SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS

PRODUCTION ON FARMS DIFFICULTIES IN WAY OF INCREASE PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF PROBLEMS “The fact that we have substantially heavier killings out of a smaller sheep population does not offer a bright prospect in the coming season for mutton, lamb, or wool,” said the president (Mr A. J. Davey) at the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union at Timaru yesterday. “The killings of mutton, lamb, and beef,” Mr Davey said, “show a marked increase over last year’s figures. This is not as great an advantage as may appear on the surface, and we should guard carefully against confusing output with production. The increase in the production of meat must be brought about almost entirely by reproduction, but unfortunately from this point of view the outlook is not so bright. “Stated briefly, the position is that last season at a corresponding date, with the sheep population smaller than in the preceding one, the killings of lambs have risen by 746,000 over the number killed last year. The killIngs of ewes tills season show an increase over that of last season of 715,000 carcases. It is evident from these figures that while output is increasing production is decreasing. “The Government is forming plans for increases in the production of cheese, bacon, beef, eggs, and small seeds. Butter, mutton, and lamb are to be maintained at last season’s levels. The scheme to bring this about must of necessity be very carefully planned, because we are faced with great difficulties. These have not been sprung upon us. They have been seen in the distance for some time, and the Farmers’ Union has persistently drawn the attention of the authorities to the position/ “What we are being asked to do - today is to maintain butter and increase cheese from a smaller dairy herd, to increase bacon when we are short of pig feed, and to maintan mutton and lamb from a smaller flock of ewes, and also to increase small seeds with a reduced manpower on our farms. “There is no doubt that farmers will strain every nerve to co-operate with the Government in this plan, and there is no doubt. that substantial increases can be brought about, but where is the plan? Those i.. authority have been talking about increasing primary production for many months, and what is wanted is action. For instance, the best seasc of the year for the liming of the land has just passed. The application of lime which could have taken place by the organising of a little plant, transport, and manpower has not taken place, and we appear to drift from \ point to point while nothing unusual barmens. “We are rapidly approaching the opening of another dairying season. We are asked to produce more butterfat from fewer cows. _ An earnest at-

CHEAPER LIME WANTED MEANS TO GREATER PRODUCTION APPEAL TO BE MADE TO MINISTER A decision to invite the Minister for Manpower (the Hon. R. Semple) immediately to come to South Canterbury to discuss the lime position was made at a meeting of the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at Timaru yesterday. A further motion was carried that as the Government had not released the Lime Commission’s report, and as the need for cheap lime was urgent, it be suggested to the Department of Manpower and the Primary Production Council that some scheme be evolved whereby cheap lime be made available immediately. . ~ Mr C. Verity said that if lime were made available to .farmers to assist them in a national effort to produce more foodstuffs the value would come back to the Government. Mr C. Ley suggested that plant to crush lime should be. started by the Government in various districts. It was necessary to save the cost of cartage. Plant could be taken wherever there was limestone available. Mr W. Scott said that with appropriate treatment production ■ could be doubled. He considered that the union should try to Mr Semple to take a personal interest in the position. The Minister was a live wire, and he ought to be told that there were’farmers who could not afford to put lime on their land. Mr J. C. Hay said that it was necessary for the lime to be supplied at once, even if the question of payment were left until later. The emergency committee was empowered to prepare a case for presentation to the Minister. LABOUR PARTY DANCE AT TEMUKA The Temuka Labour Party held a successful euchre party and dance in the Labour Hall pn Tuesday evening. Frizes were won by Mesdames J. Clinch and T. King and Messrs McCabe and V. Johnson. Mystery prizes were won by Mrs Daly and Mr G. Jamieson. Mrs Clinch and Mr A. Barnes won a Monte Carlo waltz. Mr W. Seeler was master of ceremonies.

tempt should be made to save more of the better heifer calves. For a number of years past heifer calves from approved cows have been slaughtered, and it should be possible if some plan is prepar' ’ and submitted to farmers for these to be retained; but unless some plan is evolved immediately we will not be able to build up the dairy herds of the Dominion so that the .necessary increase in butter-fat production can be brought about.”

