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S.A. Farmers' Association.
THIS DAY.
The annual meetings of .the S.A. Farmers'
Mutual Association were commenced at the
Sir John Barleycorn Hotel on Wednesday
morning, March 2. Owing to the absence of
Mr, Gell, Mr. G. Stone, one of the vice-presi
dents, occupied the chair. There were also
present-Messrs. W. Morrish, W. Copley,
M.P., W. H, Binney (treasurer), W, J. Ven
ning, Crystal Brook; J. Wall, F. J. Bradford,
G. Lovelock, W. Russell, J. Davidson, J,
Jameson, Orroroo; R. Pavey, Crystal Brrok;
members of the central committee; T.
Johnson, Redhill; C. NY. H. Hirsch, Appila
Yarrowie; G. M. Growden, Gladstone; J.
Pearce, Caltowie; G. Dowd, Hanson; S. Alker,
Terowie; T, Bartlett, Barabba: W, C, Barton,
Quoin Farmers' Union; T.Robertson, Bligh
Farmers' Union.
The annual report was as follows:-"The
central committee beg to lay before you a brief
report of the past year's proceedings, which
have been light compared with previous years,
no very important questions having come before
the country demanding our serious considera
tion. A considerable amount of correspondence
has been received from the branches, which
has occupied the attention and careful consi
deration of your committee to meet the views
and wishes of the respective branches, in ac
cordance with the policy of the association
generally. During the year several resolu
tions that were confirmed at the last
delegates' meeting have been reaffirmed and
forwarded to the .Government, viz., the pay
ment of members of Parliament, abolition of
the auction system for the disposal of agricul
tural and grazing land, and the limiting of the
area that one person shall hold of the 1888
leases, which have been rejected, and your
committee are more convinced than ever that
the development and successful settlement of
the country greatly depend on the adop
tion of those measures by the Legislature.
The committee are pleased to record that
during the year one new branch has. been
formed and another is in course of formation,
but regret that two branches have closed,
owing principally to the financial depression
andremovalof membersfrom the neighborhood.
The committee have held six meetings during the
year, with an average attendance of eight mem
bers. The committee have issued during the year
two circulars to the branches containing five
questions, with the result that 19 have re
turned answers thereto. The committee would
desire to keep before the branches and the
farmers generally the importance of re
turning to the next Parliament local men
who will represent their interest and
study the welfare of the colony at large. In
conclusion your committee regret that the
past year has been so unpropitious to the agri
cultural and grazing interest; through the
dryness of the winter seemed to be almost
total ruin in .many districts, but are thankful
this was averted to a great extent by the
bountiful rains that fell late in the season, and
hope the coming year will be more favorable,
and that general prosperity will be realised by
all the producing interest of the colony."
The balance-sheet for the year ending January
31 showed:-Receipts-Balance in bank, £3
IBs, 6d.; Baroota and Telowie Branch, full
levies, £3 12s. Gd.; Caltowie, £4; Ororroo, £;
Warrow, £2 10s,; Crystal Brook, £2 5a;
Belton, half levies, £1 123. 6d.; Redhill,
arrears 1SS5, £1 15s.; Hanson, do,, £1 5s.;
Beautiful Valley, do,, £4 5s.; Belton, do., £1
12s. 6d,; Wonna and Parnaroo, do., £3;
Stansbury, do., £2 7s. 6d.; Port Victoria, do ,
£1 15s.; Amyton, do., 7s. 6d.; Ororroo, do.,
£1; Terowie, do., £110s.; Crystal Brook, do.,
10s.; Amyton, arrears 1884, £1 7s. 6d.; con
tribution Mr. N. Brogan, £3 103.; proceeds
annual dinner, £12; total, £55 18s. 6d. Ex
penditure-Annual dinner, £12 10s.; rent of
committee room, £1 10s.; supplying report to
branches, £2 7s. 4d.; advertising and printing,
£817s. 10d.; printing memorials re State bank,
£2; three quarter-years salary to secretary,
£18 15s.; stamps and stationery, £2 14s. lid.;
exchange, 3s. 3d.; balance in bank, £9 0s, 2d,;
total, £5518s. 6d.
Mr, W. J. VENNING, in moving the adoption
of the report and balance-sheet, regretted that
EO few new branches had been formed duriug
the year, and also that the finances of the asso
ciation were not in a better condition. They,
however, ended the year with a credit balance,
and he hoped that their success in the future
would be much greater than during the past
year. They had done a lot of useful work in
the 12 months, and they should work and hope
in the assurance that the depression would pas3
over, and leave the colony in a firmer position
than previously, having benefitted by the
severe lessons of the past. Mr. R. PAVEY
seconded the motion, which was carried nem,
con.
Payment of members.
Mr. W. J. VENNING, in opening the dis
cussion on this subject, moved that.'payment of
members be recommended by the association.
Mr. JAMESON seconded the motion, and said
this was one of the vital questions of the
present time. If effect was not given to this
motion several of their able members would
have to retire in consequence of want of funds.
Mr. RUSSELL hoped that when the timid
Treasurer addressed his Chief's constituents at
Gawlrr he would tell them what the opinion of
the Ministry was on this question,
Mr. PEARCE thought the farmers would
never be properly represented in the House
until payment of members was in force in this
colony.
Mr. DAVID thought the country members of
the present Parliament compared very favor
ably with the other membara. The Hon, J,
H. Howe, Messrs. Moody, Copley, and others
were examples of the stamp of men that could
not be beaten in House of Parliament in
Australia; He protested against the return of
capitalists and lawyers,
At this stage of the proceedings the Com
missioner of Crown Lands (Hon. J. H. Howe)
entered the room, and was recei\r9d with a
round of applause.
Mr. ROBERTS had advocated the payment of
members for many years past, and hoped to
see it enforced during the coming session.
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