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NFU CENTENARY
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The National Farmers Union was founded in 1908, so it will be celebrating its centenary, next year. Many farmers were canvassed to join a local Branch. In West Sussex these Branches were often set up in market towns such as Chichester, Barnham, Midhurst, Pulbourgh, Horsham and Steyning. Meetings could then be held on market days, after the business of the day had been finished. Later, when the motor car became the more usual form of transport for farmers, monthly meetings could be held in the evenings, at a local village hall, hotel or public house. Each county in England had an NFU County Executive Committee, which was made up from delegates sent from local branches. The West Sussex County Branch Executive Committee appointed a secretary, who had an office in Chichester, where meetings were held on the first Wednesday of each month, after the market was over for the day.
The list of members also includes the Rev W J H Newman. Eastdean Rectory Chichester and the Dean of Chichester the Very Reverend J J Hannah DD, who paid a joining fee of £24-10s and an annual subscription of 5 shillings He resigned from the Union, when he retired from farming at East Grinstead in 1918.
Christopher Passmore OBE. September 2007
It is interesting to see on the NFU membership register of West Sussex for 1911, how many of them have descendants, who are still farming in Sussex. Some of them are listed here.
April 1917 it was reported, that eight new members had joined since the last County meeting, bringing the total membership to 835. At a meeting in November that year, at the instance of the Chairman, who undertook to conduct the negotiations, it was decided to apply for the installation of a Telephone, in view of its usefulness to the County Secretary.
June 1917. Hospitality to Colonials. The chairman introduced the scheme inaugurated by the East Sussex F.U, whereby Officers and men of the Overseas Forces, on leave, could enjoy hospitality on farms in the county. It was agreed to offer similar facilities in West Sussex.
March 1918. A letter from Mr Harris of Hunston was read. It stated that the writer had lost a heifer killed, by the Selsey Tram, on the 6th February and sought the assistance of the Union in claiming compensation. Mr Dallyn was asking for support for a claim of compensation for sheep killed on the L.B.S.C. Railway.
Problems caused by the Great War were frequently discussed. The increased acreage of corn was causing a shortage of Threshing Tackle in the County and it was observed that the supplies of necessary feeding stuffs for livestock had been greatly reduced owing the war and would probably have to be rationed.The shortages of fertilizers was causing concern among farmers, who were asking for " an adequate supply of Sulphate of Ammonia at a fair price and at the same time to prohibit its export to Holland or any other country from whence it may reach the enemy."
Next month, read the experiences of WJ Passmore, West Sussex delegate on the National Council of the NFU between the Wars.