SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 33

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

GOOD PROSPECTS.

INVERCARGILL. September 27. Beautiful sunny weather has prevailed throughout the week, and has given an impetus to the growth of grass and vegetables and to summer sports. Lambing is general throughout the province. The ewes are in good condition, the food supply is increasing rapidly, and so far there have been no appreciable losses either through weather or disease. The dairyseason is in full swing again, and all the factories are operating. The intakes in every case are well up to tho£>e at the opening of last season. There seems no doubt that as far as production is concerned the season will be a splendid one. But as for prices . . . ! Calves are being freely sent to the slaughter, but the quality is inferior to laet year’s. Evidently a large is going to be put down in oats this year, for merchants report that the demand for seed oats is keen.

BROADCASTING. For some time trouble has been byewing between the Southland Radio Club and the owner of Station 4ZP, Mr R. T. Parsons. Mr Parsons did a great service to listeners when he erected, entirely at his own expense, his powerful broadcasting station. . The Radio Club was formed to assist him in providing listeners w’th good programmes. The club’s membership grew rapidly until over 500 had been enrolled. Success seemed assured, until frict'on began between the club and the station owner. Where the blame lay is not for me to sav, but the position has developed until the club has practically broken with Mr Parsons, and is looking for some other medium through which to continue _ its activities. Meantime Mr Parsons is on the air every morning and afternoon, and on most evenings, although it doubtful if he will be able to keep up this exceptional service when the copyrj? j Proposals come into force next Wednesday. One thing is certain, however: Station 4ZP is very much appreby,tbe vast majority of listeners in Southland, and the club will be acting unwisely if it does not decide to work in with Mr Parsons.

FARMERS’ TRADING COMPANIES. One result of the poor prices ruling for dairy produce.last season has been a very critical attitude on the part of suppliers. Dairy factory directors and secretaries have had questions to answer at annual meetings and one or two have lost their seats. The climax, however, came to-day. when, at the annual meeting of the Dairy r ederation, there were some hot exchanges. The principal criticism was levelled at the high salaries paid to the manager and the secretary, and a motion urging retrenchment, was carried. The sitting suppliers’ representative was unseated and a comparatively young man elected in his place. A motion was carried rescinding the payment of the £250 (whicn caused so much friction a year ago) to Mr John Fisher. ITEMS OF INTEREST. Southland residents will be gratified to know that in future will be a daily mail service with the north. Motor vans will run on the days on which there is no through express. Both the Southland Tennis Association and the Southland Cricket Association held their annual meeting this week. In the ease of the former body the retiring office-bearer.s were re-elected almost without exception, but the new executive of the Cricket Association differs a good deal from last year s. It is certainly to be hoped that more harmonious relations will exist this season in the body- controlling cricket in the province than was the case last season.

, Anglers are looking forward keenly to the opening of the fishing season, and if the weather is at all favourable there should be hundreds of anglers on the rivers when Wednesday dawns. The prospects for a bright opening are very good at the time of -writing. The small streams are. in _ particularly good order, and the mam rivers are also lower than is usual at this time of the year. Many fishermen are sanguine this season of getting plenty’ of trout, because the run of whitebait has been so poor. Last year when the whitebait was exceptionally plentiful the opening of the fishing season -was dismal. A_ daring burglary in a. garage on Wednesday night caused a bit of a sensation. Ihe thieves were cool customers, and evidently- knew their way about, for the garage tools were used to wreck the safe. About £35 was taken. So far the burglars have not been captured.

Southlands reputation for possessing moonshiners ” is evidently causing concern to members of Parliament. The member for Clutha has been urging the police to stamp out the illicit distilling which goes on in the fastnesses of the Hokonuis and other less remote places. It will be a sad day for northern visitors when poteen ceases to be made in Southland, for. they will be robbed of the standard joke against the “ high-spirited ” people of these parts. A definite step in aero matters in Southland was made last Friday when the Aero Club decided to appoint an instructor and purchase a machine. Two Government machines will also be available for instructional purposes.