehold tenure ; and its bisis was fair play to ewrybody. lie IMr Bulger) diil not agree with the experimental legislation being tiied by the present Go-

vernment ami the attempt to despoil capital. He thought all legislation should be just and equal, and i» was to enriftnvi'iir to secure this that thu National Association had sprung into existence. If there hail been an organisation of that description in existence prior li> the late general election, he did not'belie\c tho present rown members would have been returned. Each branch of the Association would appoint its own officer.', fix its own fees, and manage its own business ; but no resolutions must be published as having been passed by the Association until they had been adopted by the Central Council in Auckland. It would be the duty of each branch to look after the electoral roll, and see that all its members were duly qualified to vote, and otherwise prepare for elections. The Central Council would consist of delegates from the various branches, so that all would be represented upon it. Mr Hull spoke of the hearty support the deputation had met with in the North, where they found the struggling workers willing to pay their fair share of taxation. Air Balla-nce had avowed his intention of trying to eventually place the whole taxation <jn the land, the first step in that direction being tho " bursting-up '' policy now in voeue. The land had been bought and paid for, but now that it had been cultivated tho Government coolly said: ''We have had your money, now we will take your land.'' If compensation were given, he felt, sure no one would grumble—and, indeed, the largo proprietors would be very glad to part with it; but for a systeir of robbery to be legalised tor the purpose—for tha » was what the present method virtually amounted to—was contrary to the spirit of fair play, which is usually characteristic of the British nation. Mr Hull seemed to think the idle and lazy were being taken care of at the expense of the thrifty. He spoke of the unearned increment of land, and pointed out that no one said anything about the decrement to which some of the land is subject. He gave rather a humorous account of his fanning experiences in the Kiipara, w.'iich illustmted the fact that the man with capital often settled others on the laud by finding them work, etc, while he gradually impoverishes himself until he is ruined. Mr McDonald strongly condemned Lhe contiscatory and revolutionary measures of the Government, which he designated "viscous enactments." The Government was supposed to be democratic, which should be that tho country was governed by tho people for the people, but that was not the case, for the country win really governed by the Trades and Labour Councils for the benefit of Mr Bullanco ami his colleagues. The screw was now being put upon the large l.iuded proprietors, but after they had been " burst up " the screw would be given another turn, and so on until t!/u socialist became the victim of tin; creature of his own creating. This should spur the settlers of Waikato to take steps to stop such pernicious legislature. Mr Bel! said tho late strikes, although defeated, had captured the Parliament of Now Zealand, and had turned it into a species .)f Sta:e socialism. Mr Buttle thought laud-owners should protect themselves, or they would be taxed till the freehold tsuure was gone, and llri land had no value.

Several questions were asked ,tud answered .satisfactorily by the deputation, after which, on the motion of Mr Watt, seconded by Mr Anderson, it was unanimously resolved to form a branch of ihe association at Cambridge. Most of those i.ro-eut r.ivc in their names, aid a committee was formed t> canvass fi>r members ami carry out the preliminary arrangements. A vote of thanks to thn deputation f.T tii" very lucid manner in which they had evhiined the objects of the As.-uciatiou clused the proceed ini;a.