STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 11

STRATFORD NEWS.

ELECTRIC STORES DAMAGED. FIRE AT SMART BROS. When one of the electricians employed by Messrs. Smart Bros, of Broadway North, entered the electrical store-room shortly before 8.30 o’clock this morning to get his tools, everything appeared to be in its usual order, but when he returned a few minutes later the room was a mass of flames, and in a few minutes damage estimated at about £2OO was done to the stores. Another employee first noticed smoke issuing from the room, and at ones warned his fellow workmen, who quickly ran a stream of water from an outside hose upon the flames. The storeroom is separated from the firm's office merely by a partition, and Mr. J. Smart, who had just arrived on the scene, made a dash to save the books, papers and eash-box of the business. Although the outbreak was intense while it lasted, the fire had been brought under control by the time tlie brigade reached the spot. It was fortunate that the firm’s hose was at the time conveniently coiled above the tap, otherwise delay in providing a stream of water might have meant the demolition of the whole building. The stock was insured with the Norwich Union Company for £lO6O. ’lncluded in the damage was about £5O worth of electric cable, valuable electrical instruments and numerous appliances. PROBLEMS OF THE DAY. DISCUSSION BY FARMERS. A special meeting of the Toko Branch of the Fanners’ Union was held in Toko on Wednesday night, Mr. T. T. Murray presiding over a small attendance. “That valuations for rating and taxation purposes be made at very much shorter intervals,” was a resolution carried unanimously in the form of a remit to the annual conference. Thia followed a brief discussion on the present unequal valuations and the consequent difficulties under which some farmers are working. Cases were instanced in the district where one farm would be valued twice as high as its neighbour. The following resolutions were also carried:—That the branch do its best to oppose any alteration of the standard time during any part of the year; that the Dominion executive be requested to urge on the Education Department the immediate necessity of appointing assistants to all country schools where the attendance averages 30 instead of the present system by which the attendance must average 36 for four quarters before an assistant is appointed. Organisation towards electing members of Parliament pledged to no other party than the Farmers’ Union was not viewed favourably by the meeting, those present expressing the view that party politics were better left alone by the union. In connection with the “amalgamation of all butter factories in each province with a view to centralising manufacture in order to control and bring all internal costs of producing and management to a minimum and thereby act as a check to the proprietary interests and further strengthen the principle of cooperation,” those present, while favouring many points involved, decided, in view of the importance of the suggestion. to defer discussion to a full meeting of the branch. Absorl ing the Bank of New Zealand ns a State Bank with a section devoted to purely agricultural interests, was another proposal submitted for discussion. The chairman said he understood something had already been done in connection with the second part of the proposal. and this matter was also deferred to a future meeting. LOCAL INTERESTS. The chairman, speaking in connection with the big bull fair held in Douglas in October, drew attention to the condition of some of the pens in which animals were yarded. He said that at least 20 bulls were up to their bellies in water. He stressed the importance of the bull in the herd and pointed out the danger of dir,t to the bulls. The yards in question were only used for the big sales and, as they wore lower than were inclined to flood. A i little mud Wotild not harm thb bulls,

said Mr. Murray, but water constituted a danger to the animals. It was left to the chairman and the secretary to draft a letter to the Associated Auctioneers (Stratford), drawing attention to the bad condition of the yards, particularly the portion used for bulls, with a view to having the matter attended to. The fact that correct weighing is very difficult on the pig-weighing scales at Huiroa was the subject of considerable discussion. At present it is possible for the weight to be affected by the position in which the pig stands on the platform. If the animal leans against a wall close by or if it touches the wall at all the weighing is affected, and much time is lost trying to balance the pig on the platform. It was suggested that a framework be erected on the platform and the scales adjusted so that this additional weight would not be recorded. It was decided to point out the difficulty to the Inglewood Bacon Company, who use the scales in question, and it was also decided to request the inspector to have all station scales tested regularly.