OVER THE RANGE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13790, 19 January 1918, Page 5

OVER THE RANGE.

DANNEVIRKE AND DISTRICT, ! (By Our Special Representative.) FARMERS’ UNION MEETING. 1 A- meeting of the executive of the Southern H.B. Provincial District Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, Mr W. H. Gaisford presiding. Circulars were received from the Dominion secretary (Mr E. C. Jack) re labour requirements for harvest and the taking of steps to meet them. The secretary had replied that harvest here was almost a negligible quantity and no action need be taken. The appointment of a requisitions committee in connection with the Government requisition of moat was referred to in a letter from Mr G. Hunter covering a reply from the Prime Minister that producers’ interests would be conserved at every possible point. The secretary was instructed to write again to the Dominion secretary asking for a definite reply to his letters. As Mr Gaisford (president) was unable to be present at a meeting of the Dominion executive, he requested the | branch to appoint a substitute. The | fact that no one but the president i could attend the Dominion executive was considered and the matter is to be brought up again when considering the constitution and a remit formulated.

Mr Paviour-Smith (secretary of Matamau Dairy Company) complaining of the rate of exchange charged by banks and suggesting that a rate per ton should be fixed or that the rate should be reduced at least on a sliding scale, say after the first £IOO. The letter stated that exchange came to £2O last year and £l4 17s 9d on the same quantity of cheese before the war, the commission being 5-Bths per cent. Further enquiry to be made, the chairman remarking that evidently it was the increase in price which caused the increase in exchange. G. H. Buckeridge wrote forwarding resolutons dealing with the Governmon payments for moat and recommending that meat should be paid for “on the hooks” and that all beef be “boned out” before shipment, thus conserving space and also retaining the bones for use in New Zealand. Action was urged in order to combat the American Meat Trust. The general feeling was in favour of supporting both these proposals and a resolution to that effect was carried.

B. C. Jack (Dominion secretary) wrote re a more even adjustment of taxation and asking for specific cases of hardship, so that material may be ready for use when the Finance Bill shall be considered this year. It was stated that specific cases mentioned should bo confidential.

A suggestion that all taxation should be placed on income and leave land out altogether was made by Mr J. Franklin. Members said that they could easily mention specific cases of hardship. The letter was received, to be taken up later on the lines of the secretary’s suggestion. N. Eussell wrote in reply to a suggestion that the auctioneers’ commission should be reduced, stating that a meeting of the auctioneers is to be held to consider the matter. It was decided to hold the matter over till the result of this-meeting is known, and to consider it at a meeting to be held in committee on Friday next. Correspondence dealing with the appointment of a representative for Poverty Bay and Hawke’s, Bay on the wool-growers’ committee for New Zealand was read. Poverty Bay suggesting Mr W. D. Lysnar, and Napier supporting Mr T. E. Crosse (chairman of the H.B, Wool-grow r ers’ Committee). The A. and. P. Association had previously decided to support Mr Lysnar, and it was decided that this executive still wish to nominate Mr W. D. Lysnar. The secretary is to write to the W.G. Association.

A sub-committee consisting of the president (W. H. Gaisford), the vicepresident (H. B. Stuckey), and Messrs ,J. W. Ellingham and R. S. iChadwiek, was appointed to deal with the rules of the provincial executive. Circulars relating to the Kitchener Memorial Scholarship, instituted by Colonel the Hon. E. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., who gave £IOOO as a nucleus for the purpose, were read. These scholarships are to be essentially agricultural in character and to provide for the practical and scientific training of the sons of soldiers in agricultural or dairy science. Qualifications required are that the candidates shall be between 16 and *2O years of ago who have completed a course in agriculture or dairy science at recognised technical classes and have been engaged in practical farming at least one year, but failing these qualifications the scholarship may be offered to boys-who have completed a two years’ agricultural course at a secondary school, Scholarships are of the value of £SO and tenable for two or three years at an agricultural college or a Government experimental farm. The meeting decided to defer any action in this matter till a future meeting. The official rainfall returns as supplied by Mr G. Harvey for the month of December show a total of 4.l Sin., rain having fallen on 13 days. The total for the year was 41.87 inches, the average for the past 11 years being 45.16 inches.

