LAND FOR SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24956, 27 July 1944, Page 4

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

PROPERTY OF 2500 ACRES CIVIC LEAGUE'S SCHEME (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday A property of 2530 acres lias been purchased by the Rehabilitation Civic: League, formed by Mr D. V. Bryant, of Hamilton, for the settlement of returned servicemen. The area is situated nine miles from Ngaruawahia and fivo miles from Glen Afton, and is known as Paerangi. Its value is estimated at £44,000, but through the generosity ol the vendors, Messrs A. Miller, J. F Vercoe am', the Bryant House Trustees, the cost will be reduced by £IOOO, plus the capital in subdivision, reading and housing, and minus any profits made. Messrs Miller and Vercoe have undertaken to administer the property for a year without charge. The area is at present carrying 5500 ewes, 500 head of cattle and other stock, and the annual profit is given at £6OOO. The purchase of the property is subject to approval by the Land Sales Committee.

ATTEMPTED MURDER TEN YEARS' DETENTION WARD OF STATE SENTENCED (P \.) TIMARU, Wednesday A ward of the State, John Arthur Carev, aged 17, who pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of the attempted murder of Elizabeth Mai .Howell at Mount Nimrod on January 27 : was sentenced today by Mr. Justice Northcroft to ten years' reformative treatment. The Judge said the period of detention would of necessity have to be long, because Carey would be a danger when at large unless he improved under guidance and restraint. WEATHER FORECASTS RADIO SERVICE TO RESUME (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Wednesday Broadcast weather forecasts would soon be resumed over the national radio service, stated Mr A. Briscoe Moore, president of the Whangarei sub-pro-vincial executive of the Farmers' Union, at a meeting today. Mr Moore said that when in Wellington last week lie, with other members of the Dominion executive of the union, met an officer of the meteorological _ service of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department and the question had been fully discussed, the executive members making suggestions as to the best method of presenting the weather forecast.

The officer stated that it was expected that the ban on wireless weather forecasts in New Zealand would shortly be lifted and that the department was preparing for the resumption of the service. If was proposed to issue both national and regional forecasts and the suggested hours were 7.30 in the morning. 12..')0 p.m. and again at a set time, seven or nine o'clock, in the evening. RATING BURDENS UNITED FARMERS' PROTEST (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Wednesday I'liiied action by farmers is planned bv the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union in a campaign for derating of farm lands. This was revealed at the Bay of Islands subprovincial conference at Kaitaia yesterday, when delegates from the four northern counties unanimously decided to support the executive in whatever action it might take. It was stated by delegates that many farmers might withhold payment of a large proportion of the rate which may be levied by local bodies. Not only was the highlv controversial hospital rate likely to ie affected, but the highways funds might come within the scope of the rating protest. Delegates stated that farmers were definitely smarting under the franchise legislation and pledged themselves to support united action, provided always that export of primary produce was not adversely affected at the present time. SEASON'S ONION CROP 2000 ACRES REQUIRED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday An area of 2000 acres of onion is required in New Zealand this season to meet all civilian and armed forces requirements. To encourage growers to increase production and reach this target, the Stabilisation Commission has approved of increases in contract prices paid for onions. The Onion Advisory 1 Committee recommended that contract prices should bo revised to provide for an all-round increase particularly during the flush of tho season. The Canterbury Association of Commercial Gardeners has been advised by tho produce section of the Internal Marketing Division that the prices at which merchants will be prepared to contract with growers on behalf of the division for 1945 delivery will be: — January, £l4 a ton; February, £l3: March and April, £l2; May, £l3; June, £ls; July, £l6; August, £l9; September, £22; October, £25; November, £3O. These prices are net to growers on trucks at nearest railway stations and are for fair average quality onions only. For pickler grade the market will be open with a ceiling to growers of £ls a ton for any delivery month. If any grower desires to contract for his pickler onions merchants will do so on behalf of the Internal Marketing Division at £8 a ton on trucks. The area planted in onions last year was approximately 1000 acres, which has been the average for a number of years.