THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15751, 18 November 1916, Page 6

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS, AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS. effect: of military service ACT.

It is alleged in the labour press of the Dominion that Australian shearers who, in the past have been in the habit of coming to New Zealand for the shearing season, are not coming this sea&on, owing to the absence of any guarantee that they will not be called upon to becom'e members of the Dominion's Expeditionary Force under the Military Service Act- The matter was mentioned by a representative of "Tho Press" to the Minister of Internal Affairs yesterday, and Mr Russell made the following statement: — "The Crown Law office has been eonculted with regard to the position, and it is clearly laid down in the Military Service Act that the Act does not apply to a man unless he becomes a resident oj; New Zealand.

"Under Section 33 of the Act it is provided, inter alia, that every man. who at any time after the Governor has proclaimed the enrolment of the Reserve, becomes during thp present war a member of either division by at.taininij the age of 20 years or by ben coming resident in New Zealand," comes under the provisions of tho Act. "On tho advice of tho Crown Law Office tho Department of Internal Affairs docs not regard a man who comes to New.Zealand for the purpose of carrying .011 his avocation as a slaughterman or as a shearer as one who has become a 'resident of New Zealand,' provided he brings with him credentials which satisfy the Department that 110 has come to tho Dominion for a particular purpose—such, for example, as to engage himself as a slaughterman or as a shearer —arid that it is his intention to return to Australia to pursue those avocations. "NVhen these credentials are found satisfactory the Department invariably issues permits enabling the holders to return to Australia. In connexion with this matter there has been correspondence between the New Zealand and Commonwealth Governments, which are working together in the matter."

JOTTINGS FOB FARMERS.

At a well-attended nieetincr of representatives of branches of the Farmers' Union held at Tapawera (Nelson), a pronouncement in favour of forming a company to work the lime deposits at Kaka by the Farmers' Union and kindred societies was carried.

The Dominion is likely to be faced with a serious deficiency in oats during the next twelve mouths (says the

"Otautau Standard"). The area sown i s estimated at quite one-titth below last year. In Southland the. shortage is going to be specially noticeable ; districts which have hitherto been large producers are growing very little nior© than will suffice for home use.

Already the secretary of the Canterbury A. and P. Association (Mr 0. B. Pemberton) has received communications from prize-winners at the recent Metropolitan Show on the subject of contributing to' the Belgian Agricultural Restoration Fund, and Messrs Miln Bros., Halswell, and Mr John Fonv:, senr., Brookside. have intimated their intention of giving either the whole or some portion of their prize money to the fund.

A story of how the last farming season affected farmers was told in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A farmer with 332 acres, near Rakaia, of the value of £7700, in 1915-16 made a loss of some £200. His only receipts were 1500 bushels of oats, still in stock, and

£117 received from the sale of turnips, and these were estimated to produce a gross return from the farm of £342. It cost him fully £200 more than this sum to produce the oats and turnips. He could, not afford to stock. ■ Tho previous year lie had made £'480 out of the property.

The joke of the season is recorded against the Customs Department in Wellington (says the "Maiiawatu Daily Times")- Recently a well-known Christchuroh wool dealer asked for permission to export a thousand bales of golden fleeces to America. Ho was turned down. He made repeated representations. It couldn't possibly bo done. Then he heard that an application from Armour and Co.'s representatives to be permitted to - export one thousand bales of crutchings to tho United States had been granted. Burning with righteous indignation ho took the first boat to Wellington and interviewed the Customs head. He demanded an explanation. The head was dumb-founded. "To tell you the truth, Mr he explained with great gentleness, "we didn't know crutchings were wool." "Did you think they grew on trees?" asked the exasperated Southerner, and then, realising the genuine perturbation of his fellow-victim the wool merchant's resentment was extinguished by a- perfect gale of laughter, and he is now retailing the story, in places where men most do congregate as really the best he ever heard.

