LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3893, 23 April 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Spontaneous combustion destroys one out of every ten tons of hay produced on American farms.

It has been a wonderful autumn for production, and figures in general are well up on previous years, states a report from Taranaki. In fact, in .eme factories the increase is up to 15 per cent, greater than last year’s figures. The season has been an exeepticjnaly good one for feed, and for mildness of weather.

“Thank you very much for your clap, gentlemen, but I wonder if I’ll get a clap on the back at the end of the season,” said Mr D. C. McMillan in responding to the Paeroa Rugby Union’s congratulations on his appointment as Thames Valley sole selector. He added that so long as he was satisfied in his own mind that he had done right he could stand up to eny criticism offered.

Although it is too late for anyone to travel from New Zealand by sea to England and be in time for the Coronation, there are still heavy bookings being made for steamers leaving this and next month bookings which easily establish a record for the season. There are also many inquiries from people desiring to spend at least part of the New Zealand winter visiting Java, the Malay States and Japan.

“I have spoken to yc>u of cheese starter's before, and I am going to speak of them again,” said Dr H. R. Whitehead, M'assey Agricultural College, in commencing an address to Taranaki dairy factory managers at New Plymouth. ‘And what is more, I am, going to continue to talk on them until a satisfactory conclusion is reached, until you cease Ao invite me or until you cease to make cheese,” he continued.

Summer time officially ends on April 25, Anzac Day—next Sunday. On that date at 2 a.m. all watches and clocks slhould be put back half an hour. The controversies cf years gone by in respect to “Sidey time” are now but a memory, and the putting of the clock forward half an hour when summer time arrives and putting back the hands half an hour at the end of the period ar,e events that cause little comment to-day.

A Wanganui drover, comparing the past with the present, said that provision for driving stock on the roads these days was net what it was. He complained that there was a decided lack of water, and quoted localities where it was impossible to find facilities to give cattle a drink. “Everything seems to cater- for motoring these days,” he said, “but surely local bodies still have a duty to travelling stock. If not the local bodies, then the farming community.”

The council of the New Zealand Manufacturing Confectioners’ Association met in Wellington on Wednesday, when, it is understood, a proposed increase in the wholesale price of chocolates came under discussion. Chocolates became 2d a lb dearer about six months ago, when increased manufacturing costs began to take effect as a result of industrial legislation. Since then, it is said, there have been further increases in costs, including that of cocoa-butter, the principal ingredient in the manufacture of chocolate.

Initial revenue from the State’s first commercial radio broadcasting station at Auckland has been so much greater than anticipated that the Government lias reviewed the agreement originally made with the controller, Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, and fixed new terms of remuneration. Instead of receiving a salary of £5OO a year, plus 71 per cent commission on radio advertising receipts, the Minister of Broadcasting has now announced that Mr Scrimgeour is to be paid a straightout annual salary of £l5OO.

Some indication of the high finance associated with Rugby Union football in New Zealand can be obtained from the annual report and balance sheet of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The accumulated fund of the Union stands at. £36,670. Of this, loans on which interest is payable has Jjeen given to the affiliated unions to the extent of £31,050. The tour of the Australian team last year brought a net profit cf £1284, which very nearly covered the expense of sending the New Zealand team to Great Britain in 1935-

According to a statement made by the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., of Balclutha, under the agreement for next year tihe wages for workers on dairy farms will be £2 5s per week and keep. There is still to be freedom of bonus and no compulsory unionism. “We were told,” added Mr Waite, “ that wages paid under the Agricultural Workers Act are based oil the guaranteed price, and if that goes up the wages of dairy farm workers will rise. We were told that the guaran - teed price would go up; consequently, there will be an increase in the wages of workers on dairy farms.”

The attention of riders of bicycles is drawn to the importance of observing the new traffic regulations which are now in force and which provide that no persop shall ride a bicycle during the hours of darkness unless it has a lamp attached throwing in a forward direction a light to be visible under normal conditions for a distance of at least 300 ft. The machine must also be equipped with a red rear light or a red reflector, a white surface of at least 12 square inches, and an efficient brake and bell. The rider must also observe the ordinary traffic rules in keeping to the left, and when passing a corner or intersection and signalling when turning to the right. Towing by any ether vehicle is also prohibited.

An agitation by owners of petrol stations to prevent dairy companies from operating pumps was the subject of comment at a meeting of the executive of the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Companies’ Association. It was explained that the only purpose for which companies installed pumps was to enable their suppliers to get petrol at something like, cost price. If there was any fear that companies were supplying persons other than suppliers a penalty for such action could be imposed. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, is to be advised that the executive thinks that companies should be allowed to sell to their own suppliers, but any sales to outsiders should be at the rate fixed for the district.

Yesterday was observed as Poppy Day in Te Awamutu, and members ot the R.S.A., assisted by an energetic ladies’ committee, met with a hearty and patriotic -response fionj the gen oral public to purchase the floral token in memory of those who had made the Supreme Sacrifice during the Great War. The proceeds will prove quite satisfactory, being equal' to the total sum raised last year.

Resentment of a statement that the trend of socialistic legislation was a menace to the religious freedom of the people, made by the Leader of trie Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton at Rotorua recently, was expressed by Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P', in an address at. Matamata. This was a most untan and untrue allegation, he said. The Parliamentary Labour Party included ministers and prominent churchmen of every denomination, and all were working for the common good of the masses of the people.

The question of forming a dairy factory managers’ union was discuss ed in Auckland yesterday by about 100 members of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association, those present representing practically every part of the Auckland province The meeting, whicli was held in com mittee, lasted over four hours. At the conclusion the chairman, Mr W. Hol lis, and officials said there was no statement for publication. It is under stood, however, that a further meet ing of dairy factory managers is to be called in Taranaki.

A report that the Douglas and Rothwell wards at the Waikato Hospital had been satisfactorily strengthened with steel stanchions and girders to check the sagging in the floors was received by the Waikato Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman, Mr J. J. Ryburn, said the work had been carried out with a minimum of in convenience to the patients and staff. The weather had been fine, and tents had been satisfactorily used to accom modate patients for whom room had to be found outside the wards. It was decided to have the interior of the wards painted.

The Te; Awamutu Cribbage Club held their usual weekly series of games in the Oddfellow’s Hall last night. The attendance, was good considering the weather, but not up to the usual standard. However, this did not interfere with the keenness of the players. There was a dead heat with three of the ladies, the play off resulting in a win for Mrs Duggan. Four men returned even cards, the play-off resulting in a win for Mr H. Reed. The enthusiasm of the ladies still shews 'itself in the trouble they take to provide an excellent supper which adds to the enjoyable nature of the evenings.

Speaking at Matamata and referring to farm labour problems, Mr A. F. Moncur. Labour M..P. for Rotorua, declared that the seriousness of this was greatly exaggerated. He produced a dozen replies which one Matamata farmer had received in answer to an advertisement for a farm worker. Speaking of the guaranteed price, he said that prominent men in the dairying industry had deliberately misled farmers as to what their incomes would be. Contrary to reports spread by these men, practically every dairy company would definitely be in a position to pay a bonus of IJd per lb ot butter fat on this year’s workings. Mr Moncur said that the compensated price could never be a workable proposition while there were fluctuating prices. Prices of land, stock, etc., rose and fell with the price of produce, and a satisfactory balance could never be made under those circumstances.