LAWRENCE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23511, 27 February 1940, Page 11

LAWRENCE NOTES

[Fhou Ode Correspondent] RED CROSS SOCIETY. A meeting convened by the Mayoress of Lawrence (Mrs 11. F. Batchelor) in borough council chambers was attended by over 30 ladies. After Mrs Batchelor had outlined the objects of the meeting it was resolved to form a Lawrence branch of the Dunedin Red Cross Society. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mrs R. F. Batchelor; vice-presidents—Mesdames G. H. Martin, W. Varcoe, R. C. Moore, C. Moyle, H. Winter, and S. Fletcher; hon. secretary, Mrs R. North: hon. treasurer, Miss E. Hart; committee—Mesdames T. H. Clark, R. Walker, W. G. M’Kinlay, M. Weatherall, M. E. Nichols, A. L. Stokes, J. Anderson, E. A. Winchester, J. Neilan, E. Weatherall, and L. F. Hickman, Misses L. Hopkins, A. F. Nicholls, J. Stokes. M. Colgan, and P. Haworth. The Tuapeka County Patriotic Committee wrote soliciting assistance in the knitting of gloves for the Royal Air Force.—lt was decided to comply with the request and to co-operate with the committee as far as possible. ROXBURGH PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. A meeting was held in the Roxburgh Town Hall to discuss the formation of a patriotic committee and also a branch of the Red Cross. The mayor (Mr P. A. Laloli) explained the purpose of the meeting, and said that if they formed a local committee they would be responsible to the Tuapeka Committee, which was a sub-committee of the Otago Council and embraced the whole of the Tuapeka l County. In answer to a question regarding the present Ladies’ Patriotic Committee, Mr Waigth stated that it now had no standing whatsoever. The ladies’ committee had been formed at the outbreak of -hostilities, and ho complimented it upon the work done. Since that time the position in regard to the raising of funds for patriotic funds had very materially changed. Regulations had been laid down by the Government. The purpose of forming a local committee was really to form a committee of management, and he trusted that the ladies would give it their fullest support. Mr J. H. Waigth was appointed secretary, and on the motion of Mr John Bennetts it was decided to form a Roxburgh Patriotic Committee. The following were appointed to form the committee:—The mayor (Mr F. A. Laloli), Mr J. H. Waigth, Dr J. R. Gilmour, Messrs de Lautour, R. T. Kinaston, John Bennetts, Mesdames P. A. Laloli, A. H. Webster, de Lautour, W. Craig, and J. Mercer. It was decided that the funds be collected by the method of monthly contributions, as was the case during the period of the last war. After the Patriotic Committee had been formed the mayor read a letter from the New Zealand Red Cross Society, in which it was stated that they were desirous of forming a branch of the Red Cross Society in Roxburgh.— Dr Gilmour explained that there was already a St. John Ambulance Association in the district, and he was of tho opinion that in a small district such as this the two organisations would clash with each other. He thought that they should concentrate oh the collecting of patriotic funds at present-—lt -was decided that the formation of a Red Cross branch be left over in the, meantime. LAWRENCE ATHENAEUM AND MINING INSTITUTE. The annual meeting of the Lawrence Athenaeum and Mining Institute was held on Monday, Mr A. E. Winchester presiding. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr F. J, Gray; committee—the retiring committee, with the exception of Mr F. L. M‘Farlane and 1 the addition of Mr J. E. Benton; auditor, Mr A. M’Lean, who was thanked for his past services. Dr Sutherland, Mr FinlaysoH, and Mr Moore were appointed the General Literature Committee, and the remaining members of the committee were appointed a Fiction Committee. On a motion by Mr R, C. Moore the subscription was again fixed at 15s a year, with tho new book scheme to be continued. It was decided to spend £lO on new books for gradual release. The balance sheet showed that revenue from all sources amounted to £145 6s sd. At the close of the year the number of subscribers was 61. During the year 141 books were placed on tho shelves, a good proportion being educational and general literature, for which there has been a good demand. The new scheme of supplying special books at a small extra charge has proved very popular, and many new and expensive books have been obtained which otherwise could not have been made available. Both fiction and general literature have been purchased under this scheme. ROXBURGH SWIMMING CARNIVAL. The Roxburgh District Amateur Swimming Club’s annual carnival was held under pleasant weather conditions. There was a very large attendance of the public, and a keen interest was taken in all the events. The Cromwell and Alexandra Clubs had representatives present. In the evening a very successful dance was held in the Roxburgh Dance Hall, the music for which was provided by Gordon’s Orchestra. The takings at both the carnival and d'auce were very good, and quite up to those of previous years. Results;— School Events.—Length: Boys under 12—Bobby Wilson 1, David Henderson 2. Time, 41 1-5. Length: Girls under 12—Margaret Capon 1, Moira Hayes 2. Time, 47 1-5. Length: Secondary boys—Trevor Wilson 1, Ray Wilson 2. Time, 29 1-5. Length; Secondary girls —Ruth Stockd'ill 1, Lynne Stockdill 2. Time, 28sec. Width; Girls under 10— Moira Hayes 1, Joyce Dale 2. Length: Boys under 13—Bobby Wilson 1, Victor Woodhonse 2. Time, 36 l-ssee. Length: Girls under 13—Freda Newlancl 1, Mario Whelan 2. Time, 34 4-ssec. Width: Girls under 11—Moira Hayes 1, Joyce Crossan 2. Time. 14 l-osec. Length; Boys under 14—Vic-