RANGTTATA. The adjourned monthly meeting of the Raugitata "Road Board was held at Lisniorc 011 Wednesday, with Mr A. McKenzie in tho chair. The clerk reported that the shingling of Studholme's -road had been completed, and that of the Hackthornc road would be commenced next week. It was decided to inform Mr McConnell that the forming of the Railway road by Mr Clark's would be considered at an early date. The question of ploughing a road for the purpose of killing the gorse was left in tho hands of Mr .Allan, who also reported on the condition of a reserve as to fences, gorse, etc., and it was resolved to ask the adjacent occupier to agree to the erection of a boundary fence of seven wires and standards. It was resolved to invite tenders for metalling about 217 chains of Hackthorne road, next Anderson's Crossing, also to contribute £10 each to the I?ed Cross Fund, and the Field Hutment Fund.

HAREWOOD. Private G. Keller, prior to his retiirn to camp, was presented by the residents of Harowood with a' wristlet watch, suitably inscribed. The presentation was made by 31 r Geo- Laiiidon, who spoke in glowing terms of Private Keller's good Qualities, and in concluding his remarks, wished him a safe return. Private Keller leaves with the 20th Reinforcements.

HALSWELL. The annual church lestival wa s held in Mary's_Anglican Church 011 Sunday last. Services were held at 11 a.m. by the Rev. C. C. Oldham, vicar of the parish, with the celebration or Holy Communion, and at, 7 p.m. Both services were lully choral. especial. Psahns, "How Amiable are Thy Dwellings,' 3 and "I was Glad When They bai<i Unto Me,"', were sung in the evening. Miss Brandon presided at In the afternoon a special children's service was held, the R<ev. Mr Oldham being present. The church was tastefully decorated for the occasion with arum lilies, white and scarlet roses, and geianiun..-. A large num. ber of communicants attended the services, and a particularly large congregation assembled in the evening.

A most- successful dance in aid of the Public Hall funds was held in the hail an Thursday evening. There was a large attendance, including a number of visitors from town. Dancing was kept up till the early hours to music supplied l>y Mr W. IJettle, Mr AY. YTilsoji a.ct-e<l as M.C.

