RAI VALLEY NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 7

RAI VALLEY NOTES

TEMPERANCE UNION A home mooting of the .local, branch of tho Women's; Ohrjstiun Temperance Union was held at the invitation <jf MH Woodward. The usual business was dealt with and correspondence read, after which a very pleasant social evening was provided. The principal item was. an impersonation' and "reading from "Hepsey Burke" by Miss Margaret Galbraith, which was very well performed and much enjoyed. There was also' a reading'of the "Vanguard's" report of a deputation to'the Prime Minister from the New Zealand Alliance; FARMERS' UNION . An important and well attended meeting of the- Riii Valley branch of the Farmers' Union was held at Page's Hall. Various correspondence was read by the secretary, Mr 0. F. Woodward, including a letter from the Post and Telegraph Department, stating that in response to requests for an alteration in the mail service, all mails,for Rai Valley would be sent via .Nelson for a period of three months. A letter from the Minister for Public Works was read, stating that in regard to the proposed Ronga-Croixelles toad, he had personally inspected the route, and would go through the matter with the District Engineer at Wellington-. Some co-operation from the .settlers was asked for. Mr E. G. Hill proposed that the district should be canvassed to see what assistance was forthcoming in money or work. Mr C. Bryant pointed out that the proposed road was one not merely of local interest, but of national, importance, and the Government should :do it.. He moved that a petition signed by the settlers •of the Rai \ Valley • and' Cfpixelles districts , should, be/, forward-,! ed to the'members foivWajrau andJNel-f son. ' This was seconded' and carried. Mr C. S: Leov then brought up the matter of the urgent need for an extra assistant in the Post Office. He said that telephone calls averaged one every minute and a half, and pointed out that the post office was supposed to deliver telegrams within a certain radius; this was impossible under present conditions. No blame attached to the postmaster; he was doing his best under very difficult circumstances, but the mere fact of the non-delivery of telegrams was sufficient proof of "the necessity for an assistant. Mr Hill said that there was sometimes considerable delay at the counter owing to the exchange. Mr Bryant spoke on the matter of having to ring through Havelock to reach Rai Valley. His telephone calls during the year, he remarked, were numerous, yet he had to ring Havelock and often wait some time bofore he could obtain connection with Rai Valley. Mr Leov pointed out that the same conditions applied to ringing Blenheim through Havelock and expressed the opinion that Rai Valley was not getting fair treatment in this matter. Returning to tfle original complaint Mr A. Williams said that he knew of a case where telegrams had been sent requesting the recipient to meet a car; and the car had arrived before the telegram. Mr Leov moved that a letter should be forwarded to the PostmasterGeneral in this matter, which was seconded by Mr Bryant unanimously. ■"."■"."". t Mr Leov then spoke on the proposed annual farmers' sports day, and referred to a motion carried at the last meeting, that the presidents of the two branches should meet and confer in the matter. Mr Hill read a letter stating that after consultation it was suggested that the event should be held soon after Christmas. This was put to the meeting and carried. Mr N. Simonsen proposed a motion supporting the action of the women's division in requesting the Government to allow settlers on unimproved | backblock land five years' rent free. This was seconded by Mr A. Kitching and carried. •', ■

PIG CLUB The Kai Valley .Pig Club held its annual meeting in Page's Hall on Thursday, when there was a satisfactory attendance. The balance sheet was read and passed, and it was decided that the Pig Breeders' Association be advised that two pigs were dead, and that one which was sold to Mr A. Kitching and had died should be replaced. The election of officers for the ensuing year follewed'j and resulted in three members being re-elected: President, Mr A. Williams; vice-president, Mr A. Kitching; secretary, Mr E. G. Hill. The election of the committee was put to vote, and Messrs K. Simonsen, M. Neal, G. Wratt and B. C. Young were elected.