SOUTHLAND TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 61

SOUTHLAND TOPICS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON CALLING ! INVERCARGILL, August 8. >. In a signally successful manner the new 1 a< Lo-telcphone service linking England, Australia, and New Zealand was inaugurated in Invercargill last Alonday evening wlieii Air T. Alacpherson, of the t , y taephei-son. Train and Company, Adelaide House. London, agents of tiie southland Frozen Meat Company, called through from the Empire's capital to Air John Giikison, of this city, who is chairman of directors of the company. Reception at both ends of the telephone was very clear, and the parties enjoyed a pleasant chat, to which was added the thrnl of speaking over a distance of some 12.000 miles, which had been completely annihilated by the progress of science. Air Macpherson congratulated the Southland Frozen Aleat Company on its splendid season, and said the farmers in this country .were doing better than ever. 4he quality shipped this season under the Crossed Keys ’■ brand had been the best they in London hail so far from New Zealand. ALL IN THE FIELD. There are now three candidates for the Invercargill seat, and a triangular conI ; ’i>t will be fought by Alessrs William Al Chesney (United), George Agnew (Reform), and William Denham (Labour); but the issue finally will result between the first two. The upholder of Air Coatee’s banner is not so well known as a public combatant as cither of his opponents, and the explanation of that lies in the fact that, though he has been a close student of polities he has been in the State’s employ as a teacher, except for the period in which h e saw active service with the New Zealand Division in the Great War. Both Alessrs Al'Chesney and Agnew have had experience in the hurly-burly of public affairs, and have enjoyed it, but in the coming contest, the public, asked to make its choice among men who have not previously stood for this seat, will prefer to hear the candidates on the platform before making up their minds. Though, at the outset, it may be thought that Air Agnew is handicapped by not being so well known as his opponent, yet his record as a teacher, in sport and in less prominent public affairs suggests that he will not need to fear a comparison with the other candidates. The contest gives every promise of being a keen one.

THE KINDERGARTEN MOVEMENT. It is now generally realised in these, parts as well as in other centres the world over that kindergartens possess exceptional educational value, in that they provide a natural system of education during the first years of life, teaching the way in which the germs of human disposition should be nourished and fostered, if they are to attain complete and healthy development. The kindergarten movement here is increasing in popularity with each year, and energetic committees are tireless in their continued efforts to support the organisation. There are now three schools in existence, with a total roll number of over 100, and every endeavour is made to ensure that the carrying out of the fundamental aims of the work is not jeopardised through lack of funds. This year, of course, the Government, owing to the present financial stress, has reduced its subsidies, but the well-wishers of the movement have even redoubled their energies, and the voluntary contributions both from near and far have proved quite satisfactory. Last week, in order to give parents a practical insight into the methods of training, a display was arranged in the St. John’s Hall, which was crowded to the doors. The programme opened with a welcoming chorus by the 100 or so little performers, and the many humorous and interesting numbers following went with a good swing; all the children, right down to the smallest tot,- appearing to derive the utmost enjoyment from the performance. The visitors evinced the keenest interest in the display, and expressed gratification at the manner in_ which the work was being carried out in the kindergartens by the directresses.

SOUTHLAND INSTRUCTS AUCKLAND. A feature which was responsible for more than ordinary interest to Aucklanders and visitors to the Auckland Winter Exhibition was an exhibit of the work and products of the Southland Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs. The exhibit, which was similar to that on view at both the Southland and Otago Winter Shows, was most attractively staged and was the centre of much interest during the period of th 6 exhibition. For some time past Air AV. Alexander, a former president of the Southland League who is now residing in Auckland, has been endeavouping to interest the Auckland educational authorities in the movement, which he assisted to commence and direct

for its first year in Southland, and, for P urpoße ° f a Practical demonstrat.on, he secured the exhibit and supervised said that many Aucklanders were satiswotk a of a th eSU K’i th? e ?J? ibit that the lisliment n h f e . h iJ dren Justified the establishment of clubs, and he hoped before long to have a club formed in Auckland ment e whirh meWhat str ? n B e that a movement which commenced a decade ago in laranaki and ultimately spread to SouthLnd d re?ahhn be lntroduCCd into a northern and neighbouring province by Southland nfluence, but this is only an indication th t^H eXtrCme s uS ceSB in Southland of trict thuslasm "hich exists in this disPOOR DAIRY PRICES. Yi' th the closing at the end of July oi the accounts of the various dairy fac’u Southland, the directors will y ln % to announce to out fn PP tb erS What be the Pay- ■ r , t , he sea! wn Unfortunately, prices obta.nable on the London market during the season have been very poor, and the return to the producers wifi be the smallest for almost 20 years. Details are not yet available, but it is estimated that the average return over the whole season range from )0d per lb butter-fat, or eien a trifle lower, up to about Is. As ° f r t -’ e - ketones have followed a policy of giving conservative advance payments. it is likely that a fairly substant al bonus, as the final settlement is commonly termed, will be payable to suppliers. An unusual feature of the current season has been the higher relative price s cured for butter in comparison with cheese and for the first time for a numL er b Of t r a r s butter bas Proved definitely • e I, , ttcr proposition. The result 'tnrn° l i th and r 111 P ro bably be that the retm n to suppliers of the Farmers’ Dairy that Tn’thV' 1 • sb ” ht, y higher than that to the majority of cheese factories maH-et that PFiceS ° n the loca f Onl La c V t vel ’y drastically. One pleasing feature m an otherwise disappointing season has been the favourable exchange rate which has existed between aim Zealand and London. This has very considerably added to the returns avaib a .c to the producers in New Zealand, a .‘ ’K 18 estimated m certain quarters that the profits on the whole industry xi JI amount to about £3.000,000. and that South.and s share will be ereater th->n £lOO,OOO. greater than A “ REVOLUTIONARY ” MOVEMENT. The first steps towards embarking upon a movement described bv certain members present as being of a “ revolutionary ” nature were taken by the Southland Presbj tery at its monthly meeting last Tuesday. when it was decided to appoint a commission to exhaustively investigate, in the interests of the church and of its adherents, the wisdom or otherwise of ettecting an amalgamation of the weaker i-iiaiges wherever deemed necessary. The Rev. C. J. rocker, who strongly supported t.ie proposal, expressed his opinion that a measure of amalgamation, particularly in t.ie case oi certain country charges. \vcs urgently needed. It had been needed, he ie.terated, -even before the present econmnic aepression had tended to seriously a.tect the financial position of som e of tW churches. He said it should be possible to effect amalgamation without a very great hardship being thrust upon the ministers, and he doubted if (he principle, which, by the way, had been recognised by the General Assembly, could r n ’to practice in any part of New Zealand than in Southland. Considerable discussion, in which a marked divergence of opinion was evidenced, took place among the members, but, ultimately the motion for the appointment of the connnission was carried though, in order to ailord members the opportunity of consulting the Sessions in the meantime upon the whom matter, it was resolved to leave the appointment of the personnel ot the commission i n the hands of the I roperty and Finance Committee, who were requested to report to the next' meet-