WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16760, 9 June 1920, Page 7

WAITARA.

rnoi! our. own ‘ohri:st ] ON'Di.xt. June 9.—The grass grub .appears to he very prevalent this year. I have seen quite a number of paddocks alfected. the dead patches of grass indicating the mischief being done by the underground enemies. 1 pulled up a turf and caught a beauty, larger than the average I should say. The farmer who, was with me said that they seemed larger this year than he had everknown them. He thought that possibly the eggs had had a good run during the hatching season, and that that was the cause of their size and number. They are-a mischievous pest enough below ground even if they do atone, somewhat in the next life—if that is in tiro form of the ladybird. 1 learn that Air. C. Sampson has got a band together, and that Waitara may be able to enjoy its own band again. The new band consists chiefly of young members. The Wctcro brought 50 tons of cement to tire wharf yesterday, about, half of it for Tiros. Borthwick and Sons, the balance being distributed amongst various people who want about twenty times the amount allotted thorn. However, we must be thankful for smalL’mercics. and hope that shipping will he available soon to bring plenty more, for it is understood that there is plenty of cement if the ships would •bring it along.

It would be interesting to know bow much money is being wasted over the profiteering committees. I see Hint it has been proved that a Hawcra man has charged 3d more for a pot of vaseline than the other man. If the committee has no better way of spending its time and the country’s money than in wasting it, they might just as well he dropped into the Tasman Sea for all the good they do. No one can pretend that 3d extra on a pot of vaseline increases the cost of living, for a pot will last an average family for years: and the chances are that a storekeeper may keep vaseline on his shelves for weeks withoutf-a sale, and it is only reasonable that such dead stock should carry a big profit otherwise it would not pay to stock it. While I was in Auckland a week or two ago I noticed that there appeared to ho a kind of ring among outfitters to charge -‘IPs for a hat that probably did not cost 33d ■when it left the factory. Men can do without vaseline, but not generally without hats: and it would he interesting and perhaps enlightening if the profiteering committees were to analyse the 38s that is being charged for an ordinary masculine “lid” for instance. The manner in which their “work” is being done, so far as can be judged by the public reports, is a ridiculous hut expensive farce.

You will he pleased to read of a remarkable offer of white Japanese silk blouses made by the Big Store, Waitara. A dainty dressy blouse you would bo proud to wear for afternoon nr evening functions, and on to-day’s silk value is honestly worth 21s, hut while thev last you can buy them at 15s fid in every size.*