THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS. SHEABBBS' CLAIMS. ATTITUDE OP SHEEPOWNERS' FEDERATION.

Mr C. Gravndler, the secretary of | the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union, made a statement on Friday to a "Dominion" reporter regarding the negotiations for a conference between representatives of the Sheepowners' Federation and tho delegates of the Shearers' Association. Ho stated that on behalf of the Association he wrote to tho secretary of tfco Sheepowners' ■Federation (Mr F. H. Labatt) cn March 6th, asking for a conference for the discussion of wages and conditions in tho shearing industry. In tho courso of his reply Mr Labatt wrote: "I am instructed .to state, that our Federation cannot agree to meet the delegates of the New Zealand A.P.U., since that body is not registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and no binding agreement can be made with it." Mr Labatt added that tho Federation would be willing to meet the delegates of the Shearers' Union, registerd under tho Act, provided that the unions were representative of the shearers. The Federation did not think it would bo possible to make arrangements covering tho coming season, since the war made all the conditions uncertain. In the course of further correspondence the secretary of the Sheepowners Federation repeated # that tho Federation would consent to meet only delegates appointed to represent the shearers' unions. The Federation would "require to be satisfied that the delegates had been appointed by, and did represent, such unions." A final communication from the secretary of the Federation, after a date had been fixed for the conference, stated: "I presume the delegates will be furnished with evidence that the representatives of the various unions have been duly elected."

Mr Grayndler stated that his Association contended that delegates appointed by the executive of the Shearers' Association were properly representative of tho shearers' -anions. The Sheepowners' Federation adhered to its original decision to confer only with direct representatives of tho unions.

AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS. A MISLEADING WARNING. A notice published in the Australian "Worker" warns Australian shearers not to come to New Zealand, and states inaccurately that they will be liable here for military service. "Owing to the stringent war regulations in New Zealand at the present time," runs the notice, "shearers are warned against proceeding to that country nntii after the war. Apart from rendering themselves liable to any future ballot for military' service, shearers from Australia are virtually depriving their comradcs in New Zealand of employment, as the pastoralists of that country prefer to employ Australian shearers in order that the homo shearers may be released for military service."

Tho suggestion that Australian shearers coming to Now Zealand for work would bo liable to military service is entirelv inaccurate (says ,tho "Dominion"). The visiting shearer retains his Australian and does not come within tho scope of tho Military Service Act at all. _ .Ho is not a member of the Expeditionary Force Reservo. This fact has been made quite clear by the military authorities and by the Military Service Boards.

MEAT STORAGE. ACTION BY W AIR OA COMPANY. (raxsa association txlegkav.) WAIROA, Juno 2. At a largo meeting of the shareholders of tho "Wairoa Meat Company yesterday the clmirman, Mr J. S. -Tessep, strongly urged the shareholders to provide further additional capital to increase tho storage space in "iew of the shipping shortage. Ho proposed to ask for £40,000 additional, of which half was subscribed in tho room. The results of tho fewmonths' working of the company have been highly satisfactory. EGMONT A. AND P. SHOW ABA2iI>ONED. (PEES 3 ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) HAWERA. June 2. The annual meeting of the Egmont A. and P. Association, !>v 27 votes to 17, decided to adopt the recommendation -of the General Committee to abandon the Show during the period of the war. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. . Some time ago the trustees of Wanganui College thought that the spare

