NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19836, 8 July 1926, Page 6

NORTH OTAGO.

OTbou Om BrxajLt Oobbsspohdiir.)

THE WHEAT POSITION

Although it is generally admitted that a larger area in North Otago is being sown in wheat this year than last year, the outlook for next season, so far as prices are concerned, is not regarded by growers with any degree of confidence. The policy of the Government is to allow things to take their own course. Farmers who have been interviewed by your correspondent upon the subject do not regard' this as a wise policy. They state that wheat-growing is entirely different from other primary industries, for the reason that it is regulated by the seasons as well as by market fluctuations. For instance, if the price of wheat is low and the yield per acre is small, the grower is faced with disaster. It is argued by some that if wheat-grow-ing does not pay, the farmer has the option of turning to other forms of husbandry, such as lamb-raising or dairying. In the wheat belt, however, which comprises some 300,000 acres, the land is not adapted to dairying, owing to the dry seasons, and lamb-raising does not produce anything like the same returns per acre as wheat-growing. One prominent farmer told your correspondent that the Dominion, was going to lose hundreds of thousands of pound every year in the value of produce alone, to say nothing of the reduced employment of labour and the crippling of the pig industry through the shortage of bran and pollard, unless the wheat industry was stabilised. Asked how he would bring about this stabilisation, he answ'ered: “To my mind the thing is simple enough. If 7s per bushel is necesary in order to give the farmer a fair margin of profit, the millers should be compelled to pay this price, if it is necessary to charge £l9 per ton for floiar instead of £lB, in order that the miller can show a fair margin of profit, a sufficient duty should be placed upon imported wheat and flour to permit that charge to be made. The baker, for his part, may feel it incumbent upon him to raise the price of bread by a halfpenny per four-pound loaf. This would cover the increased cost of flour. He might, indeed, make no extra charge for cash. If it cost the consumer, say, threepence or sixpence a week extra for his bread, it would be worth while. He pays heavier increases than that for meat and groceries without a word of murmur.” CHORAL 'SOCIETY. The Oamaru Ladies’ Choral Society will produce Edward German’s “Merrie England” in'the Opera House this evening. The soloists will be Miss Elspeth Denholm, Mrs M'Culloch, Miss Eva Marshall, Mr Edward Dennis (Wellington), Mr « Brown (Waimate), and Mr J. Barker. It is anticipated that there will be a large audience. A BIG CROP. it is stated on reliable authority that Mr W. Ruddenklau, of South Canterbury, and his sons, are this year sowing an area of 2000 acres in wheat, under an arrangement with an Qamaru miller. A tractor and drills are working night and day, with shifts of men, in order to complete the large undertaking while the weather is fine. DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC An inquest was held by the Coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) yesterday on the body of Miss Pollitt, aged 26, a daughter of Mr Barney Pollitt, of Moeraki, who died when under an aneeethetic in the Oamaru Public Hospital. The evidence showed that the deceased was

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT.

being operated upon by Drs Smith, Morton, and Davidson for the removal of a tumorous growth near the heart. When the tumour was removed the heart suddenly ceased action, and death resulted. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony. ALLEGED THEFT. The man George Harris, who was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of stealing from huts at Gemrnell’s Crossing, was brought before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., yesterday, and remanded for a week. GENERAL. Thirteen degrees of frost were registered in Oamaru on Wednesday morning. It was the heaviest frost of the season. A white line three inches in breadth has been painted in the centre of the wide footpaths of Oamaru. It is not, as visitors may suppose, a test of the sobriety of residents. It is intended as a dividing line for pedestrian traffic, but gives no indication to the stranger as to which side of the line he or she should patronise. ROTARIAN CLUB. At the weekly meeting of the Rctarian Club yesterday Mr John Fraser was elected to succeed Mr F. W. Humphris as a director. Mr T. Doyle read a paper on “The Social Conditions in Italy,” which showed that much time and intelligence must have been devoted to its preparation. MOTOR SERYICES. Some time ago it was intimated, on apparently reliable authority, that a motor bus service was to be inaugurated between Oamaru and Kurow by the Government. It was subsequently stated _ that a new design of carriage was to be introduced to the railways. Neither service has yet been installed. PERSONAL. Mr F. V. Dennehy, of the railway parcels office in Oamaru, has been transferred to Greymouth. His position is being filled by Mr A. /. Gale, of Wellington. Mr G, Cahill has been transferred to the railway goods office at Dunedin, and is succeeded by Mr A. Buchan, of the Dunedin relieving staff. Mr George B. Couch, of the Tokarahi School, has been advised of his appointment to the position of secondary teacher in the Te Kakara District High School at Gisborne. MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING. At the Glenavy Miniature Rifle Club’s contest the shoot-off for the Tisdall baton resulted in a tie between Riflemen Paul and Dickson, and the decision will be made on July 15, when a match will' be fired against Morven. The best scores at this week’s shoot were as follows: —W. M'Culloch, E. Lobertson, E. Grimson (ndssibles), D. M'Lean, J. Paul, J. H. Andrews, C. Fleming, N. L. Andrews (each 98), E. M'Donald, W. Dickson, J. H. Jackson, C. Dugbale, J. M'Culloch (97). N. Gibson, J. Hollamby (96), C. Bishop, D. M'Culloch (93\ A. M'Culloch (92).