TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 264, 5 August 1939, Page 15

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Items Of interest From The Provinces

WARNING TO FARMERS

If Vote Is Asked For On Guaranteed Price

A warning to dairy-farmers to be very careful how they voted if a straight-out question were placed before them on the guaranteed price, was given by one ol the directors, Mr. F. Pritchard, at the annual meeting of they Wangaeliu Co-operative Dairy Company. Saying there were indications that a vote would be taken on the guaranteed price, Mr. Pritchard pointed out that the Government might send out a circular asking. "Are you in favour of the guaranteed price?” "If you say 'Yes,' you will place yourself in their hands, and they could give you juwr what they please,” he said. Farmers would have to be very careful it a straight-out question were placed before them. While he was opposed to the principle of the guaranteed price, he considered that under present conditions dairyfarmers must have a guaranteed price because their costs were not guaranteed. To Guard Maoris’ Interests.

Arising out of the recent proposal of the Social Security Department to send Hawke’s Bay Maoris to Tolaga Bay and Wairoa, the Ileretaunga Maori Association, which will guard the interests of the Maoris of the district, has been formed in Hastings. The secretary, Mr. Teao Wilson, said the recent, action of the department in sending Maoris out. of the district was, he thought, largely the result of a lack of understanding on the part of the officials of the true condition of the Maori people. The association strongly desired to. avoid all possible friction, and to cooperate fully with Government departments. The meeting passed votes of thanks to Mr. Te Kauru Karaitiana, who was largely responsible for initiating lAe movement, and to the M.P. for Hawke’s Bay, Mr. Cullen, for his sympathy and assistance.

Repairing Damaged Airliner. Because of the delay that would be occasioned by shipping the machine to America and back again, it is reported that the Lockheed aeroplane belonging to Union Airways which was damaged at New Plymouth last month, will be, overhauled at the company's workshops at Milson Aerodrome by experts from the Lockheed company’s factory in California. The machine, it is understood, could not be sent to California by one of the regular passenger liners, and in the circumstances it will be more expedient to bring the experts to New Zealand. More Intoxicated Motorists?

“Instead of the Court putting an end to such offences, the number of intoxicated motorists is increasing,” saitl Mr. 11. I’. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Palmerston North, when refusing a request on behalf of a man who had admitted being intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle that his licence be not suspended. Senior-Sergeant J. Mclntyre said accused, John Lindsay Kinnell, orehardist, who had been in charge of the refreshments at a ball, was. seen in the street in his shirt-sleeves at 2 o'clock in the morning. Later he was seen in a truck, driving carefully, and when taken to th epoliee station two doctors certified him as unfit to be in charge of a car, but an hour later another doctor said he could be given the benefit of the doubt. It was Kinnell’s first appearance in court. He was lined £l5 and his licence was suspended for a year.

Cost of Batter Production. A rise of £6 a ton, or 50 per cent., in the cost of the production of butler during the past three years was reported by the chairman, Mr. F. Johnston, at the annual meeting of the .shareholders of the Wangaeliu Co-operative Dairy Company. Three years ago, he said, the cost of production was £l2/9/8 a ton ; the cost during the current season was £lB/8/-. That meant an additional cost of £3600 to the shareholders when compared with the 1935-36 season. Costs Not Guaranteed.

“The guaranteed price is probably just as much as the produce is worth, but we have no guarantee of costs,” said Mr. A. I*. Melville, one of the directors, at the annual meeting of the 'Wangaeliu Co-op-erative Dairy Company, who told the meeting ’that the attitude of the New Zealand Farmers' Union toward the guaranteed price had been misrepresented. The Farmers' Union, he said, was not opposed to the guaranteed price but to the continually rising costs. Mr. Melville said costs were too close up to lhe guaranteed price, and farmers should fight and try to get them down and let the guaranteed price stay. price stay.