ground at the bade of tho school could bo used to advantage by running | sheep. The idea was to establish a stud flock of Southdowns, and to get j the senior boys of the school's agri- ■ cultural department to take charge of the sheep and thereby learn something of sheep-breeding. Opon hearing this, Mr W. Howard Booth, of Carterton, suggested that the old bovs should pre- , 6ent the school with the flock. Tho old boy breeders were written to, and all fell in with the idea at once. Mr Booth was at Wanganui last week taking delivery of 21 purebred Southdown ewes, in lamb to pure _ Southdown rams. These ewes are being given to tho school by ten different breeders — all old boys of the college. RANGIORA. The quarterly meeting of the Rangi-ora-Waikuku Domain Board was held on the Domain, at tho Waikuku beach on Saturday afternoon. Thero_ were present Messrs F. Horroll (chairman), i C. Skevington, J. Morriss, C. I. Jennings, Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., and J.] Marshall, secretary. An inspection of tho domain was made, and it was found that tho pinus insignis trees planted on tho sandhills last winter, were making good growth ? and that tlio marram grass was thriving, and was doing all that was expected of it in the way of binding the sand. It was dccidcd to continue the planting of botli pines and marram grass this season, and to make enquiries for other ticcs likely to thrive in the sandy soil ot tho domain. It was also resolved to increase the conveniences for picnic and camping parties, and carry out other improvements. Mr N.B. Archer wrote tending his resignation from tho Board, on account of ill-health. The resignation was accepted with, .regret, and it was decided to postpone the appointment of a person to fill the vacancy until tho next meeting. SOUTHBROOK. The Band of Hope held the first meeting of the season on Friday. _ The Rev. Guy presided, and gave an interesting a'ddresis. Tho programme was as follows: Vocal solos, Misses M. Scott and 0. Hands; recitation's, 1. Lffskey, G. Edlin, P. Hands, M. Robinson. Iris Doggett, and Gordon Laskey; instrumental, Miss I. Coates and C. Iv. Tliwaites. Tho following officers were elected: President, Rev. J. Guv; vice-presidents, Messrs J. T. Withers and C. R. Thwaites; treasurer, Mr Young; secretary, Miss J. Adamson; organists, Misses Ivy Coates and C. Hands; committee, Mesdames J. T. Withers, A. Ross, Banks, C. R. Thwaites, A. Young, Misses ItRoss. B. Ross, W. Hegan, C. Ramsev, M Parkiu, and M. Scott, Messrs J. McGiffith, L. Coates, and L. Grimwood.

TAKAMATUA. i A further meeting of Takamatua residents was held in tho local schoolroom, on Thursday last," to consider the question of rebuilding the factory. Considering the stormy weather there was a very good attendance. Messrs Geo. Armstrong Ol ay or), J. D. Bruce, and E. Noonan. all of Akaro.T, were also present. Mr Bruce occupied tho chair. The chairman stated that he had been in communication again with the experts. Ho was more than ever convinced that a new factory should be set going as soon as possible. He had it on excellent authority that a three-vat factory could be built, even in those war days, for £2600. Ko urged co-operation and immediate action, as being in the best interests of tho district. Mr Geo. Armstrong said that the 300 cows required were now practically guaranteed. Messrs Armstrong Bros, were prepared to set tip a dairy of 50 cows, whilo i a smaller ono of -o was also a practical certainty. He trusted the meeting would consider tho question seriously and deliberately. He referred to the urgent necessity, at this stage of the way, ior increased production :uid efficicncv, and made a strong appeal to tho patriotism of the farmers present. After some discussion the following motion, proposed by Mr TV. Sunckell, chairman of directors of tho now defunct company, aud seconded by_ Mr Geo. Phillips, was carried unanimously: "That a new cheese factory be erected, to be ready for tho opening of next season. A stpong committee was set up to collect data, decide upon material to bo used, and generally to make such arrangements as it doomed best to facilitate building operations. The committeo consists of Messrs J. D. Bruce, Geo. Armstrong. W. B. Hammond, W. Sunckell, H. Odell, G. Phillips, and M. Shepherd. It was understood that building would be commenced as soon as tho necessary formalities for the formation of a new company had been arranged. "With a promise of at least 1000 shares m hand and a guarantee of 300 cows, the prospects for the Takamatua Cheese Factory next season are sufficiently bright to 'make the promoters enthusiastic as to the outcome of tho scheme. HORNBY. Private Edward Brassington (younger soA of Mr Arthur Brassington), who was recently down on final leave, was presented with a shaving outfit on behalf of the residents of the district. Mr Leslie made tho presentation. The fortnightly'meeting of the Islington Progressive Euchre Party Club was held on Thursday evening in the Islington Hall, when there was a fairly good attendance. Play was indulged in till 10 o'clock, after which a short dance was held. Miss Carver won the ladies' prize, Mrs John Rountree being jsecond, and Miss Coulter third. Mr W. Dawson won tho men's prize, Mr John Rountree being second, and Master Eddio Ibbotsen third. The prizes were presented by the president of the club, Mr John Smart. »

