CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 6

CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

DEMONSTRATION FARM WORK INSTRUCTION FOR SCHOOL BOYS. ■- At the regular monthly meeting of the Stratford. Demonstration Farm Society there were present Messrs. J. M. Smith, (chairman), W. H. Were, IS. Marfell, W. N. Williams, A. H. R. Amess and C. C. Henderson (farmer manager). The chairman tabled a schedule of cropping for Field No. 15, and it was resolved that the matter be again considered at the next meeting. It was resolved that pupils of the Stratford Technical High School assist with herd testing. Two boys should attend at the shed both morning and evening during the period of testing (once a month), and actually do the weighing and sampling; two lots of samples to be taken, one for the association test, and the second lot to be tested at the school, the second lot of test bottles to be supplied by the school. The boys should be under the direct control of the manager in the shed. The chairman was authorised to report as to pupils weighing out ensilage' and making a survey of the farm. The secretary was instructed to purchase 14 tons of 17 to 20 per cent. slag. The manager’s report for the period ende February 10, which was adopted, stated: —Paddocks being grazed are all doing well. The ensilage and hay paddocks have been grazed since being cropped, and are quite freshened up again. Weeds have been cut in all paddocks with the exception, of 7A and 78. Turnips, mangolds and carrots are doing very well. Mangolds and carrots have been cleaned and thinned out. Ensilage j and hay crops are now done and the stacks fenced in. Fifty-eight cows are being milked twice daily; to-day’s milk weight is 15861 b., and the last test was 4.5. Three sows have farrowed; one litter of 6 arid one of 8 are just three weeks old, and the last litter, of 12, were, born on February 7. All pigs are doing well. The chairman reported that 35 acres of ensilage had been made, and five acres of hay. It was resolved that the first two litters of pigs be sold as weaners, and that one bull be sold. Dairy statements for th? period to January 21 showed an increase of 11911 b. butterfat as compared with the previous year. It was resolved that the field day be held on Tuesday, February 24. ELTHAM PRESBYTERIAN CONCERT. CHILDREN’S CHOIR SUCCESS. The Eltham Presbyterian children’s choir gave a concert in aid of earthquake relief on Monday night. Mrs. A. Beesley’s organisation was success-' ful and the concert was well attended. The programme was:—Anthem, choir; pianoforte solo, Jim Bridger; song, Flora Coppiestone; recitation, Bruce Ryburn; anthem, choir; pianoforte duct, L. and G. Goldsmith; round, choir; song, Gracie Rankin; recitation, Jean Davis; song,, Joan McLeod and choir; pianoforte solo, F. Coppiestone; anthem, choir; recitation, lan Ry burn; song, Small girls; song, 0. and L. Hill, R. Death and choir; recitation, Mary Tarrant; round, choir; pianoforte duet, L. and G. Goldsmith; song, Eileen Rankin and choir; recitation, small girls and boys; anthem, choir. . .. .. MATAU NEWS. In spite of the hot days Matsu has experienced several light frosts, and the nights and early mornings have been exceptionally cool for this time of the year. So far the frosts have not been severe enough to affect the gardens. The Rev. Hamilton held church of England service here on Sunday. Farmers are taking full advantage of the fine weather and harvesting and sheep-dipping are the order of the day. Smoke is. seen everywhere eo it is presumed the hill will look a trifle cleaner by the time the weather 'breaks. A dance in aid of the hall funds was held on Saturday and a very enjoyable time was spent .by all who attended. Most of the dances held in Matau recently have 'been in aid of hall, funds j and as a result the debt on the hall has ■been reduced considerably.. Miss I. Chapman, who has been visiting Mangatoki, has returned home. Misses H. Ayers and D. Rawlinson, who have been visiting New Plymouth, have returned home. Mr. and Mrs. R. Horsup spent the week-end in New Plymouth. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, who have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Horsup, have returned home. Mr. D. Mumby has returned to Inglewood. The managership of the Tarata dairy factory is in the hands of Mr. Spray, as Mr. Snell is still ill. GENERAL ITEMS. The Stratford Boys’ Band played in Broadway last night and submitted a popular programme which met with the approval of a large crowd. After having held the Sayers medal for' several weeks, during which time he defeated a number of challengers, W. Harris had to hand over the trophy to W. Ewing, who finished ahead in a keen game played on the Stratford bowling green on Tuesday evening. Following is the Stratford senior cricket team to play Patea at Patea on Saturday:—Hamilton, Sandford, Gatton, Dormer, Donnelly, Wilson, Hall, C. Mcl. Young, Gover, Beere, Henderson, Hancock (twelfth man). The Stratford juniors to play Hawera High School A at Hawera, are:—Donnelly, Eagar, Ryburn, See, Vincent, V. Grey, Grierson, Burgess, Barker, P. Collins, R. Aitken, Irving and Latham. ELTHAM THEATRE. “THE STORM.” TO-NIGHT. Mad moments staged in a lonely wilderness cabin that held prisoner its snow-bound occupants —two fighting men and a beautiful French-Canadian girl. Blizzards and avalanches motivating a powerful plot telling of two kinds of love. Nature at her wildest being fought by men at their maddest, for the love of an untamed daughter of the North woods shortly describes “The Storm,” screening to-night. Lupe Velez is ideally cast as the vivacious FrenchCanadian girl around whom the love interest centres. A feature of her performance is the singing of “Chansonnette of Pierrot and Pierrette.” Paul Cavainagh and William Boyd give spirited performances as the rivals for her affections. For those who delight in a story of tha romantic north-west and all that goes with these great outdoors, this is an ideal production, — ~ '

. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF j CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STRATFORD The total subscribed to the Stratford earthquake relief fund is £lOB6 Bs. lOd. Contributions are:—•

Details of the Lowgarth district subscriptions are as follow: —A. Shrimpton £2, G. Allenden £l, W. Bond 10s., Sympathiser 10s., Jno. Jones £l, C. Osborn 10s., W. Tobeck £l, R. C. Ricketts 10s., R. A. Yper £1 10s., A. Ware 10s., L. Martiletti 10s., J. L. Taylor £5, D. Smith £2, R. Jackson £2, P. Lehrke £l, E. Allenden £l, L. C. Short £l, L. Armstrong £1 Is., A. T. Burke £l, A. Bootten 55., T. A. Smart 55., E. Stuart 2s. 6d., A. T. Sulzberger and family £5, F. Willan £2 10s., A. Matthews £l, A. Schouller 10s. Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Johnson £5, D. Hall £l, E. and J. Kilbride £l, Arthur Gray £l, Eddie Gray 10s., Carl Davies £l, Miss N. Davies 10s., C. Schneider 10s., Mr. and Mrs. Bobbington and family £2, Mrs. K. Schneller 55., R. Schneller 55., Gray 65., W. S. Cassidy 125., S. Harding 10s., Donor £lO, F. Jones £l, L. G. Townsend £l, A. L. Short £l, F. T. Watson £l, S. Laurence £2, C. C. Stevenson ss. HAWKE’S BAY RELIEF FUND. SPECIAL APPEAL TO BE MADE. An appeal to the citizens of the borough of Stratford to subscribe promptly to the earthquake relief fund is to be made through the Press, according to a decision of the Stratford earthquake relief committee. The decision was made last night following a discussion, the trend of which was that though those people who had already subscribed had given handsomely, there was still a large number who had not subscribed because they were waiting for a direct appeal. Discussion on the advisability or otherwise of an appeal by a canvass or the card system was reopened after being deferred at the previous meeting of the committee, and though various opinions were expressed the committee agreed that an appeal through the Press might do all that was necessary and dispense with the need for a card system. No reflection was cast on the amount already received. The chairman, Mr. J. B. Richards, pointed out that the total compared very favourably with that subscribed by any other district of the same population. A representative of a publishing firm sought the approval of the committee to sell in the Stratford district a booklet of photographs of the earthquake area. The cost of the booklet was 25., of which Is. was to go to the relief fund and Is. to cover publishing and distribution costs. The committee refused its official sanction to the scheme on the grounds that the whole proceeds were not going to the relief fund. Advice was received that the committee could use the local funds for the relief of necessitous cases resident in the district. The chairman reported that so far no need had arisen for advances tobe made. — ' / PERSONAL. Mr. Robert Jeavous, who has been staying with his relations, Mr. and Mr?. H. Burmester, for a few days, left Stratford for Dunedin yesterday. Mr. C. S. Kelly left Stratford yesterday on a holiday visit to Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Belcher, Cardiff, have gone to Wanganui, but expect to spend part of their holiday in other centres. KING’S THEATRE PROGRAMME. “THE SHIP FROM SHANGHAI.” “The Ship from Shanghai,” commencing to-night at the King’s Theatre, depicts almost every terror “dat old debit sea” has to offer. The story, an adaptation of the Australian novel “Ordeal,” is laid almost in its entirety aboard a small sailing schooner which runs the gamut of ocean adventures ranging, all the way from a monotonous calm under a blazing sun, to a typhoon which strips the decks and makes the vessel a hope-, less derelict. One watches with amazement and a sort of hypnotised curicsi.ty as the masts of the ship fall and the sides are beaten in by the terrific winds, and waves in a series of what are probably the most remarkable photographs made for the screen. The story of “The Ship, from Shanghai” concerns a yachting party which falls into the hands of a mutineering crew and is subsequently at the mercy of a half-mad steward who has gained control of the ship’s water supply. Conrad Nagel, Kay Johnson and Louis Wolhcim appear in the picture.

