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NORTH BERRY JERRY AND RANNOCK.The annual meeting nf the above was held at Itaimork on IMh. with n fiiir attendance of members.A vote of sympathy with Messrs. A. McKinnon iiml Win Thomns nml their relative* in their bereavement was passed by n stand* ing vote.The secretary (Mr. .7. R. C. ITigmnn) rend the annual report.Having referred to the war. the disappointing harvest, and the difficulties of farmers owing to the small payment received on wheat—not to mention the long waits for it—not I'nn-tituting a living wage, he went on to refer to the political situation, remarking that whilst farmers desire exceedingly to he loyal to the British Kinpire, yet we had been forced into opposition to the Govern* nient, both Federal and State, owing to the lack of sympathy and even Justice we had received. In this State we had appointed an auditor to audit the Wheat Pool, and a first report would seem to indicate that it had been a very necessary step. The Federal t;overnmeiit has promised us representation on the Wheat Hoard, yet after a man had been chosen for the position the Hoard refused to allow him to sit. in this State, after a long fight, this just demand had been granted. In the field of polities we had been Caused many heartburnings during the year. The farmer cheerfully faced labour and other conditions that the meanest in other employments would not submit to. nil for the chance of making a home and not one chance in n million of making a fortune, and it seemed the dregs of bitterness that on the top of it all the Government should pile unjust and unsympathetic treatment. Keeling this bitterly wo organised to get reprcsentn-tion into Parliament, selected a truly representative man and then when success seemed certain owing to a complete change of parties in the House, we have to drop it all and full In behind the former representative of this constituency under a new flag! We, however, have this consolation thnt our ideals are winning and believe that we shall yet receive sympathy and justice if we only patiently endure. Whatever section of the community can he done without, It is not the producer. During the year the membership reached 2d—a good total under the circumstance*. Tudor the auspices of the branch a working bee bad fenced in the school—* great improvement. A collection for - the auditor of the Wheat Pool was taken up. and a fair sum raised. This fund has not yet i foscd. The electors’ ro!l of North Kerry .terry and ltannock had been examined and revised. We joined in asking the Federal Government to allow lf» per cent, for depreciation of agricultural machinery when making up taxation returns, instead of 24 per cent., and we succeeded in getting the amount raised to 10 per cent. This branch also took steps to get improvements effected in the railway yards at t'oolnmon. and no doubt this action aided the movement to a successful issue. Three candidates for the shire council were endorsed by the branch —two were elected and the other retired in order to enlist in His Majesty’* forces. In the fight for conscription, a meeting in favour was organised in the Rprlngwood Hull, and the majority was in favour at the local poll. Hcvernl protests and appeals have been made during the year, especially in regard to the way our wheat has been dealt wiih, all without effect. We ran only hope that the new National Party, both State and Federal, will give us better treatment.The secretary was thanked for his report.The treasurer’s report revealed u credit balance of £ 6s 6d.The membership fee was again fixed at 10s per member for the coming year.Mr. 0. Downie was voted £4 towards his expenses in attending last conference.The election of officers resulted as follows: - President, Mr. Andrew Tady; vice-presidents, Messrs, A. A. Dennis and A. Downie; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. J. Pearce.Mr. G. Downie was nppointcd to represent the branch on the District Council.A letter was received from Mr. Klllen, giving his reasons for withdrawing from the political contest, and the secretary was in-fit rue ted to write expressing the approval of the branch of his action, and the hope tInii he would be their candidate for Parliament nt some future date.
Newspaper Details
Sydney Land
Sydney, New South Wales, AU
Fri, Apr 06, 1917
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
AU 05 Jun 2022
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