PRIMARY RESOURCES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1930, Page 10

PRIMARY RESOURCES

FARMERS’ UNION ACTIVITY

AFFAIRS OF STRATFORD BRANCH. aS THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING.Mr. M. G. Trotter (president) presided over the first annual meeting of the Stratford branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when the following report upon the operations of the branch was adopted: — The financial position can be regarded as satisfactory. During the year the sum of £23 12s. was received from headquarters, being the branch's proportion of the members’ fees collected. Probably there will be a little more due the branch from the same source. The expenditure amounted to only £4 (Id., but accounts to pass total a further £4 12s. Gd., leaving the branch in credit to the extent of £l4 10s. 6d.

The committee. regrets that the direct activities of the branch have been somewhat lax owing to the apathy of members, but the delegates appointed to the Stratford sub-provincial executive have been enabled to attend to the wants of the district and assist any outlying branches when help was required, and, working in conjunction with the Stratford sub-provincial executive and the North Taranaki provincial executive, advance the cause of the union generally. MENACE OF WEEDS. A public meeting was called to discuss the ragwort question, and from that meeting it is felt much good will accrue, as, after a full and careful discussion c .our proposals for tackling the menace, the North Taranaki executive decided to ask the Dominion executive to convene a meeting of delegates from all over tdie North Island to formulate a plan to tackle the menace in a manner assure successful results at a minimum cost to the farmer.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman referred tc the steps taken to form the Sti afford bianch as an advantage to farmers of the district. Later, the North Taranaki executive had seen fit to father a move to establish a sub-provincial exe-. cutive situated in Stratford, through which the numerous branches operating in the Stratford district could find adequate expression and ventilation of their views. The executive had been a live body and had done excellent work. “If I were to read the various matters which the sub-executive has sent on to the senior body in New Plymouth you’ would realise how extensive that work has been,” he said. Moreover, the subpro vinoi al executive had adequate representation on the provincial executive, and on no occasion had any matter emanating from the central body been turned down.

During the year a lecture of an exceedingly interesting nature was delivered by Mr. Smith, of the Agricultural Department. The department had made the services of its officers available for such purposes and it was the desire of the committee of the branch to foster these discussions.

“If we have done nothing else, we have brought the matter of noxious weeds very prominently forward,” continued the chairman. The Stratford branch, he said, had called a meeting of settlers and local body representatives at Stratford, at which menace of weeds and their possible eradication was thoroughly discussed. In this connection he referred to the recent statement made by Mr. J. W. Deem, of the Agriculture Department, who claimed that as a result of extensive experiments conducted in co-operation with the authorities of Massey College ragwort could be destroyed by applications of. non-poisonous chemical solution.

Mr. N. B. Fryday seconded the motion, and while congratulating tlie president and the secretary upon their enthusiasm, deplored the apathy ,of members. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. M. G. Trotter (re-elect-ed); vice-presidents, Messrs. N. B. Fryday (Ngaere) and E. W. Hancock (Cardiff) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. A. Hunt (re-elected). The old committee, consisting of Messrs. D. J. Mackay, R. Wellington (Wharehuia), E. Walker,' Paynter, jun. (Stratford), H. Clemow, H. Marchant (Cardiff) and N. B. Fryday (Ngaere) was re-eleoted, while the names of Messrs. Neilson (Stratford) and C. Clemow (Cardiff) were added. The secretary was voted aa J honorarium of £3 3s. in appreciation of his services.

The sum of £2 2s. was voted to the funds of the provincial executive, which had spent a large sum in organisation last year. Mr. H. Blyde, president o’f the North Taranaki executive, delivered an interesting address , on the operations of the union generally and the work of the executive in Taranaki in particular, prefacing'his remarks by urging those present dot to be discouraged by the small attendance, but to remember that it was the actual membership that counted. “A wave of enthusiasm in connection with the activities of the union is sweeping over New Zealand at the present time,” said Mr. Blyde, “and to-day the Government is realising that the union is indeed the mouthpiece of the farming community.”

MAIN HIGHWAY REVENUE

The chairman mentioned that he had prepared a remit dealing with the revenues of the Alain Highways Board, but in view of the small attendance he preferred to hold it over in the meantime. The farmers, he said, paid in rates for the building of good roads, wh-ioh were now utilised by all classes of foreign traffic in direct competition with the State-owned railways. The time had arrived when the people using roads should pay more for the privilege of having them in good order. Air. E. W. Hancock: The Taranaki

farmer was rated to bring good roads into existence; he is now rated to maintain them, and in addition, has to pay petrol tax. He gets it both way?. On the other hand, some counties, for example, those in North Auckland, have not yet produced good roads and are getting heavy subsidies to cover their construction. I was in Auckland recently and found people boasting of the circumstances. -

Mr. Blyde said at a meeting of the Lepperton branch on Monday evening a remit was adopted asking the provincial executive to investigate the allocation of the petrol tax and the amount collected in rates, also tb ascertain how far a 2d. extra tax on petrol would go as a means of reducing rates, and to endeavour, to see that revenue collected locally be spent locally. This, said the chairman, was similar to his own deferred remit. .