LINEN FLAX SCHEME

RESPONSE IN SOUTH CANTERBURY A good response to the Government appeal for the growing of linen flax to assist the war effort is forthcoming in South Canterbury. “The ready response to the appeal made for a given area to be sown in linen flax,” said the president (Mr A. J. Davey) at a meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ Union at Timaru yesterday, “is indicative of the willingness of farmers to do their part when it is clearly stated what is required of them. The area required to be sown in South Canterbury was originally set at 2500 acres, but this has been increased now to 3500 acres. I am confident that that area will be made available.” ' x The secretary (Mr A. B. Struthers) reported that offers to sow about 1000 acres had been received from farmers in the Temuka, Geraldine, Waitohi, Fairlie, and Rangatira Valley districts. MAGISTRATE’S COURT TIMARU CASES HEARD Kenneth Gordon Andrews,. a young was fined £2 and ordered to' pay costs at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., on a charge of having native game in his possession out of season. On a charge of failing to cpmply with a special condition of his licence to conduct a goods service between the Timaru railway station and the Timaru Potteries, Francis Gordon Sheed was convicted without penalty. Two further similar charges were dismissed. The following were each convicted and fined 10s, and ordered to pay costs for cycling at night without lights:— Dennis Murphy, Peter Burning, Stanley Guthrie. Andrew Leishman, Michael O’Connor, lan Alexander 1 Pearce, Sydney Bruce Pickering, Garnet Stewart, and C. J. Williams. William Richards was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs for cycling along Caroline Bay without permission. Robert Henry. Forest was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for breach of a maintenance order, the warrant to be suspended if arrears are paid off and current payments maintained. HARMONICA BAND A difficult year had been passed, and it was probable that the coming year would also be difficult, said the chairman (Mr S. F. Hanson) at the third annual meeting of the Timaru Harmonica Band. The income and expenditure account showed there had been an excess of expenditure of £149 9s. The accumulated fund amounted to £172 9s sd. Officers were elected as follows: — Patron, the Mayor (Mr W. G. Tweedy); president, Mr H. Hellier; vice-presi-dents, Messrs A. S. Kinsman and M. H. Richards; committee, Messrs A. Hellier. E. Poulston, J. Chiles, L. Stevfens, C. Kelly, and K. Hanson (playing members), J. E. Reid, A. Chiles, C. Toneycliffe, S. F. Hanson, C. G. Baker, G. Campbell, T. Jacobs, J. Leckie, and C. H. Woodley; honorary secretarytreasurer, Mr L. •Smith.

WAIMATE HIGH SCHOOL

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETS The resignation of Mr A. C. Francis was accepted with regret at a meeting of the Waimate High School Board of Governors. Mr Francis has been appointed first assistant and senior language master at Scots College, Wellington. An endeavour is being made to fill the vacancy on the staff with a male assistant. Thd rector (Mr M. Leadbetter) reported that the present roll number was 212 (111 girls and 101 boys). The High School pupils had been asked by personal self-denial and without call' ing on their, parents to support a school cbllection for the Sick T«nd Wounded Appeal. A cheque for £l2 12s was forwarded to the Red Cross. “Mr Blampied has already given a' large amount of assistance to candidates for the Air Force who are following the correspondence course in mathematics and physics,” the report said. “Thanks are due to Alison, Ernest, and Tom Rive, all former prefects of the school, for the gift of a cup, the conditions for which are yet to be determined.” Tree-planting work being done at the High School was described, and it was decided to proceed with the planting of a i shelter belt this winter. The work will be under the supervision of Mr T. A. Wilson, a member of the board. WAIMATE RUGBY REFEREES FOR TO-DAY The Waimate Referees’ Appointment Committee has appointed the following referees for the games to-day:— Junior —Southern v. High School, No. 2 ground, 1.15 p.m. (Mr A. Bartlett); Huimai v. Old Boys, No. 1 ground, 2 p.m. (Mr R. A. ’iroung). Third Grade —Southern v. High School, No. 3 ground, 1.30 p.m. (Mr R. Rose). Senior —The South Canterbury Rugby Referees’ Appointment Committee has appointed Mr L. K. Murray to control the game Celtic v. Makikihi, No. 2 ground, 2.30 p.m-. WAIMATE BASKETBALL DRAW FOR TO-DAY . The draw for the Waimate Basketball Sub-Association’s games to-day is as follows: — First Grade —Waimate B v. Hign School, at 2 p.m. (referee, Miss Wallace); Waimate A a bye. Second Grade—St. Patrick’s By. Hook, at 2 p.m. (Miss J. Segar); Makikihi v. High School B, at 2.45 p.m. (Miss R. Bowles!; St. Patrick’s A v. High School A, at 2.45 p.m. (Miss A. Malthus). PERSONAL NOTES GERALDINE AND TEMUKA Mrs Rutherford Waddell, organising secretary of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union, is the guest of the Rev. W. R. and Mrs Lapsley, Geraldine, for the week-end. She gave a short talk yesterday .afternoon to the members of the union. Mr and Mrs A. L. Temple, .who have been visiting Timaru, have returned to Geraldine. Mrs J. Mowbray Tripp, “Silverton,” Woodbury, who has been visiting Christchurch, returned home last evening. Mr F. G. Bailey, Papanui, who has been visiting Pleasant Valley, returned home yesterday. Mrs F. E. South, Gbraldine, who has been on a visit to the North Island, has returned home.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