GREENDALE. A thunderstorm, accompanied b, about a couple of hours' steady rain oassed over the Greendale distric on Thursday afternoon. Tho rai: was very -welcome, a s the surface of th ground was exceedingly hard, an ploughing grass land was practical! impossible. Although the rainfai was not sufficient for the needs c growing grain, or grass land, it will b of great benefit to recently sown kal and rape. Farmers have been taking advantag of the dry spell, and have been biisil engaged following the twitch. The shortage of farm workers is noi very noticeable, and it is difficult t< get competent teamsters. and nearly ai tho available local labour is absorbci by the present shearing operation which are now in full swing. - MARSHLAND. The fortnightly meeting of the Com mittee of Management of the Marsh land Patriotic Society was held on Wed nesday evening last. Mr D. Good occupied the chair, and apologies fo absence were received from Messrs H McMillan and F. Free. A sub-corn mittee of five members was appointci to inquire into cases of relief renderci necessary through the war, and t take fiction in special circumstances In this connexion it is intended to giv' combined help, by the formation o working bees, where such i* required, ii gardening or harvesting operations, th members of the society recroguisino- t-ha 'in doing so they are simply fulfilling a duty which they owe to thoso whi have been left sliort-handed througl the absence of sons at the front. A the beginning of this week, a party o workers was organised to weed a farm er's crop of onions, thereby saving i from utter ruin. It was decidcd t< send _ letters of condolence to tin relatives of Gminor G. V. Chidgev an< 'rivate M. Brown, both of whom pai< the supreme sacrifice on the Weston Front. Mcsdames Abbott and Down ton, and Messrs D. Goode, J. McFad den, A. "Wilson and J. Schimanski wen appointed the duly authorised collec tors tor the Society, and certain parfa of the district were apportioned t< each one. It was repo'rted that th< Wall Committee had agreed to eliargi only onc-lin!l' of the ordinary scale foi all nii:ot.ing s and socials held under th< □ usuices of the Society. The monthly meeting of the Ladies' Guild, connected with the March lane Methodist Church was held on Thursday afternoon, Mi\ T. "Wilson, the president occupying the chair. Visitors were present from the Shirley Guild. Mis> Dobl»y was elected secretary in place of Mrs G. C.-hisnall. icsigned. Mrs Sutherland presented the Guild with .1 copper kettle, and a member promisee to provide an oil heater for boiling water for afternoon teas. Arrangements were made for unveiling a Church "Roll of Honour by the Rev. Liversedge on November 21th. .Mrs Voss. by special rcriucst. reneatel the reading of her paper on "The Women of the Bible," and was accorded a hearty . vote of thanks. On Thursday evening, the Methodist Church Young People's Bible Clase held a successful social evening. The Rev. C. Strand presided. Games of various kinds were indulged in, and a collection- taken im in aid of the Home Mission Fund. ATCAROA. The members of the Akaroa branch of the Lady Liverpool Fund find it necessary to meet weekly now in order to cop:: with the increased demand for comforts for the boys in the trenches, and for requirements for the sick and the wounded. Last week-end they despatched 40 small parcels, the contents of which will be most acceptable to those at the front. THE GER-ALDINE DISTRICT. A correspondent writes: —Gangeable conditions have -prevailed in ooucn Canterbury during the last few days, : with warm overcast weather, and mist ; or Jog towards the foot-hill country i at uight. The downpour which ocL curreel on Monday afternoon was of i the greatest use to fanners, but might • have been more evenly spread with still i better effect. , From a few miles distance the rain could be seen descending in the- hilj districts like a solid black ws/11, while near Pleasant Point, where it was more' wanted,' we had only a light shower, which scarcely wetted the stones. Hereabouts the crops will soon require 1 a further soaking. a« the total rainfall has been considerably less than elsewhere, but for tho present they are still making fair progress; while grass-feed is plentiful, stock affairs are satisfactory, and the outlook ahead is generally good. In the Waitui and Rangitira Valley neighbourhoods, the contrast to the position at this time a year ago is very noticeable, but apparently the last poor harvest has induced landowners to put in a smaller acreage of crops, particularly wheat. In the. Peel Forest, Woodbury, Pleasant Valley, and Four Peaks districts, the- crops promise to be even better than last season, when these places were among the very few where the harvest was all-round good. Perhaps, consequently, tho acreage sown in wheat is about the same as usual; also, it appears that the variety known as Red Marvel is coming more'largoly into use. Certainly, this is a very fine wheat, but its great fault is that in windy weather the ripe grain shakes out of the. head very easily, and in harvesting operations there is always more or less loss. In the localities named al>ove, the autumn-sown oats_ have done especially well, and after being fed off in early spring are now making rapid progress. Grass feed is, if anything, too plentiful, and in many places the stock are wanting unusual care, as they are in such high condition, that eases of casting occur more frequently than ever. When the woof is off them, the situation will lie relieved, and shearing has been proceeding steadily: but the unsettled weather is now causing some delay, and it is being found that the shearers available are not any too many for the amount of work in hand. ]n this part of the country, there was a further rainfall on Thui-sday afternoon, with every probability of a wet week-end. The rape and root crops are now being sown a* rapidly as possible, and in many places are alread3" safely in the ground, where the showers should give them a good *tart. Here or there both swedes and turnips are to be seen well above the ground, and this year it seems that a general idea is ■'plenty for ail." and a larger' acreage than usual is being sown in case of

need. Given the same sort of climate for a fen- more weeks, and there "ill be some very fine hay crops all ready for_ cutting. As one farmer had it: ith all this iced in the country, it is a thousand pities there i s not a lot more stock about." And it is to lie feared there are many people who must agree with him. Along the coast lauds, from Milford to Rangitata-on-»Sea. the prospects of lx>th corn-growers and sheepowners appear satisfactory, and a favourable rainfall should ensure a good harvest. During the two last summers, but little rain occurred in these districts, and the shortage of feed had very serious effects, but fortunately the present season is proving a much better one, and the owners ot daily stock have no need for anxiety on this account. Inland by Orari, Belfield, and Orari bridge, the harvest outlook is good; the paddocks and tussock lands contain a good supply of feed, but on a number of farms a short stock of sheep is "very evident. . Two farmers told me the same tale, ''We cannot buy sheep at present prices, and unless there is a dry summer ahead, nobody "will want the leed." Gardens are everywhere Jul) of vigorous growth, and near Orari, as a sign of the early season, green pens a nd voting potatoes have already appeared on certain dinner tables.