FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2515, 31 May 1909, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

GISBORNE BRANCH—ANNUAL MEETING.

Tho annual meeting of the Gisborne Branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday afternoon. Air W. D. Lysnar presided over a good attendance of members.

The .annual report and balance sheet showed a credit balance of £6 2s sd; the total membership numbered 157; the arrears totalled £42.

Reviewing tho year’s work, tho chairman said that eleven meetings had been held. He enumerated the various subjects that had been discussed, and the satisfactory results that had generally followed. Several addresses had also been delivered during the year. Ho could not help regretting tho farmers did not support the movement better, especially in tho retaining of tho services of a veterinary surgeon. Ho moved tho adoption of tho balancesheet.

In seconding the motion of the adoption of tho report, Mr A. J. Cameron said ho was sorry to seo that tho veterinary fund had not received the support it deserved. He hoped the coming year would be more active, and the branch well in funds. Tho motion was carried.

The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year. Chairman: Mr W. D. Lysnar: Committee: Messrs A. J. Cameron. W. Bell, J. C. Field, V. W. Smith, E. Langford, Bruce, C. J. Parker, R. Little, Candy, -G. E. Jones, and H. H. Wall. Secretary, Mr C. H. Wittet, and delegate to the Conference, Air A. J. Cameron. The County Council’s by-law respecting tho suspension of heavy traffic durii;[he yinter months was then discussed. The by-law enforcing tho 6in. tyro applies to tho metalled 'Toads ar.P limits the load to 30c,wt, for every pair of wheels. Mr Oxenham said ho thought tho by-law would bo a great hardship on carters. His experience was that wide tyres did more damage to tho roads than narrow tyres. There were many roads that would not carry wide tyres, and farmers had from time to time been compelled to change their tyres. The solution to the difficulty was to increase the rates and make the roads.

One speaker said that if he was compelled to put wider tyres on his dray he would also have to get new axles, or the tyres would work against the bodv of the dray - Air A. J. Cameron thought the County Council' was acting very unreasonably in calling upon the, settlers to again get wider tyres. The tyres at present allowed on the roads had only been in use about three years. The bylaw now proposed would not save the ,roads. He thought a petition should be sent to tho Council protesting against the alteration. The Chairman suggested that a deputation should ho sent. He doubted if the County Council had the power to make an unreasonable by-law, and it might be a question for the Ala gist rate to decide. He hoped, however, that the by-law would never he confirmed. It would mean that the cost oi carted goods to the .farmers would be materially increased. . . Mp Cameron then moved that a deputation consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Oxenham. C. J. Parker. C. C. Jones, Scragg. Linklatcr. and himself wait upon the Council to bring ioiward the views of the Union. The motion was unanimously agreed to. SOUTHLAND BRANCH. [Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, Alay 29. At the annual conference of delegates to the Southland Provincial Conference of the New Zealand banners Union, the president Air AlcQueen, in his opening address, referring to the cause of tho depression, pointed outthat speaking particularly of stock m the sheep-carrying countries the past year had been a very fine fattening year all over the world, and more stock was fattened. The result was that the English market was flooded with mutton, and the New Zealand export trade •had suffered a little by that. Theie had a’so been a depression in wool, which, strange to say, had recovered. He attributed that to people economising in their food, and wearing tlieir clothes a little, longer, but being forced to start buying clothing some months later, with the result that wool went up. The prospects of fanners were by no means gloomy. These would recover in a short time, for the reason that with the gradual reduction in stock and tho increase in people a higher rate of values must come about. The Conference had to deal with 39 remits on various questions of more or less interest to farmers.