THE FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 4

THE FARMERS.

Auckland has a special interest in the welfare of the Fanners' Union, because the Union was founded in this province, and during the last few years has made more progress here than in any part of the Dominion. Farmers, of course, have just as much right to combine as any other section of the

people, and perhaps, of all classes, they can do most good to our community by intelligent combination. Jn this young-, only partly developed country, farmers have immense opportunities both for developing the productivity of the soil and raising the. standard of life in the country. The British Trade Commissioner, after travelling , through the Dominion, has eaid that "the Dominion's resources are so little developed.) relatively to possibilities, that they may almost be said to be undeloped. With a greater population, which ft could readily absorb, improved methods of farming, closer cultivation, the use of waste lands, the drainage of swamps, and the development of means of communication to enable producers to market their prodiice more cheaply and quickly than at present, the possibilities of New Zealand are incalulable." The farmer will not make the most of these wonderful opportunities if he does not combine to protect his own interests anl improvp his methods. Communications, scientific agriculture, co-operation in selling and buying, development of water power, extension of foreign markets, and education, are subjects in which farmers in combination might do a great deal. Is it conceivable, for instance, that the country roada, especially those in the Northern districts, would be as bad as they are if the farmers, who are the worst suilerers, combined in insisting that they should be improved? Strong pressure could be brought to bear on the Government by farmers to push on the main trunk lines of railway. Only two things could wreck the Farmers' Union —apathy, and the introduction and spread of party politiiy. The. first can be overcome by enthusiasm and organisation, and the second c.in be kept out by wisdom.

Following is the official weather forecast for 24 hours from 0 a.m. to-day: "Indications for moderate to strong winds, south-easterly prevailing. The weather will probably prove cold and showery, and the night probably very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency. Tides high. Sea rough."

While in the Auckland district the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, ■will visit the King George V. Hospital at Rotorua, for which large additions have been decided upon and 'plans prepared. The additions will consist of two hospital wards, officers' quarters, orderlies' quarters, workshop, bathroom, and addition to the billiard room. The wards, which are to 'face the north, will be oblong in shape, 135 ft by 30ft, with verandahs along the whole front and part of the rear. The bath building will •be 90ft by 32ft, with compartments for a swimming bath, massage room, air and electric treatment. The hot water for the swimming pool will be obtained •from a large hot pool at the western side of the Kuirau Reserve, and will be obtained by pumping. The canvas screens at present round the wards are to be dismantled, and will be replaced by Whitney windows.

Mr. John McAlister, of Xortueote, who has just returned from a four months' trip to the. United States, where he went to see his son, Mr. Allan McAlister, who has joined the aviation service, and is stationed at Dallas (Texas), describes a vast change in the conditions oi that country since his previous visit some months prior to America's entry into the war. The various 'States are a hive of industry for the manufacture ot war materials. In Seattle alone, 40,0UU men were engaged in shipbuilding, and were turning out one ship per week. He saw the concrete ship Faith, which was 'built something like a scow. There was a splendid patriotic sentiment in the States, and the feeling against the Germane was intensified since the casualty lists were received, and in many cases ye short shrift was extended to Germans there.

At 2.52 a.m. to-day an alarm was received at the fire station from Grey Lynn. The fire proved to be in a dwellinghouse situated in Mackelvie Street, which was occupied by Mrs. A. Powell, and owned by L. A. Williams and L. V. Mawtman. The llames were conlined to the dining room and kitchen, the rest ot the building being saved by the prompt arrival of the brigade. The house was insured for C2of> in the London and Lancashire Office. The occupant unfortunately had no insurance on the furniture.

The whereabouts of Augustus Lomey, a fisherman, of (.'rummer Koad, Grey Lynn, arc unknown at present. He has been missirg since Friday last, when he put to sea in a boat with a damaged tail that had been repaired. Since then he has not been seen or heard of, and the police have been making fruitlees inquiries. The retrial of George Stokes, on a charge of breaking and entering the paymaster's office at the railway station, and stealing from the safe the sum of .C 204, and on a charge of damaging the safe and committing mischief, was concluded at the Supreme Court before his Honor .Mr. Justice Stringer., and a jury of twelve yesterday afternoon. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., appeared for the Crown, and Mr. W. Oliphant for accused. A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury. His Honor stated that Stokes had served a sentence of two years' imprisonment for breaking, entering and false pretences, and one of three years' reformative treatment. He had come back after serving hie country for a considerable time, and had squandered the money he had saved while serving with the forces. The accused's record was sufficient to class him as an habitual criminal, hut he would be piven another opportunity before that was done, and a sentence of three years' imprisonment would be imposed.

