FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 111, 11 April 1931, Page 10

FEILDING

FARMERS’ UNION. Air W. L. Grice presided at the annual meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon, there being also present Alessrs 11. Booth, J. Bradley, G. Watt, J. G. Eliott, G. Stanley, W. McLennan and IC. Carman. Prior to commencing the usunl business of the meeting the chairman referred to tne death of Mr J. Kilgour, of Apiti, a late member of the branch, amT on his motion a veto of sympathy was accorded the relatives of tho deceased, all present standing in silence. The annual report and balance-sheet (published in yesterday’s issue) were adopted and tho following officers were elected : President, Mr W. L. Grice (re-elected); vice-president, Mr J. H. Mason (re-elect-ed) ; committee, Messrs "G. Watt, J. G. Eliott, A. Campbell, K. Carman, A. Kidd, A. Lav/uon, J. IT. Perrctt, J. AlcFarland, O. AlcElroy, B. N. Sandilands, G. E. Lucas, U. J. Booth, W. McKay, G. Stanley, D. L. Younger and G. G. G. Dernier; delegates to provincial conference, Messrs J. G. Eliott, G. Stanley and B. N. Sandilands. Tho mutter of preparing remits for the provincial conference was left in the hands of the executive. The meeting closed with a vo.c of thanks to the chairman for lus services to the branch over a long period of years. SCHOOL COAIMITTEE.

Air G. J. Fitzpatrick presided at a meeting of the Alanchester Street School Committee on Thursday evening when the headmaster, Mr R. L. Mciiroy, reported that Hie roll stood at 440, omy 10 below the figure lor last year. During the past month, tho average attendance of pupils wus 412.6, being 94.5 per cent. There had been a decided increase during the month in tlie total roll, 25 pupils having boon admitted and only 10 had left. At ' the schools sport, the girls again won tho MeCinkuidale roae bowl, tho boys coming second to Lytton Street tor the Guthrie Shield. A number of pupils took part in the Feilding amateur swimming sports on March 8, wnen No:l Hurdle won tno iiaybitilo Cup lor school boys and .Nellie Alarsden was placed second to Patty Sporlo tor tnc Fisher Gup for girls. Inspectors Blackie and Crosby visited the school on March 21 and 25. Air J. G. Hill, an old pupil of the school, presented a cricket bat to tho school, a gut for which tile school and the committees were grateful. The school grounds have been consideraoly improved under the unemployed No. o scheme.

Tho chairman reported that he had inspected tlie school grounds and found that material improvements liad been made. It was proposed to prepare a basketball area lor giris and to allow tlie boys to play iootball oil part of the giris' playground in order to prevent the grass Irom getung too long. As a new Jawn mower was required tor this, the committee decided to make the purchase.

