NORTH OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 3772, 29 June 1926, Page 29

NORTH OTAGO

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT. FARAI HALF-HOLIDAYS. In reference to the Labour proposal for a compulsory weekly half-holiday for farm employees, a well-known farmer, said that if this was given effect to, a heavy loss would he sustained by farmers. There were, he pointed out, many occasions upon which the weather prevented ploughing or harvesting on several days in the week. On these days the farm labourer was doing practically nothing. Was it reasonable that ploughing and harvesting should be abandoned on a fine Saturday afternoon, simply to enable employees to play cricket or football? The farmers were willing to.-give their employees reasonable time off during the year, but to fix a compulsory halfholiday for one day in the week would be to bring heavy and unnecessary loss to those engaged in the farming industry. HOUSING AND EAIPLOYAIENT. An Oamaru resident has evolved a scheme which he claims will have a potent influence in solving the housing and unemployed problems. The scheme has been brought under the notice of the Government, and the Alinister of Internal Affairs, has replied that he has perused it with interest and has referred it to his colleague, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who deals with the subjects of housing and unemployment. OBITUARY. The death occurred on June 20, at the age of 80 years, of Mr James Hannah, a very old settler of tho district, and wellknown as a judge of Clydesdale horses. The late Air Hannah was born in Lanarkshire and migrated to Australia about 40 years ago, joining the firm of Messrs Rae and Trestraill. who had a wide reputation a 9 importers of Clydesdales. Mr Hannah subsequently came to New Zealand and settled for a time in the Taieri district. He was later employed as stud groom by Mr William Gardiner at Peebles, retiring from the position about 10 years ago. He prepared many Clydesdales for the show ring, and waS particularly successful as an exhibitor. He was unmarried and had no relatives in the Dominion. NORTH OTAGO FOOTBALL. The following are the probable representative fixtures to be played by North Otago at the conclusion of the club fixtures, which end on July 10:—Town v. Country (at Oamaru), July 17: v. South Canterbury, at Oamaru, July 24: seven-a-side tournament, July 31; Town v. Country (return), at Kurow, August 14; v. South Canterbury (return), August 21; v. Eastern Districts (Gore), at Gore, August 25; v. Southland, at Invercargill, August 28. No macth has yet been arranged for August 7. OAAIARU COAIPOSER. An Oamaru resident (Mr Eric APKenzie) has written and composed a waltz song entitled “Honolulu Aloon,” the copyright of which has been purchased by a well-known firm of Sydney publishers. The song has been highly spoken of by prominent musicians in Australia. THE DENTAL CLINIC. The Oamaru dental clinic, which has been in operation for only a few weeks, appears to be well patronised. Miss Enid Pragnell, who Is in charge of the clinic, has been kept very busy. During last month the following work was done:—Total operations 270, Including 149 fillings, 103 extractions, and 18 minor operations, 167 teeth being saved. The attendances at the clinic totalled 109, by 42 patients from the South School. So far, over 60 patients have received attention. •saiHaHOXVH vaHVHvxvavH The Government fish hatchery at Hokatar amea. which is in charge of Mr C. L. Ayson, nas had a successful season so far as quinnat salmon ova are concerned. Mr J. G. Miller, curator of the Wellington Society’s hatchery at MastertQn, who

visited the hatchery last week, stated that he was amazed at the progress that had been made with the breeding of quinnat salmon. The fish he had seen in the stream at Hakataramea simply made his mouth water. A consignment of about 500,000 salmon ova has been despatched to the Blenheim hatchery. The fry will subsequently he liberated in the Wairau River. THE MEAT WORKS. A prominent North Otago settler is most emphatic in his declaration that there are at present too many freezing works operating in the South Island. None of the works was run at its full capacity, and the overhead charges for buyers, staffs, fuel, etc., were enormous. The whole of these charges had to he paid by the producer. The settler stated that if the producers were wise they would combine to reduce the number of works, and to save the present unnecessary expenditure of money. KUROW OR TKKAPO? 1 he question of where the supplementary power station was to bo built was discussed at Friday’s meeting of the Power Board. The engineer said he hoped to get power from Kurow to augment their present ilr T. A. Munro said that Timaru was advocating Tekapo. Mr Frith said that that scheme was cheaper. Mr Munro said that their delegate to the Wellington conference should support the Kurow scheme. The men on survey at present at Kurow had found everything they wanted in the way of requirements for the erection of a power station. There w r as no waste in a long transmission line. A Member: There is no question that the chairman will do other than sunport the Kurow project. THE POUTRY INDUSTRY. A meeting of the Egg and Poultry Growers’ Association (Dunedin) was held in Oamaru on Friday. Air L. B. Couch presided. The annual report was read. This showed that at the beginning of the last flush season the demand for eggs started in early and was maintained, probably for the reason that the local circles threatened to ship any surplus. At the end of the year the price was from 2s 9d to 3s per dozen. There appeared to lie a fairly heavy supply of pulp yet on hand. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £l2 12s 4d. The membership now stood at 40. Comment is make upon the action of certain poultrymenAin selling their eggs to a local distributor. It is pointed out that if this policy continues the organisation that has maintained prices may have to go to pieces. Detailed reference is made to the annual conference in Dunedin, at which the association was represented by Messrs, Couch and Hutton. The report concludes: “The present position as regards marketing being recognised by a few of those more interested, both in your association and the Otago Egg Circle. It has been thought necessary to point out in this report that unless members take things in hand the control of prices for next flush season will be beyond the local selling agants of both associations. Your selling agents have already cut out cartage, and are merely working on a 5 per cent, basis. No other agent has worked on this basis." The system of marketing and prospective prices were discussed, and a good deal of business transacted, which will be reported upon later.