EUROPE'S CRISIS

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 31

EUROPE'S CRISIS

UISTREST AND DISCONTENT RAMPANT. IMMENSE FOOD PROBLEMS. (By Keith Murdoch, in Melbourne Herald.) Reports from Peace Conference agents in Central Europe and Russia make extraordinary reading, more thrilling and saddening than the great tragedies. Europe is disrupted, chaotic. Intense physical sufferings hare been immediately and markedly followed by decline in spiritual forces. Faiths are shattered," minds grope wearily amid uncertainties. You are dismayed that these bodily horrors ore possible in western civilisation. You are aghast that they bring rapid, ugly social and moral decay. All are realising to-day how thin and brittle is the partition between complex organised civilisation and consuming anarchy. These wise men of Europe gathered in Paris think all evil springs from lack of food. It is a materialistic doctrine. lb strikes at the roots of self-respect. But the conference is pledged to it. Its reports are sent to the Food Bureau. Great soldiers may scan these tales of social uprisings. But action does not lie with them; the general's day is past. Financiers study them; but what can money do? Pastors and teachers may theorise, but the conference does not deal in prayers. No, off with all these reports to the Food Controller—the great food man of Europe,—who deals in wheat and meat and ships and re-creates a rail system here or canal traffic there, in order to save the body and stabilise the mmd with material substance. He is the outstanding man today, this Food Controller, for Europe has passed irom absorption on war to absorption on transportation and distribution of grain. According to British and American agents, including a distinguished general, Germany is on the very edge of starvation. The well-to-do passes have managed *o hold out by comoWtioa in little groups to buy supplies at exorbitant prices. But the working people have for some months been getting leas than the body requires. One report speaks of thousands of men in an industrial centre being eager but unable to work. All reports tell of terrible distress among children and high mortality among infants. General. Sir Herbert P'lumer, who is not the agent referred to, has telegraphed that thousands of Germans are dying" of starvation, and infectious diseases are running through the population. Masses of people are in rags. Germany is unhinged. The revolutionary sailors holding the Reichstag building against Government troops this weeic m Berlin to surrender in return for soup, ihey pulled- down their flag-, handed over their rifles, drank their soup, and melted into the crowds, comforted. The famous Guards Division has become frankly mercenary, and fights this street clear or captures that building from Spartacists for set payments in cash and food. Berlin riots along. .Lho Jazz danoe has become the craze,, operas and theatres are fifed with people in evenm(r dress while bullets whistle outside, the jewellers, ransom their shops.for so many thousand marks; at Mannheim the whole city suddenly goes Bolshevik; at Dubsseldorf a dapper little major-general with 1500 men drive thousands, of msurgents away and then stands a, siege. Glance through Central Europe Austria takes pride in its steadiness. We are not like those boastful Prussian organises whose organisation collapses under lessstram than we suffer." But Austria's physical agony is worse than that of Germany. Tho Conference's reports describe the .Viennese dying in the streets, women famtingaa they work, children crying all day. Two thin meals a day in Vienna is the utmost the Government can manage. Black, puddeny, ill-smelling bread and watery soup. Better food conditions rule m Hungary, but here insurgency is strong, and the tide of rebellion and fighting rolls up and down Just to the north, the Poles are going through a political tempest, though I am informed byVneral Carton de Wmrt, head of the British section of the. Polish Commission, that Paderewski, with his great charm of manner an S d deep sincerity has a wonderful hold over his people At Lembergde Wiart dined well. He had money •But outside he saw thousands of emaciated folk .who were getting but one poor meal of soup a day, whose children were dying and whose clothes were so thm that the winter's blasts brought ravaging illParis is flooded with delegates convinced that their country's fate is worse than anythin"- seen since heathendom. Rumanians nr« "dying from starvation literally in hundreds every dav. The Germans left them only 10 locomotives, and these move with difficulty. The country was stripped bare. The Bolshevism there takes the form- of re->-n"ts seizing all the estates. Turkey has ceased to show any hopeful sign to-the Paris Conference. The population «4vHncl>cs. but nothing can be done, for shipping is needed here. The story of Prague is, perhaps, the most lamentable. The Czechs are a capable, industrious, highspirited race. They have neither food nor clothes in Prague, and Lady Muriel Paget, who has undertaken the distribution of relief, writes to the Food Commission that people an? to be seen practicaly naked as well as starving.