S.I’.C.A. In his annual report to tho Feilding branch of the S.P.C.A. tho inspector, Mr G. A. Phillip, states that lie had attended tile weekly stock, pig and poultry sales and had also, irom time to time, visited the freezing works, abattoir and railway trucking yards. Some of the outlying districts had also been visited as to the state of the teams working. Mr Phillip noted the interest taken in the aims of tho S.P.C.A., by some of the school children, and he suggested that a prize bo donated by the society to the beat essay relating to kindness to dumb animals, Tho inspector stated further that it was always his aim to prevent prosecutions if possible, and in this respect he thanked the members of the stock firms operating at the ealeyards ill Feilding lor their interest and assistance in the work of the society. A detailed table of the work of the inspector shows that ho investigated eight cases referring to horses and of these three were working without shoes, two working when in a weak state, one bad quality of feed, and two working while lame. Four cows received attention, and of these one was reported as suffering through lack of attention, and in pain two from ingrowing horns, ono through neglect to provide reasonable feed previous to trucking. Eight cases referring to sheep were investigated, and of these two were left in trucking yards, two should have been destroyed, two were left too long in the yards, and two were neglected, whilo injured. Six pigs received attention, of these the charge in one case was of being kept in. a filthy sty, one neglecting to provide clean drinking water, one suffering through overloading by rail, and two ringing operations roughly performed. Four dogs dealt with were: Two reported as neglecetd while diseased, and two too long on the chain. Three calves were inspected, having been reported as suffering through over-crowding by rail or motor. The inspector also investigated cases of overcrowding of fowls in boxs, of carrying fowls in bags, and of cruelty to ducks and a parrot. During the year there were destroyed two horses, five cattle, 10 sheep, 12 dogs, and 13 cuts, and five birds. The inspector carried out all these inspections without feeling it was necessary to prosecute. HOCKEY REFEREE’S ASSOCIATION. A'lr A. Packer presided at the annual meeting of the Feilding Hockey Referees’ Association and, in moving tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet, referred to tho good work the members had done in the interest of tho game. Hockey players had much to thank the association for and the association itself owed its thanks to the Feilding Hockey Association for financial assistance. Officers were appointed as follow: President, Air F. E. Aloorc; vice-president. Air A. H. Packer; hon. secretary and treasurer, Air E. A. Garlick. The officers wore appointed to the selection committee. An oral examination is to be held on May 14 as a preliminary to theory and practical work on the rules of the game. Mr J. Wallis was elected examiner. Air Wallis has pased his theory test under the New Zealand Hockey Referees’ Association and is to be congratulated upon his success. KIWITEA RABBIT BOARD. The bi-monthly mooting of the Kiwitca Rabbit Board was hold at Ivimbolton, Trustee W. L. Grice presiding. The chief inspector reported for tho months of February and March as follows: “Aly assistant at Ruahinc reports that he has principally been engaged on work in connection with the destruction of noxious weeds, hut has also kept a lookout for signs of rabbits on the various properties and states that insofar as rabbits are concerned, while there have been a few showing up about road lines and on two or three individual properties, taken all round there is nothing to cause any anxiety. He reports further that a good deal of work has been done on the weeds and he has apparently concentrated on the eradication of ragwort, of which ho states there is less showing this year than formerly. In my own area there has been very little rabbit work of an organised nature done, owing mainly to the unusual amount of autumn growth being against tho success of the usual autumn poisoning. However, there has been some patch poisoning done in different localities with varying success, but such as it was it will make the later poisoning on those parts lighter. I have also devoted considerable time to noxious weeds inspections and while very good work lias been done on the majority of tho properties visited, there are quite a few that I consider have not done enough. This applies mostly to blackberry, as taking th’s end of the district, all over thero arc only a few farms that are bad with ragwort and on these fair work has been done, and I continue to visit them periodically to sec that this weed is kept under. I must again report that both your inspectors have as usual found it necessary to pay numerous visits to various properties in connection with weeds, owing to settlers failing to comply with their obligations and not keeping promises to have work put in hand when required. However, taken all round I am satisfied that more and better work lias been done this season than ever before.” GENERAL. Notification was received from the North Island Rabbit Board’s Association that the annual conference' would be held in Feilding on June 10.—Trustees Grice and

J. Batchelar were appointed to represent the board. It was decided to reduce the travellling expenses of the trustees by 15 per cent, from June 1 next. A special meeting was held at the close of the ordinary meeting when it was resolved on the. motion of Trustees Brown and Batchelar, that the balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1931, be adopted and signed. After perusing tho estimates for the current year it was resolved to strike a general rate of 5-Bths pence per_ acre in the board’s area excluding the Waituna group and a rate of 2d per acre in the Waituna group. NOTES. A memorial tablet to the late Mr G. Lankshear will be unveiled in St. Andrew’s Church, Colyton, by Rev. Canon Petrie, of Feilding, to-morrow evening. The closing date and presentation of trophies of the Feilding Lawn Tennis Club has been postponed till Saturday next owing to the inclement weather. Rev. D. J. Davies, vicar of Greytown, will be tho preacher at the Anzac Day service at St. John’s Anglican Church this year. Mr Davies is an eloquent speaker and has been beard in Feilding before. The same form of service will be observed this year as before.