CROMWELL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 7

CROMWELL NOTES

A spell of exceptionally dry weather has prevailed of late, and with periods of I heavy gales the country,' although in a. satisfactory condition, is not looking quits so well as early in the new year. Although it would -be useless to disguise the Tact that there is locally a strong individual desire for conscription, local bodies are united iu assisting the Govern--1 ment to the uttermost in their new re- | cruiting scheme. A public meeting passed i a resolution on Friday evening to that effect; tlie local roll is available, and the ; personal canvass will be in evidence in a day or two. As previously related in this i column, many families have given all j eligible sons to the cause, while others ; still stand aloof, and this is the reason j why so many favor conscription. | A movement to bring about a big reform in land administration was undertaken at the meeting of the local branch of tbe Expansion League on Tuesday last. ! D will bo remembered that in recent years , local associations had keen battles "with ' the Land Board in the subdivision of laree ; estates, and the more recent decision—that j of Timaru run—was extremely unsatisfac- | tory in the district surrounding. The outcome was that at the meeting under notice j the method of appointment to the Land | Board and the general attitude in regard ; to large estates came in for some straight I criticism. The following motion was car- | vied by 6 votes to 2:—“ That the present } method of appointment of members to ; land boards, being inimical to the connI try’s interest, the present system be abol--1 ished, and that four out of five members ; of the board be elected by the people at | intervals of two years; that for this pur- | pose the province bo divided into four ! areas, each to elect a local representative ; that copies of the resolution be forwarded to Hon. W. F. Massey, Sir J. q Ward, Hon. W. Fraser (member for dial trict), and all branches of the Expansion League for support.”—Own correspondent February 28.