THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16220, 24 May 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Nl-WS AND NOTHS A. ANf> P. WOUKKRs' UNION At the A. aiul J\ \forken" I'nw" Contercm-o. at Wellington. on 'I day. .Mr A. (/ooU -.n-f l hat. in South Canterbury the be;>c award conditions lor iin«.'-ner> m New Aealanii were ' n oj.er.ttKi:> The (otiinu-t system ha'-i lice'i ;.!>oii.»i.ed. <in<i ]s <iri an lio':r secured as :i minimum, w|>i!e tho I rat*' or Is !*;i an hour appiiid during last reason. A strong organisation had been iitrit up. lit Oiago next thing j;r»:J been done, and conc.it" 1 " 5 tht-ro wet<> veiv much worse tiian hi Canterbury It «;b hoped by the present action to bring the Utago mon up to tho South Canterbury level. -Mr S. Uoreham moved. seconded Mr A J. King: ••That, in the opinion of this" conference, members ot t-if-A.P.I*. who work under tin', contraf system on threshing mills operating IU North Canterbury are keeping ahvo most pernicious system, injurious and unprofitable to the fanner, in arlution to being one of the greatest evils labour organisations have agreed should he effaced from our industrial system. The motion was carried. It was resolved: "That, whenever op portunity arises, the genera! secretary, or some other member or qualified person appointed by the executive, sha address meetings in the agricultural districts with the object of informing tlio

workers therein on the policy of the uuion, .find on what it is prepared t<-' do on their behalf.'' . The Christchurch remit, viz.. l lla j • the action of the National Governmeii be condemned for sending men to the front without first malting ample provision for their dependants, and that the Christchurch members v.-ho supported the National Government also condemned," was uuanimouslj adopted after the words "the Christchurch" had been deleted in favour of the word ''all,'' before the words "members of Parliament." LADBIIOOKS. The adjourned meeting of residents of the Ladbrooks Hall district will be held in the hall to-night at 8 o'clock. BROMLEY. The Bromley Farewell and Reception Committee met in the school on Wednesday evening, to arrange matters in connexion with a send-off to Private •lardt-n, who is down on final leave. Mr Carter was in the chair, and the secretary, Mr Dryden, reported that the euchre prizes were in hand, and the chairman stated that Mr W. Sandrey had returned the Scotch doll presented by Mrs Carter, and won by him, lor 'another competition. Mr # Carter was heartily thanked for the gift of a teaurn. Mrs Huggins, senr.'s, offer to at- ! tend to the refreshment room was aceptcd with thanks. Mr Huggins, senr., iis elected deputy-chairman, and Mr . ;irr, a member of the committee. It j was decided to hold the function to-

morrow. AMBEIILE7. A very large number of Amberley residents assembled, in tho Oddfellows' Hall, on Wednesday, to welcome home Captain E. F. H. Knowles, of the Main Body, Mr G. 11. Holton, presided. After a concert programme, the chairman referred to the good work done by the local branch of tho lied Cross, and appealed for further helpers at tho weekly meetings. After thanking the ladies and Mr and Mrs S. Doyle (W-aipara), who Juid arranged the evening's programme, he c.illed on Mr G. I>. Greenwood tc present Captain Knowles with an inscribed Maltese Cross, on behalf of the residents of the Amberley district. Mr Greenwood referred to the fact that the guest had joined the Main Body as a corporal, and for conspicuous sprv'icefj had been mentioned in despatches and promoted on' tho field. Captain Knowles, who lost a brother at Passchendaele, and was himself twice wounded, thanked the residents for j their presentation, and especially the ladies fir the many little comforts he had received from them at the front. BURWOOD. In the liurwood Hall, on Wednesday, a weil-attended euchre party and dance was held m aid of the Send-off Committee's'funds. Mrs Tisch and Mr J. Partridge were the prize-winners, Mrs Martin. and Mr J. Liggins winning tho booby prizes. After supper dancing wag indulged in until a late hour. Mr J. Liggins was M.C., and Mr Jones supplied the music. DARFIELD. At a meeting of the Darfield branch, of the Farmers' Union, Mr It. Reid presided over a fair attendance. Mr C. Benjamin, provincial secretary, addressed the meeting.. It was decided to reorganise the branch, and the secretary was instructed to call a meeting, next sale day, of farmers from the Kirwee, Greendale, and Darfield districts, to discuss the advisability of forming one strong branch. GREENDALE. The local Red Cross branch "com-

forts" afternoon resulted in gifts to the value of about £10 being received. A bos of soldiers' comforts was contributed by Mrs Cooke, being the proceeds of a gift evening. , On Tuesday evening the Greendale Band of Hope held its first meeting of the present sossion, Mr C. H. Adams presiding. The programme was contributed by Mrs Cooke, the Misses B. Rudd, I>. Smith, L. Russell, tho Rev. E. E. Smith. Messrs M. P. Cooke and W. A. Wilson. The Rev. Mr Fowles gave an address. At the conclusion of the programme, officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President. Mr Jos. Clucas; secretary. Miss L. J. Rudd; committee, the Revs. Fowles and Smith, Misses B. F. Rudd, M. McKie, and R. Wells, Messrs C. H. Adams, and F. H. Musgrove. ASHBURTON. Mr W. Samuels, employed at Booth and Macdonald'ts implement showrooms, Ashhurton, met with apainful accidcnt yesterday morning. Fie was riding through a doorway when the motorcycle skidded, and in saving himself he put his hand through v. pane of glass, receiving a severe cut on the wrist, which severed an artery. He received medical treatment at the County Hospital. A meeting of the Ashburton Miniature Rifle Club was held on Wednesday evening, Mr H. McElrea presiding. It was decided to continue matches through the winter months. Mr G. Parsons was elected president, Mr ECoker captain and secretary, and Messrs R. Dailoy, E. Berry, E.* Baker, B. Maker, J. Clayton, and H. McElrea committee. Arrangements for the opening were left in the hands of the captain. The annual meeting 0 f the Ashburton branch of the Royal Societv for the Tlealth ot Women and Children was held on Wednesday, Mrs J. B. Christian presiding. Tha report traversed the work of the year, and returned thanks to >urse Hadeke for her devoted services. Tne total number of babies under ber care m the district was 105. J-he balance-sheet showed a credit of A-47 1-s. Mrs Christian was re-elected president, and Mr Charles Jennings hon secretary. I»ast vear's General Committee was re-elected, with the names of Mrs T. H. Hunter and Mrs Lodge acded.