DISTRICT NEWS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4723, 23 July 1935, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

WAITANGURU NOTES. (Own Correspondent). The first of a series of card and dance evenings was celebrated last Wednesday evening, there being quite a fair attendance. Bridge was indulged in for the first part of the evening, the winners being Miss F. Field*for the ladies? and Miss Murray consolation prize. For the gentlemen Mr. Lorraine Peterson gained first and Mr. H. Dew consolation prize. Dancing was then indulged in, Mr. Fredericksen being M.C. and Mr. Lafferty at the piano. Mr. Fredericksen played the extras. One and all enjoyed the bright and sociable evening. The newly-extended portion of the hall is a vast improvement and makes dancing a pleasure. The opening dance was celebrated recently, with Mr. P. O'Rourke's orchestra in attendance. Quite a few of the residents are away at .present. The weather is somewhat moist and mud predomin-, ates, while slips on the road are a source of annoyance. One notices the mail contractor carries a long handled shovel in case of emergency. Our next excitement will be attending meetings of our present and would-be members of Parliament, and we hope, between them, tha-t they will put New Zealand on a sound footing, and cut out the unemployment menace, which has done so much to take the heart out of our Country's youth. "In one's travels this seems to be the hardest nut to crack. It must, be tragic for those seeking work to* realise that there is no opportunity of securing a job at a living wage. • Also the thousands of acres of land " wasting in easy .areas, with men of experience waiting, but because of lack of "capital, they are unable to settle themselves oft it. Is there no way of exchanging man-power for coin, or giving them a chance to / settle on their own plots, without giving them years of camp life which . is no benefit to their pockets and istherefore wasting the best part of their lives on small wages that will never buy, or even lease and stock a farm, although they may be longing for the open spaces and a home of their own? The land question is still/, only in its infancy, or New Zealand • would be minus all this land waste!

MARAKOPA R.S.A. ANNUAL REUNION. :.; (Own Correspondent). The Kawhia South branch -of the R.S.A. held their annual reunion and "smoko" at Marakopa on the 20th instant. The president, Mr. D. Tynan, presided over a large muster and the : roll call divulged the widely varied units represented. The bitterly cpld _ inclement day accounted for the non* attendance of many visitors from a distance. Apologies were read from Messrs. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., S. Craig, J. H. Thornton, P. C. Rose, JV R. Wilson and W. Read. After honouring the loyal toast in the heartiest manlier, Mr. R. Miln called upon the gathering, "Lest We Forget" to toast in silence "Comrades Gone West." This was followed by a * fairly lengthy, toast list, each toast being pledged to the accompaniment of an appropriate war time chorus. Among the toasts were: "Our Guests," proposed by Mr.. D. Leslie and responded to by Mr! J. Hare and Mr. P. O'Callahah; "The < Navy, Army and Air Force," by Mr. R. Miln, responded to by Mr. J- Hare and Mr. J. Schutlz, the key of the speeches for this toast reviewing the present comparative lack of safe defence for the Empire, and the desirablity for mili- J tary training for youth in order to instil sense of discipline and loyai citizenship. In answer to the oftrepeated argument on drilling men to take life, Mr. Hare pointed qut that it was in every way preferable to train our youth in-defence of country than to be forcibly conscripted as a vanquished race to fight for a defence of a victorious foreign yoke. Mr. Hare was also particularly interesting when touching upon the work Of the Navy during the Great War. Mr. C. Thrush . proposed "The R.5.A.," and in eulogising, the soldiers, both for their part in the war and as repatriated citizens, said that reliable statistics showed that the effects of war had, on an average, reduced the life term> of ex-soldiers by ten years as compared wtih ordinary citizens. Mr. D. Tynan responded, giving a brief account Of R.S.A. work.' <. " "Nursing Units" was in the hands of Mr. E. Mosley and responded to by Mr. W. B. Bowen; "The Secretary, Working Cmmitte and Mess Orderlies" was proposed by Mr. D. Tynan and responded to by Mr. D. Leslie, Mr. E. Mosely and Mr. G. Richards; "Our President" was proposed by-Mr. J. Schultz and responded to by Mr. D. Tynan. Toasts were interspersed by anecdote and song, a feature being "The War Refought" in the form of a most interesting discussion over certain phases. The following are some of the contributors of items: Messrs. D. Tynan, J. Hare, D. Mitchell, S. Mitchell, W. B. Bowen, E. Mosley, P. O'Callahan,. R. Miln, E. Goddard, A. Burrows, B. Robertson, N. Hunter, G. Lorimerand J. Schultz.