| LINCOLN. Messrs Arthur Cooksou and CharlesWolfe have been gazetted members of tho Lincoln Domain Board, in the place of Mr John Wolfe, deceased, and Mr Gcorgo Ronnie, resigned. I GREENPARK. I A concert in aid of tho funds of the i Green park Patriotic Committee was held in the schoolroom on Thursday night. Tho chairman of the commiuop, •Mi- F. Hubbard, presided. The programme was supplied by the. Christchurch Caledonian Society, and consisted of songs by Airs Gray and Mr Br.acy Wilson, recitations by Mr C. E. Thomas, and of several uanccs, well executed, by Mit« D. Turner (scaun truibhas and Irish jig), Miss E. Turner (sword dance and hornpipe), and the Mcintosh Party (reels). The. music for ' the dancing was supplied by Piper J. ' Erskine, who also gave some bagpipe : selections. Mr C. Campbell gave eeve- | ral concertina selections, and Messrs j Parsons and Nicholson ventrilcquia! i and conjuring items. Mies Wood was 'an able accompanist. A. turkey, given by Mr J. W. McMillan, was repeatedly ; auctioned, the following being buyers: j—C. E. Thoma.s, T5. Wilson, K. Yari\ j C. Mawer, E. Crozier, A. Schroeder, C. i Meyerhoff, G. Whitelaw, B. Everest, | £1 each: J. Stalker £1 2s, J. W. McMillen £1 Is, 11. Rolling Lis, W. Kimlier Ljs, J. Carr 10s, Miss E. Hubbard I £1, Mi's .Silvester It's, Miss Yarr £1. , Mark .Bray 10s. The linal bid was Mr F Hubbard's £2. The total realised I was £18 3s. Votes of thanks were I passed to the performers,; and to Messrs E. Crozicr. J. W. McMillan, and _F. Hubbard for motoring the party out. HORORATA. On Friday evening a concert was given by Mr F. C. Raphael and party in aid of the Soldiers' Comforts Funds. Mr Wilfred Hall presided over a crowded audience. Tho concort was much appreciated, and, every performer had to respond to insistent demands for more. Items wero given by Misses Stella Neilson, Dorothy Davis, Lilian Harper, Messrs F. P. Morrison, Colin Campbell, F. Phillips, and F. C. Raphael. During the evening Mr Raphael auctioned a. cake and a photograph of Lord Kitchener, which brought £20 los and £2 los respectively. Tho door takings wero £20. The entertainment concluded with cheers for the performers, and those who motored them out —Messrs C. J. Jones and F. D. Kestcyen.

ASHBL'RTON. Eleven degrees of frost were registered at Ashbnrton on Friday night. Mr E. Reid, manager at Ash burton for Reid and Gray, Lid., has been transferred to Oamani. and will bo succeeded by Mr W.. Scarlc. Tho Eighth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band. Ashburton, met on Friday evening to bid farewell to j'rivatc R.* Wilson, who is leaving with tho Twenty-seventh Reinforcements. Bandmaster Dennis, on behalf of the junior members of the band, presented tho guest with a wristlet watch. A l tho monthly meeting of tho MidCanterbury branch of the Now Zealand Educational Institute, a paper by Miss C. 12. Orr, entitled "Wayside Notes," was read by the secretary. Mr (Schneider, the delegate to the annual confercnco, held m Wellington, gave hio impressions of the meeting.

HINDS. . There was n, good attendance in the Hinds Hall on Friday evening, when a send-off was given to Mr M. Thily, and a welcome home to Mr J. S. Dwycr. The chair was occupied by Mr J. M. Hampton, who presented each soldier with a gold medal. The recipients suitably responded. Tho following contributed items: —Misses A. McKerxic. E. O'Reilly, M. O'Reilly, M. Rogers, lv. Rogers, M. Holland, and Mr H. Rogers. Supper was then handed round, and afterwards the room was cleared for dancing. Mr J. ZMillcn and Misses Hampton (3) supplied tho music, and Mr It. Noble acted as M.C.