Scrgt.-Ma.ior Jeffries (of the local Defence Office) who left for Wellington on Wednesday, and Mr E. Foley, who is going into camp,, were enter- j tained at Mrs McLuckic ’s house on Tuesday evening, and were presented by their friends with a silver matchbox and pocket wallet respectively. Mr W. Dobson has resigned the ; position of seertary to the Tamaki Dairy Factory, which he has held since the inception of the company some 10 , years ago. j Winners of the butter-fat competition in connection with the A. and P. Society’s forthcoming show arc as folItnvs:—lst, Jas. Smith’s Cherry, 461bs milk. 5.S test, 2.6651bs butter-fat; 2nd, L. Polglaso’s Buttercup, 561bs milk, 4.6 test, 2.5561bs butter-fat; 3rd, L. Polglaso’s Lady Disdain, 541bs milk, 4.2 test, 2.268 butter-fat. There were 17 competitors. Trophies for the dog section of the A. and P. Show arc coming in. Mr J. H. Fairhurst lias given quite a unique trophy for the bull-dog class in the shape of a handsome oak cabinet surmounted by a splendid model in silver of a bull-dog with silver plates on each of the four sides; two are for the inscription of the owners’ names, one bears the words “Dancvirke Agricultural and Pastoral Association, 1918,” and the fourth is inscribed “The Fairhurst Challenge Trophy for Bull-dogs. ” This handsome trophy will become the property of anyone winning it three times. It was made to Mr Fairhurst’s own design. News of soldiers abroad include Cap-

tain A. W. Soundy, son of Mr R. Soundy,, Dannevirke, who is still on the dangerously ill list, but making good progress. Driver Lem Ransom, son of the Mayor (Mr E. A. Ransom) has been transferred from France to Italy. Ho reports that he prefers it to France, as it is warmer there, and the journey from one country to another occupied six days —motor and train.

In regard to the amusement tax, the A, and P. Society has decided,, in accordance with legal opinions obtained, that it would be necessary to charge the tax, as otherwise several items which are purely “amusement’ ’ would have to be left out. The Association will this year pay the tax on financial members’ subscriptions. Mr Bickford considered that 3s instead of half a crown should be charged to motor cars entering the ground, and this was carried as a motion. Mr Bickford also moved that the entrance to the grandstand be made 3s instead of 2s 6d, and the Association pay the incomei tax. The question of w-hether the tax was chargable on motors was discussed, and it was decided that this could not be held necessary. Admittance of the public was fixed at Is Id to cover the' amusement tax, no tax is payable on children’s tickets, which are still 6d.

“THE ORIGINALS,

DANNEVIRKE SHOW NIGHTS.

A treat is promised visitors to the Dannevirke Show” on 13th and 14th. February who stay the nights and visit the performances to be given by “The Originals,” a party of talented artists from Auckland. The entertainment is being run by the Dannevirke Patriotic Committee, and the funds are to be divided equally between the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund and the Navy League Fund. A complete change of programme and costumes will be made on the second night. Country residents should make a point of booking Mioir seats early. The box plans open on 2nd February.

PAHIATUA PARS

A lively quartette—Messrs A. McKay, A. Ross, A. Barrell, and E. F. Le Lclievrc—spent four hours as a working bee on the showground. Mr and Mrs Webb, of Konini, have received from their son Fred in France an unusual collection of crests of the Imperial Canadian, and Australian Forces and other curios.

Mr and Mrs Percy Tombs (and baby) are hero from Hastings. Mr Tombs was one time conductor of the Palmerston North Brass Band.

j Mr and Mrs H. S. Morrison, who j have sold their farm at Ngaturi, intend ! leaving us shortly. Messrs W. J. Smith, W. Britland, and Howard, of Konini, have been motoring in the Hawke's Bay district in the last few days. Milton Alpass, a batehelor butter king, has got another slice of Konini, the biggest yet. He has bought Warren Bros.’ estate, 1010 acres. On the flats he will run cows and on the hillg surplus cattle and sheep. Mr Alpass already lifts the biggest individual milk cheques here. The W.F.C.A. effected the sale, and the price was less than £25 per acre. Walter Edward Britland, of Konini, secured 510 marks and reached the ordinary standard qualification for the Junior National Scholarship, He is a son of the headmaster at Konini, whose daughters have in the past gained scholarships. Town property has been changing hands a good deal lately, and there are also enquiries for farms. Mr R. J. Dillon, late county engineer, will probably pay a visit to Australia, where he formerly resided. Mr Woodley, of Palmerston North, w r ho was one time farming at Mangahao, is planned to preach for the Methodists over the range this quarter. The W.F.C.A. stock department has opened a motor garage in Mangahao road. Mr J. Bolderson is the mechanic.

A batch of local Cl men went into camp this week. Lodges are not meeting so often now. One of them announces that the next mooting will be on November 291 A local publican is offering 2s a dozen for beer bottles, up to 500 or 600.

Judges from Palmerston North and Mastorton will be secured for the March flower show in aid of the Eed Cross. 1

In 1917 £1731 was sued for locally and £591 recovered. The total debt was much loss than the three previous years. There were 247 police cases last vear. ISO in 1916, 224 in 1915, and 151 in 1914.

Mr W. Mitchell, a bachelor sheepfarmer, who wore khaki for several months, being paymaster on one of the transports, has settled down again to the rural life, his boat having been taken off the running.