The following appeared in our Second Edition last week? — GORE SHOWfirst DAY. {Feom Our Special Reporter.) GORE, December 2. The Gore A. and P. Society's, thirtyeighth annual show was commenced to -™*' the weather being wretched. Rain and hail showers fell throughout the day, and it was intensely cold. As a result of the climatio Conditions prevailing a considerable number of the entries catalogued did not put in an appearance. The judging was confined to cattle, ehsej, and dairy produce. The entries in the shorthorn classes were good with but one or two exceptions, and tne quality of the animals shown reached a nign standard. Mr W. Waddell (Waikaka Valley) exhibited the champion bull of tnis breed in Riccartori Brunswick, an animal of the Dean's Trustees' breeding, which also secured the premier award in his class. The "Khapdalo Estate's Knapdale was the only other entry 'in this class. lms «mimal,. irt the opinion of the judge (Mr DavH Murray), was a very fine pne, but he was not too level on the back, from the shoulder to the rump. In the yearling feotion there was good me I. J. Anderson (Kauana) was awarded first prize for a really good type of bull, but his colour was against him to a degree. The defects consisted of three white legs, and a big patch'of white extending from tne brisket right under the stomach, which gave him the appearance of a Hereford, with tne exception that there was no white about his head. This exhibit was placed aa resarve champion, and the judge remarked that but for the white patches he would have awarded him the champion card. lie Was much better than the older bull in some Mspecta, especially at the tail and *°°*. The cows were a good, useful lot, and the first prize heifer showed considerable promise. Discussing the Ayrshires, Mr A. Douglas (the judge) said they were a very even lot. Commencing with the bulls, he said the first prize animal was true to type, being truly masculine in character. He Was wide behind, ' aad was of the kind which would produce stock after his type. It was essential* in breeding cows to get a width behind, so that they could carry their vessel. This bull had good heart space, and this was necessary, particularly in cows, otherwise the stock would not be able to stand the feeding required to make them produce the best result. In effect, he meant that it was the foundation of an animal's constitution. With respect to the placed cows, he demonstrated how the first prize cow, while not having the same amount of space for her vessel behind as the runnerup had, was nevertheless a good one, having an excellent constitution, as was indicated by her very fine condition. Hi 3 advice to breeders of this class of cattle was to stick to the type (j&rhich was provided with a good milk bag capacity. There were some good entries in this class, and, taken all round, th e exhibits were representative of the breed generally. There -was no competition in Friesian cattle, and Mr E. D M'Ketnzie, of Pomahaka, was the principal prize-taker. The judge said the exhibits which same forward were good, but possibly the best animal in this section was Mr Johnston Wyllie's cow, which was awarded first prize in the class for cow any ag9, in milk, and also the champion card for the best of her breed and sex in the show. In Hereford's were only two entries, both Being tha property of Mr J. A. Edwards (Pukerau), and they were good animals. The two-year-old Hereford, in addition to securing the first prize in her class, was also declared champion in her division. Only three animals came forward in the Jiyrsey or Alderney class, and Mr D. C. M'Kenzie (Glenburn) was awarded first and champion unopposed v Ith his two-year-old bull, while the same exhibitor also secured first and champion .with his two-year-old heifer, the only other entry being that of Miss Logan (Kelsof., The crossbred cattle ,vero few in number the exhibitors comprising Messrs John Beaton (Gore) ' D. K. M'Donald (Wyndham), Andrew Aitken (East Gore), and J. C. Horron (Waikaka). There was not much competition among these, but the prizes awarded were well distributed. As