MANGATOKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1931, Page 8

MANGATOKI NEWS

FARMERS’ UNION MEETING. LOCAL BODIES OVERLAPPING] A -meeting of the Mangatoki branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on Tuesday. Mr. W. E. Carter 'presided over a good attendance of members.'The president referred to the deaths of two members of the branch, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Onsey. It was resolved to reinstate the root competitions and include hay and ensilage, with a handicap placed on silo and pit ensilage. Mr. J. H. Palmer, of the Agricultural Department, will be asked to judge all the competitions and to notify the branch of suitable dates for the judging. A reduced entry fee was adopted. Thirteen root crops and seven ensilage were entered at the meeting. Mr. J. Townend and the secretary were deputed to make the preliminary arrangements for a ball, and to convene a meeting of the committee to finalise arrangements. A small expenses allowance was authorised to be paid to delegates attending executive and conference meetings. ? " ' Mr. Carter reported cases of real hardship and distress and appealed to farmers who could spare meat and produce to leave parcels at the rest room, Hawera. Mr. Marx briefly referred to . the “urgent need of-reducing the number oi local bodies, particularly in Taranaki, where there was much overlapping.”; He enumerated the power boards, county and borough engineers and overseers, contending that two-thirds could be dispensed with if the overlapping could be overcome by extending their areas and reducing the controlling bodies. Mr. Marx considered there would be enormous savings in expenditure and the engineers would be more fully employed. Opinion was divided regarding Mr. Marx’s contentions, but the late hour prevented full discussion. GENERAL ITEMS. Thirteen members of the Red Cross class sat for their advanced certificate examinations on Monday evening, and one candidate for her medallion. The examining sister expressed her pleasure with the high standard of the candidates’ work. Dr. Saunders was unavoidably prevented from attending and assisting with the examinations. The -local dairy company has commenced receiving milk every third day only. The wet and colder weather has caused a more rapid drying-off of the cows.