TIMARU NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16060, 15 October 1912, Page 3

TIMARU NEWS.

[From Ottr Cobrestosdest.] TIMARU, October 14. Farm labour is still exceedingly scarce in South Canterbury. From inquiries made by a reporter this niorning it was ascertained that ploughmen and general farm labourers were-at a premium. There' are approximately forty or fifty vacancies for the former, while one farmer is paying 27s 6tl a week for tho latter class, for which the usual wage is 255. Domestic labour is also acutely scarce. Complaints are being made of exceedinglv unseemly behaviour on the part of .Senior Cadets. Last Thursday afternoon there was a great deal of- misbehaviour on parade. A correspondent, writing to the "Post," states that the general appearance of the lads was simply shameful. They seemed to do just as they pleased, strangling along like a lot cf wild geese, with the officers having about as much control ever them "as they would have had over a croxd of cannibals. In reply to inquiries made at the Defence Office an officer stated that the correspondents strictures were quite justified. The Department, he said, was naturally reluctant to prosecute boys of the Senior Cadet aw. and every attempt had been made bv the officers to induce tho bids to carry out their work in a sensible manner. A circular cautioning the lads against misbehaviour such as was in evidence on Thursday afternoon had been read to the boys, but there were apparently some who needed a more severe lesson. As a result of the mis-lx-haviour seven summonses have been issued, and the rineleaders (it is alleged the trouble was caused through tho actions of a few) will appear before tho Magistrate in a day or two.