It was reported at the meeting of the Mt. Albert Borough Council last evening that the new Fire Brigade had been sworn in and all the arrangements were, satisfactory, the new men being enthusiastic in their work.

The Wairarapa express from Wellington on Saturday was partially derailed near Mangatainaka. The train was running late, owing to the floods, and when about a miie from Mangatainoka the driving rod of the engine broke. It fell between the rails, and cut about thirty sleepers like a knife. It also spread the rails, and the car just behind the engine was derailed, while the wheels of the engine were almost ofT the line. The express was travelling at a fast pace at a bend in the line, not far from a culvert, but was brought to a standstill before anything serious occurred. The passengers in the derailed car were considerably shaken by the jolt, but no one was severely injured.

Arthur David I'adlie, for whom Mr. Richmond appeared, who at the previous criminal session had been remanded for medical observation, appeared before the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence on a charge of arson at Tauranga. Mr. Richmond stated that accused had been under observation since that date, and the opinion of the medical men was that he should be admitted for treatment to the Borstal Institution. Invercargill. His Honor Mr. Justice Stringer concurred in this view and sentenced accused to a term of reformative treatment not exceeding three years at the institution referred to.

A remarkable outbreak of ptomaine poisoning occurred at Adelaide Children's Hospital on 10th May, as the result of which 32 member.; of the statl were prostrated. The symptoms in many of the cases were most acute, and the condition of the patients caused considerable anxiety. The matron, secretary, two resident medical oflicers, and many members of the nursing stall' were affected, but fortunately none of the children in the hospital were poisoned. It is surmised that the outbreak was due to the eating of mutton, which was served hot at the midday meal and again, cold, at the evening meal. Those who partook twice of the meat were attacked more seriously than those who had eaten of it but once. The cook, who also dined off the mutton, was one of the victims.

Everyday experiences teach the obligation of tolerance towardd one's neislibour in respect to what he is doing to help win the Avar. Here is ;i case in point: A station manager, lonpr out of practice in rough back-country work, had to personally take charire of the mustering this year, and he set out, on one of the roughest and loftiest runs in Ota<ro, with two experienced men, a sailor, an.l a miner, to work those parte of the station that in past years have taken seven trained musterers to cover. Aβ a fact, a full eupply of trained mueterers cannot now be pot. Many have jfone to fight. The job on this station occupied nine weeks, the party having to traverse ice mountains to a height of SOOOft, and on many occasions tramp paths through the 6no\v before the sheep could be persuaded to move.

The Claime Board of the Auckland Patriotic- Association met this morning, and dealt with a large number of applications for assistance, particularly where soldiers had been discharged and their pensions had not been voted, or the first payments had not been made. Especially in circumstances where men were married, assistance was voted for various periods extending from three weeks. In cases where there was delay in voting Government pensions, applications having been in for some time and the men already discharged, the applications were again referred to the Pensions Board, with a view to expediting their pensions.

A record day"s work was done at the New Zealand Flying School, Kohimarama, yesterday. Xo less than 78 instructional flights made during the day, the machines being. constantly in use all day. Aβ a finieh to the day's work a flight of the three 'planes was made up the harbour towards evening. The, machines passed close over the wharves and attracted considerable attention. Work at the school is progressing apace. A resident military instructor lias been engaged, and is permanently attached to the school.

The case in which Richard J. C. Wight, farmer, of Paeroa (Mr. A. E. Skelton), claimed £2000 damages from Margaret Robson, Paeroa (Mr. H. H. Ostler), damages for alleged 'breaches of certain clauses of the lease of a- property, was adjourned by his Honor Mr. Justice Cooper yesterday afternoon to allow the jury to visit the farm, which is situated at Paeroa. The jury left 'by train last evening and will return to Auckland this evening. The case will be continued tomorrow.

