TOWNSMEN AND FARMERS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 9

TOWNSMEN AND FARMERS

LARGE GATHERING AT LEP.PERTONJ hi further development of the spirit of fellowship and understanding between town and country the farmers of the Lepperton district last night entertained New Plymouth Rotarians at a smoke concert in the public hall, this being a. reciprocation of a similar compliment paid the farmers by the Rotary Club recently. There were about 60 town and

country residents present. Mr. H. B. Lepper presided, associated, with him being Dr. G. Home, president of the Rotary.

Replying to the toast of . “Our Guests” Dr. G. Home mentioned the fact that the club had not yet a farmer member, though it was hoped to recruit a representative in the near future, perhaps, indeed, a Lepperton settler. It was, however, difficult for a faming member to attend the weekly midday gatherings. Rotarians appreciated the opportunity* of meeting the farmers and hoped it would not be long before another similar gathering was held at Lepperton.

“National Co-operation” was proposed _ by Mr. H. E. Blyde. Ho considered tho farmers should conduct their dairy factories still more in the spirit of co-opera-tion. As it was the companies -were now really limited liability companies. There was competition not only in cream and milk collection but at the other' end as well. He was firmly of the opinion that farmers should think rather of national co-operation than co-operation amongst members of separate companies. While it had been said that the farmers were the backbone of the country it should also be remembered that the farmers were almost as dependent on other sections of tho community, not only for the consumption for their produce but for its distribution. Ono and all should recognise the interdependence of every section for sectional and national prosperity. Until that was realised., fully true progress could not bo made by this Dominion. They must all think and act in terms of national co-opera-tion and thus tread together the path towards the true prosperity of the country. . ■ There was no doubt co-operation was to-day one of the burning questions o£ the world, said Mr. G. H. Weston. Like charity, it should begin at home with team work. To Britons eo-operation should come easily, knowing as they did . tho virtues of the nation—unselfishness,tolerance and loyalty. Those virtues were what the world wanted to-day. The time was certainly ripe for them. Newspapers were broadening the spheres of their influence, aeroplanes and other means of swift travel and wireless were bringing nations nearer to one another j in every way the stage was prepared for greater co-operation and team work throughout tho world. After all, cooperation was the basis of the Rotary movement. Its ideal was that, one and all, they should get to know one another. Only in that way could they hope to develop true co-operation. ' “Our Harbour” was proposed by Mr. E. Hollier, who paid a tribute to the earlier settlers of Taranaki for their foresight in laying the foundations of tho present up-to-date port of New Ply*, mouth and for their courage later in developing tho facilities. .Ho thought very few appreciated the improvements that bad been made. The promoters had had a great deal to contend with, including opposition. He remembered on® ■ man refusing to pay his rates as a pro- ■ test. The bailiffs were put in and th® | property put up for sale and bought in by tho owner. “We are all pleased to find that in spite of all the difficulties that had to bo oveicome we arc still free of a harbour rate,” said Mr. W. W. Thomson in the course of his reply to the toast. Sir. W. Nichol said that although he, personally, was engaged in primary industry ho recognised the importance t(> this Dominion of the secondary, industries. Primary and secondary industries should develop side by side, for without the latter no country could bo truly great. It was far better to keep their money in their own country, ho Tpnt' -/ed in .asking the gathering to drink, the toast of the . secondary industries.Mr. Nichol instanced the remarkable achievements of Dominion manufacture ers of agricultural implements. Mr. J.Tf. Ashton in replying supported Mr. Nichol in his. reference to th® ! qualities of tho agricultural implements manufactured in the Dominion. It was very hard to get the English manufacturers to realise tho peculiar needs ot . this country und it was because of this that tlm local makers had had taeir op- ’ l) °Other toasts were: “Our Guests” (Mr. • 11. B. Lepper-Dr. G. Home); Local , Bodies” (Mr. W. H. Cartwnght-Mr. W . ■ D Arndt); “The Ladies (Mr. L - • ; ■ Nolan-Mr. D. Peek); “The Press' (Ml. iW. N. Ackland—Mr. R. H. Quilliam), s Community singing was lcd b / *../ > 11. E. Blyde. Songs interspersed with ' the speeches were given by Messrs. M. [ Smith, Leo Kohn, W. W. Thomson, H. i E. Blyde, K. Ward, J. Stevenson. Mr. • !c. Berg recited and'.Mr. P. -\ OpenshaW • hold some stories.- Mr. K. Mat'd plajed tho accompaniments.