it so happened, most of the awards w«re secured unopposed. The fat cattle few in nuniber. but the quality was very good. The yearling steers were possibly one of the best in this section, but the bpst among the fats ".'as the four-yea--old The iudge (Mr J. Scott), in describing this animal said, "He is beef e-'erywhere. and you could pick ft off in lun ps." There was only one entry in the class for a pair of bullocks, but these were very fine. Some of the fat sheep were good, while others were only moderately good. The outstanding feature in this connection was the ewes and hoggets. The general entjy of sheep in the ordinary classes was well up to the usual standard. Discussing the Romney rams. Mr A. S. Holms (tho judge) said they were a lot of, really good sheep, and the entries were satisfactory in most classes. Some showed the effect of the bad season, But most of them were in tiptop condition. Tne ohampion ram was an exceptionally good sheep, carrying a yery fine class of wool all over. He was a sheep of great size and constitution. The ewes and hoggets were up to the standard of sheep shewn at Gore in previous years. Mr J. Miller. Maungatua, who judged the female classes of the Romneys, said this section, on the whole, was good, although the entries were not numerous. A number of the sheep were excellent, and showed true Rcmney character and great fleeces. In a few instances, particularly in hoggets. the wool showed a weakness which is not desirable. The_ first-prize ewe. 30 months or over, was a biglenerthy animal, with; -ood carriage and fine quality wool, and she was later awarded the championship.**- The second-prize ewe had a capital head and ears, but did not show tne length and carriage of the first-prize animal. The firstprize pair in the pen of two ewes. 30 nfonths or over, carried a. great weight of wool, and shov/ed true Romney character. The second prize pair were good, but were not well mated. 'The first prize ewe undei- IP months was well-grown, carried an excehVntflcoce. and had n tynionl head. The second prizetaker. while good, was not so well grown. The placed sheen in the ewe under 18 months (unclothed and unhoused) were verv even and well grown. The entry in dairv produce was a very fine one indeed. In numbers it excelled that of the three lrrev'onn years, and also in einelity «wid general all-round excellence. Following i* the prize4ist:—

CATTLE. Shorthorn. Judge: Mr D. Murray (Clydevale). Bull, three years old and over. T~o entries—W. "vTiaddeH's Riccarton Brunswick 1 and champion, Knapdale Estate's Knapdale Mac 2. Bull, one year. Eight entries —R. J. Anderson (Kauana) 1 and reserve champion, Angus Campbell (Wyndham) 2, W. Waddell (Waikaka Valley) 3. Cow, any age, in calf.—One entry—Angus Campbell 1. Cow, any age, in milk. Two entries —Angus Campbell 1,2, and champion. Heifer, two years. Two entries —Knapdale Estate's Kniapdalo Tea Rose 1, Angus Campbell 2. Heifer, one year. Three entries —Knapdale Estatel and reserve ohampion, Angus Campbell 2 and 8. Ayr shire 9. Judge: Mr A. Douglas (East Taieri). Bull, three years and over. Two entries — James Henderson (Glenham) 1 and champion, Donald M'Kenzie 2. Bull, two years. One entry—Donald M'Kenzie (Glenham) 1. Bull, one year. One entry—A. Aitken (Bast Gore) 1. Cow, over three years, in milk. One entry —B. Ga,ldweU(Edendale) 1. Cow, over three years, in calf. Three entries—Donaldi M'Kenzie 1, A. Aitken 2 and 8. .Heifer, two years.. Three entries —James Henderson 1 and champion, Donald M'Kenzie 2, A. Aitken 8. Heifer, one year. Four entries—James Henderson 1 and champion, Donald M'Kenzie 2, A. Aitken 8. Heifer, one year. Four entris£-r-James Henderson 1, D. M'Kenzie 2, A. Aitken 3. Jersey or Aldernev. Judge: Mr A. Douglas (East Taieri). Bull, two years or under. One entry—D. C. SM'Kenzie (Glenham) 1 >and champion. Heifer, two years. Two entries—D. C. M'Kenzie 1 and champion, Miss Logan 2. Friesians. Judge: Mr J. Aitcheson (Kaitangata). Bull, two years or under. Two entries— E. D. MacKenzie (Pomahaka) 1 and champion, also 2. Bull, one year. One entry—D. M'Donald 1. Cow, any age, in mil . One entry—Johnston Wylie 1 and champion. Heifer, two years. One entry—E. D. MacKenzie 1. Heifer, yearling.. Two entries—Johnston Wylie 1, E. D. MacKenzie 2. Herefords. Judge: Mr D. Murray (Clydevale). -„ Heifer, two years. One entry—J. E. . Edwards (Pukerau) 1 and champion. Heifer, one year. One entry—T. A. Edwards 1. Chossbreds. Judge: Mr D. Murray (Clydevale). Crossbred cow, any age, in milk. Four entries—D. K. M'Donald (Wyndham) 1, A. Aitken 2. Pair crossbred cows. One entry—A. Aitken (East Gore) 1. Heifer, three years, in calf or in milk. One entry —A. Aitken 1. , Heifer, two years. One entry—R. K. M'Donald (Edendale) 1. Heifer, one year. Four entries —J. C: Herron (Waikaia) 1 and 2. Cow or heifer, in milk, showing best milk qualities, any breed, pure or crossbred. One entry—D. K. M'Donald 1. Cow giving best milk test. Two entries — A.* Aitken 1 and 2. Fat Cattle. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Pen fat cattle, steers or heifers. . One entry—J. Stevenson (Wendon) 1. Fat steer. Two entries—Jas. Stevenson (Wendon) 1, R. J. Potter (Pukerau) 2. Steer, two years or under. Three entries'— Knapdale Estate 1, Jas. Stevenson (Wendon) 2 and 3. Fat yearling steer. Five entries —James M'Donald (Otikerama) 1,2, and 8, J. Stevenson 4. Fat cow, any breed. One entry—Jas. Stevenson 1. Best animal in section. One entry—Jas. Stevenson 1. SHEEP. LIIfCOLNS. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Ram, 24 months or over. One entry—G. R Johnston 1. Border Leicesters. Judge: Mr J. J.. M'Crostie (Waikaia). Rem, 30 months or over. Three entries— G. R Johnston 1, W. Kennedy (Otautau) 2 and 3. Ram, 18 months and under 80 months. Five entries—J. P. Johnston 1, W. Kennedy 2, R. J. Anderson 3. Ram, under 18 months. Six entries—J. P. Johnston 1, R. J. Anderson 2 and 8. Ram, under 18 months, unclothed and unhoused. Five entries—Robert Miller (Mandeville) 1, R. J. Anderson 2 and 8. Ram, shorn, under 18 months. Seven entries, G. P. Johnston 1, R. J. Anderson 2, Robert Miller 8. Two rams, under 18 months. Five entries—W. Kennedy 1, R. J. Johnston 2, G. P. Johnston 3. . Ewe, 80 months or over, with lamb at foot. Six entries —W. Kennedy 1, G. P. Johnston 2, R. J. Johnston 8. Two ewes, 30 months or over, in milk, with lambs at foot. Four entries—G. P. Johnston 1, W. Kennedy 2, R. J. Anderson 3. Ewe, under 18 months. Nine entries—R. J. Johnston 1, W. Kennedy 2, G. P. Johnston 3. Ewe (shorn), under 18 months. Eight entries—W. Kennedy 1, R. J. Anderson 2, G.-P. Johnston 3. N Romney Marsh. Judge: Mr A. S. Holms (Waimahaka). Ram, 30 months or over. Five (entries —R. J. Anderson 1, W. Kennedy 2 and 3. Ram, 18 months and under 30 months. Four entries—W. J. Johnston 1 and 8, Knapdale Estate 2. Kam, under 18 months. Seven entries—M. R. Lawlor 1 and 2, R. J. Anderson 3. -vam, under 18 months, unclothed and unhoused. Ten entries—W. J. Johnston 1, K. J. Anderson 2, W. Kennedy 3. Ram (shorn), under 18 months. Five entries—R. J. Anderson 1 and 3, W- G. Lad'brook 2. Ram, under 18 months. Six entries—W. J. Johnston 1, M. R. Lawlor 2 and 3. Romney ram hogget, bred by exhibitor within 40 miles of Gore, for Quibell Cup, valued at 25 guineas, to be won three times, not necessarily in succession. Three entries —W. J. Johnston 1. Ewe, 80 months or over, in milk, with lamb at foot. Four entries —R. J. Anderson 1 and 2, W. G. Ladbrook 3. Ewes, 30 months or over, in milk, with lambs at foot. Two entries —R. J. Anderson 1 and 2. Ewe, under 18 months. Three entries—R. J. Anderson 1 and 2, Knapdale Estate 3. Ewe (shorn), under 18 months, unclothed and unhoused. Six entries—P. Keir 1,2, and 3. Ewe (shorn), under 18 months. One entry —Knapdale Estate 1. Ewes, under 18 months. Four entries —R. J. Anderson 1 and 2, Knapdale Estate 8.