AUSTRALIA’S TROUBLES CRISIS AMONG FARMERS. CASES OF ACUTE DISTRESu. Sydney, Feb. 5. A crisis is rapidly approaching with the pastoral industries of Australia, ana if hundreds of storekeepers carry out their threat not to extend further credit the tragedy that will befall the country will be the greatest in its history. The position in New South Wales is particularly desperate and the man on the land says bitterly that the only contribution that the Government has made is the allegation by the Premier, Mr. Lan", that , storekeepers who have already stopped credit are involved in a deep political conspiracy. Although it is estimated that more than £6,000,000 is owing in the. wheat-growing areas alone, there has not, so far, 'been any "eneral stoppage of credit, but it .is. clear that credit cannot be given indefinitely. Australia now has what may be termed a new poor. It has been the plaything of circumstances, and men who three years ago were rich are poor today. There is, for instance, one man who could have sold out three years a"o for £lOO,OOO. He is regarded as one of the ablest station managers in New South Wales. No one ever accused him of wasting a penny, yet to-day he remains on his property through the forbearance of the banks. A trip to. Sydney is taken only with the permission of his banker. . \ There is another man who for many years has owned a string of stations. He has always been accounted among the wealthiest. Three years ago he would not have missed £soop, or even £lO,OOO, on a city investment, but to-day he is rationed by the bank, and he cannot sign a cheque for £5OO without the permission of his bank. Two years ago a third grazier shore 15,000 sheep and his wool cheque was more than £5OOO. He has now gone to Queensland as a shed hand. One of the most aggressive landholders in the State came to Sydney last week to hand over his estates to the mortgagees. He has gone back to look after the property for them. He and his son will do all the work. These are all authenticated cases and could.be multiplied over and over again. The sulky and the buggy are reappearing on the country roads in. place of the expensive cars. Children who formerly went to boarding schools in. the city are now remaining at home. Annual holidays by the sea have, been cut out. “I have no assets and no money,” said one grazier the other day. Thousands are similarly placed. The assets are “frozeii ■-—loans cannot be raised on thejn.

One set of properties vqiued at £1,000,000 three years ago, are to-day probably valued at £500,000. Many graziers who borrowed, money find that their equity has disappeared —that the overdraft exceeds . their' present value. The slump in wool values explains this. To-day the grazier can produce neither wool nor meat at a profit. His wool, selling at a shade over 7d, is costing him at least a shilling. Where is it going to end? i . Nothing short of calamity faces the growers of wheat? unless the Government will step, in and help. Twelve months ago the whole nation, as Jit were, urged the farmer to • grow more wheat, the Prime Minister, Mr. Scullin, being at the head of the campaign. Every letter was stamped, ‘‘Grow more wheat,” and the advice was repeated in the newspapers, over the air, everywhere. The farmers agreed and they presented Australia with the biggest crop on record! Now they are left lamenting, with nothing more than huge stacks of unsaleable wheat. The obligation to see the farmer through has been repudiated, by all the Governments. Is it any wonder, therefore, that the rural industry is on the verge of collapse, and that the farmers are organising to resist the payment even of taxes unless something is done for them.

Goaded to desperation, the whole farming community is awakening, but it is said that the threatened “strikes” against the payment of taxes cannot be taken as more than gestured of indignation. Nevertheless they indicate a general rising and a challenge to the Governments who have broken the back of their’industry. The Government of New South Wales has . promised to restore the 44-hour week to railway men, full salaries to the civil servants, the basic wage for men on relief w’ork, but the bankrupt farmer it passes by. It is an extraordinary situation. It is, of course, quite clear that the Government has no money to make grants. There are several schemes for helping the wheat farmer, the man who seems to be most sorely pressed. One of these is known as the Morgan Scheme and provides for the issue of Government scrip or certificates to return to the farmer 2s 9d or 3s for all his wheat. It was drafted by Mr. George Morgan and provided for the handling of all New South Wales wheat by a board, and the fixing of the price for home consumption at 6s a.bushel—nearly 4s above world parity. It provides for the sale of the balance in the open market and the issue of transferable scrip! Another idea is for a sales tax on all flour sold for local consumption £7 4s a ton, and it is said that this would result in an increase of only Jd iq the price of a 21b loaf. Farmers say that during the last State election campaign Mr. Lang promised to give effect to the Morgan Scheme, and they are bitter in their criticism of him because he has failed to do so. But Mr. Lang made so many promises, that he can be excused if he has forgotten this particular one.

Meanwhile the farmers are holding meetings throughout the country an‘d are urging, action on th© part of the Federal Government, since the State Government has treated them so shabbily. The farmers are demanding a sales tax on flour, a rural emergency loan and a law to compel all millers to use a proportion of bleached, or second-quality, wheat. “Ami if you n °f kelp us,” announced the farmers of one big district the other day, “we will not pay any taxes. We affirm that a reduction of 25 per cent, in the cost of the civil service is essential. There are hundreds more farmers than there are civil servants and if we organise properly we can sweep the polls, and sweep you all out.”

'£ s. d. Previously acknowledged 1005 9 11 Staff of Manoy’s, Ltd. . ... 1 10 0 Mr: and Mrs. J. W. Fredric . 5 0 0 Mr.and Mrs. Dick ..I 10 0 Mr.’and Mrs. B. Webber .. . 10 0 Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Walsh .. 10 0 Midhirst Methodist Ladies’ Guild .. 2 2 0 Stratford Tennis Club .... ..i 2 5 6 .. 110 .. 1 0'0 Lowgarth district fund ..... .< 64 16 6 Total to date £1086 8 10