Mr. A. Winslow, Consul-General for the L'nited States, has received a cablegram from the Department of State, Washington, advising that the importation of all articles mentioned on the latest list of restricted imports has now been entirely prohibited, with the exception of animal oils. The list alluded to includes several articles formerly exported from Xew Zealand to the United States, the most important item being rabbit skins, of which a total of nearly six million skins was exported from this country in the year 1916. The total value of these was over £76,000.

"We are most grateful to our friends at Whangarei." remarked the Mayoress (Mrs. J. H. Gunson) this morning, when asked regarding the visit paid by the secretary. Miss Harvpy and herself, to the North. Mrs. Gunson explained that they had been taken to the various places in motor cars by friends, and often the way was through muddy roads. Mrs. Gunson and Miss Harvey (hon. provincial secretary) left Auckland last Monday for Whangarei, and returned on •Saturday afternoon.

At the annual meeting of the Morrinsvillo suppliers of the Xew Zealand Dairy Association it was announced that the Association had purchased 10 acres ot land alongside the railway station. It was inferred that the purchase was for the purpose of the erection of a Glaxo factory, but the representatives of the Association stated that there is small prospeot of the erection of a factory at the present time. Difficulty was being experienced in securing additional machinery for existing factories. There was considerable discussion of the erection of a cheese factory, and a further meeting is to be held to consider the matter.

There is tremendous enthusiasm in America, said Mr. A. G. Wise, general manager of the Melbourne "Herald," after a visit to the United States. The preparations are on such a gigantic scale that at present their aid is not so effective as it might be, but when it does come, in the visitor's words. "God pity the Hun."' The great American population was mainly composed of Saxon people who had fled to escape the Prussian jackboot, and no one he spoke to had any doubt but that they were intensely patriotic to the American flaj*. Generally he found the Labour classes in the States were contented and working loyally to end the war.

A sine die adjournment was granted by the Military Service Board at Christchurch, yesterday, in resipect to the New Zealand Shipping Company's appeal on behalf of James Neville Barns, its actingaccountant in Wellington, who is a voluntary recruit. It was stated tha'o the company's Wellington accountant had enlisted, and Barns was acting in his place. Ho had been in the. service for 20 years, and was well qualified to fill important positions. About half the company's staff had gone, the company having given ite men leave of absence with Half pay when they enlisted, and it was urged that any further depletion of the experienced men would interfere seriously with the quick dispatch ot steamers. It was not a matter of profit to the company, as the company's steamers were all requisitioned by the Imperial Government, which pays all expenses and takes all earnings.

The following is an extract from a letter received in London from 4/1170 .Sapper A. H. Loekett, N.Z.E., now interned in Switzerland:—"Xow that the Rood weather is at hand, some of the Colonials here have started the ball rolling with regard to Rugby football. Up to the present no Rugby has been played here; it has been all Association. I have been round to the various hotels, and have found that there are a good many first-class Rugby players, so we have started a chvb. At present we have only one Rugby ball, and, of course that is not enough. 7f you would uplift from my account a sufficient sum of money to buy a good ball. I should be extremclv gratified."

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Society for the Protection of Women and Children carried a motion urging the Hon. G. W. Russell, in the interests of the womanhood of New Zealand, to exercise his powers under the Social Hygiene Act <by appointing women as health patrols.

In response to a request made by Whangarei local bodies, to b« apportioned a share of the Dominion war trophies. Mr. J. S. Dent, Mayor of Whangarei, has received a communication from MajorOcneral Robin, stating the Minister of Defence had acceded to allot one machine gun to tlie town of Whangarei. The trophy was captured by the 15th North Auckland Regiment, whose headquarters an , at Whangarei. The Minister requests that the gun be placed in such a position as will ensure its remaining a permanent memorial to those "who captured it.

A lecture on "Thoughts on Thinking" was given by tlie Rev. A. B. Clia.ppell at the Wesley'Hall last evening. Tliet lecture, which was given under the auspices of the Workers' Educational Asnociation, attracted a large number of people, and great interest was taken in the address. .Mr. J. D. Robertson presided. The lecturer dwelt on the physiological basis of mental science, comparing animal, child and adult psychology. A number of students for the tutorial class in psychology were enrolled at the conclusion of. the meeting.