Downs. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Ram, 24 months or over. Ono entry —W. Kennedy (Otautau), 1. Ram, under 18 months. One entry—W. Kennedy 1. Ewe, 80 months or over, in milk, with lamb at fodt. One entry—W. Kennedy 1. Ewe, uder 18 months. One entry—W. Kennedy 1. * Champion ram—W. Kennedy. Champion ewe—W. Kennedy. CoBRIEDALES. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Ewe, 30 months or over, in milk, with lamb at foot. One entry—W. J. Johnston (Waikaka Valley) 1. English Leicesters. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Ram, 24 months or over. Two entries— W. J. Johneton 1, W. Kennedy 2. Ram, under 18 months. One entry—W Kennedy (Otautau) 1. Ewe, 30 months and over, in milk, with lamb at foot. One entry—W. Kennedy 1. Ewe, under 18 months. One entry—W. Kennedy 1. Champion ram—W. J. Johneton. Champion ewe—W. Kennedy. Cbossbreds. . Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Two ewes, Ftrong-wool, any age, in milk, with lambs at foot. Four entries—W. Kennedy \, Mrs G. Morrison 2, Cooper Bros. 3. Two ewe hoggets, strong-wool. Five entries— W. Kennedy 1, J. Jenkins 2, Mrs G. Morrison 8. *• .Two ewes, fine-wool, any age, with lambs at foot. Two entries—Cooper Bros. 1. Two ewe hoggets, fine-wool. Three entries:—Mrs G. Morrison \. Fat Sheep. Judge: Mr J. Scott (Invercargill). Freezing sheep, maiden ewes or wethers, to be shorn—Jas. Stevenson (Willowbank) 1, 2, and 3. • Fat wethers, shorn. Five entries—Jas. Stevenson 1,2, and 3. Two-tooth fat wethers. Four entries —Jas. Stevenson 1 and 2, Cooper Bros. (East Gore) 8- ■ . Fat eheep, 18 months and under, in wool. One entry—Cooper Bros. (East Gore) 1. Fat sheep, shorn. Three entries—Jas. Stevenson 1. 2, and 3. Fat lamibs, strong-wool. Three entries —John Stewart (Washpool) 1, A. Aitken (East Gore) 2. Fat lambs, fine-wool. Three entries—J. S. Smith (M'Nab) 1. F-t lambs. Two entries—John Stewart 1, J. S. Smith 2. „ ~ Pet lamb. One entry—R. T. Huckelbridge (Knapdale) 1. DAIRY PRODUCE. Judge: Miss Sim ("Rosemount," Crookston). Home-made cheese. Four entries—Mrs W. A. Gill (Browns) 1, Miss M. Gill (Browns) 2, Mrs R. M'Donald (Woodlands) 3. Factory-made cheese. One entry—Whiterig Dairy Faotory 1. Fresh butter, 21b in Jib rolls, plain. Ten entries —Mrs McDonald (Waikoikoi) 1, Mrs J. Raid (East Gore) 2, Mrs J. Stewart (Washpool) 3. Powdered butter. Ten entries—Mrs <R. M'Donald! (Waikoikoi) 1, Mrs J. Reid 2, Mrs J. Stewart 3, Miss D. Smith (Gore) 4, Mrs W. A. Gill (Browns) 5. • Fresh butter, not separator. Two entriesMrs W. A. Gill (Browns) 1, Mts R. M'Donald (Woodlands) 2. " Powderea butter, not separator. , Three entries—Miss M. Gill (Browns) 1, Mrs W. A Gill 2, Mrs R. M'Donald 3. Salt butter. Four entries—Mrs R. M'Donald 1. Mrs M'Beath (Waikoikoi) % Mrs W. A. Gill 8. Powdered butter, slb in crocks. Six entries —Mrs W. A. Gill 1, Mrs M'Donald 2, Mrs M'Beath 3, Miss Jean Stark (Waikoikoi) .4. Fresh butter, open to persons who have never taken a first prize. Eight entriesMiss L. Smith 1, Miss M. Gill 2, Miss Brock (Merino Downs) 3, Mrs J. Mathieson 4. Salt butter, open to persons who have never taken a first prize. Four entries— Miss M. Gill 1, Mrs Joseph Cooper (Freshford)' 2, Miss Jean Sta-.k (Waikoikoi) 8. Powdered butter, open to persons who have never taken a first prize. Seven, entries— Miss L. Smithy 1, Miss Brock 2, Mrs M. Moore (Waimumu) 3, Miss Phyllis Hocking (Pukerau) 4. Fancy butter, quality and 'design to be taken into consideration. Four entries—Mrs Joseph Cooper (Freshford) 1 and 2, Miss E. M. Gill (Browns) 8. Home-made loaf. Eight entries —Mrs R. M'Donalcl 1, Miss A. Reid 2, Mrs A. Chisholm (Gore) 3 and 4, Mrs *W. A. Gill 5. Best oatcake. Six entries—Mrs R. M'Donald 1, Mts J. Reid 2, Mrs R. Cross (Gore) 8. Mrs J. Cooper (Freshford) 4. Home-made girdle scones. Ten entries— Mrs Ross 1. Mrs A. Reid 2„ Mrs J. Reid 8, Mrs M'Donald 4, Mrs T. Helm (Mataura) 5. Oven scones. Fifteen entries—Mrs R. Ross 1, Mrs T. Helm 2, Mrs A. Reid 8, Mrs J. Stewart 4, Mrs Chittock (Waikaka Valley) 5. Tea cakes. Nine entries—Mies Jean Stark 1, Mrs J. Cooper 2, Mrs M'Beath 3, Miss M. W. Kingdon (Gore) 4, Miss M. Cooper (Gore) 6. • Home-made girdle scones, girls under 17. Three entries—Miss May M'Donald 1, Miss M. Gill 2, Miss Elsie Mortimer (Waipounarmi) 3.

Home-made oven scones, girls under 17. Six entxi<=a—Miss May M'Donald 1, Miss M. Gill 2, KTiss Isabel Stewart 3, Miss Elsie Mortimer 4.

Tea cakes, girls under 17. On© entry— Mias M. Gill 1.