tor Woodhouso 1, Bobby Wilson 2. Time, 34 4-ssec. Length: Girls under 14 —Freda Newland 1, Nancy Parker 2. Time, 37sec. Two lengths;—-Secondary —Ray Wilson 1, Taylor-Cannon (Alexandra) 2. Time, 47 l-ssec. Length: Breast stroke, girls—Freda Newland 1, Nancy Parker 2. Time, 36 l-ssec. Diving: Boys—Bobby Wilson 1, Victor Woodhouso 2, Ron Scott 3. Length: Breast stroke, secondary—C. M'Donald (Miller’s Flat) 1, Trevor Wilson 2. Time, 36 l-ssec. —Senior Events.— (R.) Roxburgh, (C.) Cromwell, (A.) Alexandra. 33 1-3 Yards Men’s Free Style Handicap.—J. Nicholson (R.) 1, TaylorCannon (A.) 2, R. Harper (R.) 3. Time, 21 3-ssec. 33 1-3 Yards Ladies’ Free Style Handicap.:—P. Stockdill 1, R. Stockdill 2. Time, 24 2-ssec. 66 2-3 Yards Open Handicap.—A. N. Wilson (R.) 1, Tay-lor-Cannon (A.) 2. Time, 49 2-ssoc. Ladies’ Diving.—P. Hardv (C.) 1, H. Williamson (C.) and T. Roland (A.) equal 2. Medley Relay (open).—Alexandra (Burt, S. Nicholson, Taylor-Oan-non) 1, Roxburgh (J. Nicholson, T. Wilson, D. George) 2. Men’s Diving.—Burt (A.) 1, T. Wilson (R.) 2, R. Harper (R.) 3. 33 1-3 Yards Back Stroke (open handicap).—A. E. Wilson (R.) 1, P. Stockdill (R.) 2. Time, 28 4-ssec. Men Over 35 (33 l-3yds).—J. Tullock (R.) 1. Time, 25 l-ssec. 66 2-3 Yards Breast Stroke (open.)— L. Stockdill (R.) 1, R. Harper (R.) 2. Time, 60 2-ssec. 33 1-3 Yards Breast Stroke (open).—D. George (R.) 1, C. Orr (R.) 2. Time, 28 3-ssec. Interclub Relay.—Roxburgh (R. Wilson. M. Diinlay, J. Nicholson, R. Harper) 1, Alexandra (Taylor-Cannon, Burt, T. Roland, S. Nicholson) 2. Time, 37 4-ssec. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION. The monthly meeting of the Law-rence-Waitahuna district committee of •the National Council of Primary Production, set up to deal with production problems in war time, was held at Law.rence. Those present were Mr C. Jackman (stock agents’ representative), in the chair, Mr P. F. Robertson (Farmers’ Union), Mr Worthington (Stock ’Department), 11. M'Caw (Waitahuna Farmers’ Club). J. Rose (Sheepowners’ Federation), W. G. Labes (Agricultural Society), F. L. M'Fatlane (State Placement Service), and the acting-sec-retary (Mr A. F. Greenall, of th© Department of Agriculture, Balclutha). Correspondence was received from Mr White, State Placement Officer at Dunedin. He advised that men on the 4B scheme were required to accept seasonal farm work, providing they possessed the necessary skill. If such seasonal work was declined, they would lose their employment under the 4B scheme. Mr Robertson raised the question of the discrepancy in such a case between ordinary farm wages and the £4 or more weekly under 4B scheme. In reply to a further question, Mr Greenall stated that remits from the committee had been given full consideration in Dunedin by the council there. At the present time the scheme had not been fully organised. Concerning farm labour problems, Mr M'Caw said he thought they could not do very much. He was in favour of a proposal discussed but rejected by the Farmers’ Union at Dunedin to establish mobile camps, with suitable men of farm experience off public works. There were difficulties in respect of broken time in bad weather. He did not want to east any aspersion on the type of men still around the district, but there were not enough of them who were qualified. ■ Mr Greenall explained that men on public works had been required to prove definitely that they were not possessors of farm experience, so that the men on public works were not farm hands. Those who had been dismissed by this regulation were employed in such places as Canterbury at good wages. Those present were in favour of some subsidy to provide for employing men on general farm work. Mr (Robertson said he had been well satisfied with men he had employed on subsidy. Ho felt that in fairness to the regular hands and to get satisfaction, wages and hours should he standardised as be: tween farm and public works conditions. _ . It was deckled to advise the Dunedin Council that the committee considered the present disparities between the hours and the wages, in the case of farm hands and those in other avenues of employment, were the cause of the shortage of farm labour.