Mr. T. T. Murray reviewed the reading position in Taranaki and suggested that Taranaki counties should be allowed an extra mileage of declared highways (primary or secondary) by way of compensation for the large sums originally spent in making good roads. He drew attention to the high, standard of roadmaking required for modern motor traffic, and complained that whenever a road came into the category of a secondary highway the Public Works Department at once demanded that it be widened to a 16ft. road. Thus county councils found their expenses actually increased, instead of diminished, by the declaration of secondary highways. It was his contention that subsidies payable in respect of secondary highways should be such that the local body secured an immediate relief in its expenditure upon that road. Mr; Hancock: Car registrations in Taranaki are the greatest in New Zealand and are exceeded only in America. Therefore, as more revenue is' raised in the province more should be spent there. The matter was then dropped, it being felt that the remit from the Lepperton branch would serve the. purpose.

A number of other matters such as the provisions of the Arms Act, the cost of ammunition, and the cost of bread were discussed, but no action was Taken at the meeting. Appreciation of the services of Mr. Blyde was expressed by the chairman,' and the provincial president was accorded a vote of thanks for his attendance. GENERAL ITEMS. The following nominations have been received for the Eltham school committee to be elected at the householders’ meeting on Monday next: C. A. Cooper, R. Kemp, W. Ricketts, J. A. Ryburn, 0. C, Stauners, A. 11: Walsh, ’J. C. Walsh) A. E. Benefield, B. H. Goldsmith, J, Phillips, junr., J. A. Rankin, T. E. Trask, and A. Ware. . ‘ ■

A Rugby team will be selected from the following players to represent Eltham 111. against Celtic 111. at Stratford to-morrow: L. Hoskin, E. Tipler,. E. Paton, L. Paton, S. Walker, Tilley, A. Vincent, J. Barker, J. Groves, F. Dudding, S. Clare, D. Noble, B. Robson, J. Gower, M. Ritter, F. Hutchins,, L. Gibson, F. Lehrke. When J. Vincent was accosted by Inspector Williams at Riverlea on March 17 and asked to produce his driver’s license he was unable to do so. Nor had he done so up to yesterday when he was fined £1 and costs £1 2s fid at the Elthanypolice Court for the offence. Alfred Moreland was fined £1 and costs £1 2s 6d at the Eltham Police Court yesterday on a charge of failing to have attached to his motor-cycle a suitable warning device. Arising out of a collision at the intersection of Mountain and Conway roads, Eltham, a youth, Lindsay James Gower, a driver of a motor vehicle, was fined £2 and costs 14 2d at the Eltham Police Court yesterday on a charge of failing to maintain his position to the left of the centre line of Conway 1 Road until he had passed the centre line of Mountain Road hito which road 'lie was turn? ing. The collision occurred when the Rev. E. S. Emmitt was passing in a motor-ear. His vehicle .was damaged. Charles Steer, a youth who rode a bicycle on the Eltham Road without a light was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10s at the Eltham Police Court yesterday.

“I make no apology for the poor attendance o r meml rr; they have all been circularised and have all received copies of the annual report. I can only deplore their non-attendance,” said Mr. M. G. Trotter in opening the annual meeting of the Stratford branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. The winner of the men’s section of the Stratford Tennis Club’s Walter Cup competition, is Mr. S. Court. The operations of" the Cardiff Co-op. Dairy Company for the past month reveal a 20 per cent increase in production. At this time last year the company advanced Is 3d per lb of butterfat, but the. last pay-out was only Is. Nevertheless, so well has. his herd, milked that one farmer , with 60 cows actually received £3 more than he did at the end of April, .192!), despite the reduced advance.

KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD.

‘THE'DANCE OF LIFE.”

What a glorious entertainment was presented to the audience at the King’s theatre last night! Words fail to describe its perfection. It has everything, a romantic story, colour, fun, drama. It absorbs the mind and heart in a great pulling story. “Th Dance of Life” is a Paramount picture. It is the worldfamous stage success, “Burlesque,” on the screen. .Hal Skelly relives the role of “Skiu,” which he created for the stage [ play, and in “The Dance of Life” he is doubly effective with Nancy Carroll, the charming heroine of delightful pictures, opposite him. The settings are marvellous, from the backstage burlesque house, with its chorus of 180pound “queens,” to the magnificent “Follies” sequence, shown in natural colour in which more than 80 beautiful show girls take part. Six original musical numbers were written for Paramount’s picturisation of the stage success. The numbers include “King of Jazzmania,” “True Blue Lou,” “Cuddlesome Baby,” “Flippity Flop,” “Ladies of the Dance” and “The Mightiest Matador.” Richard Whiting, Leo Robin and Sam Coslow, well-known for scores of

popular hits.'wrote the music and lyrics,