TEMUKA Mrs W. L. Harrison presided over the June meeting of the Temuka Women’s Institute. Mrs Harrison asked members to bring birthday parcels from the bring-and-buy stall to be held for institute funds. An address was given by Mrs A. H. Gillingham, Fairlie, on a group travel holiday. After the social half-hour members were entertained by the Mount Cook Tourist Company with an excellent travelogue of New Zealand scenic beauties. The monthly competitions were won as follows: —Vase of chrysanthemums: Mrs Barnes 1, Mrs Foxen 2. Hotwater bag cover: Mrs Goodman 1, Mrs Foxen 2. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames F. Taylor, J. M. Taylor, L. J. Wareing,' A. N. Hancox, and Miss Hancock. , WINCHESTER Mrs D. A. Pearce presided over a good attendance at the monthly meeting of the Winchester Women’s Institute. A talk was given by the president on the life of Alice Mansfield.

A debate. “That the days of our parents were better than ours,” was held. Mrs C. McClelland and Miss M. McAuley were the leaders. A competition was won by Mrs J. C. South. Competitions results were as follows: —Married women—Oven scones: Mrs Smith 1, Mrs South 2, Mrs Gudsell 3. Single women, Miss B. Wilks 1, Miss L. Bill 2. Bloom: Mrs Gudsell 1, Mrs Kenny 2 and 3. Shrubs: Mrs South 1,2, and 3. Bloom, single women: Miss McAuley 1, Miss Bill 2.

The hostesses were Mesdames T. G. Lewis, J. L. Greenall, and J. De Renzy,

BALL AT WINCHESTER There was a; large attendance at the spinsters’ and bachelors’ annual ball at Winchester. The music was supplied by a Timaru orchestra. Miss R. Hoare played extras. Mr J. Cripps was master of ceremonies. Monte Carlo dances were won by Mr and Mrs J. Baker and Mr R. De Renzy and Miss R. Hoare. TEMUKA RUGfeY TEAM The Temuka senior football team to play Old Boys at Timaru to-day is as follows: —Reid, Gilbert, Cain, Dawson, Duff, Grant, Watson, Ackroyd, Nolan, Stewart. Boyle, McCully, Henderson, McKenzie, Sullivan, Horgan, Goodson. SHIPPING PORT OF TIMARU EXPECTED ARRIVALS Holmglen, Dunedin, this day. Breeze, Dunedin, this day. Karu, Westport, June 23. Waimarino, Dunedin. June 25. Holmdale, Oamaru, June 25. Wainui. Oamaru, June 26. Karu, Oamaru, June 27. Port Waikato, Dunedin, June 27. PROJECTED. DEPARTURES Holmglen, Lyttelton, this day. Breeze, Lyttelton, this day. Karu, Lyttelton, June 24. Holmdale, Lyttelton, June 25. Waimarino, Lyttelton, June 25. Wainui, Lyttelton, June 26. Karu. Lyttelton, June 27. Port Waikato. Lyttelton. June 27.