STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16798, 23 July 1920, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT. July 22.—Several truck-loads of benzine having arrived, there was passing through the town this morning a steady stream of cars bound for the football match at New Plymouth. The old gentleman, at the Waipuku toll-gate, and his deputy the fox terrier, must be having a busy day. He is quite a celebrity, the wee doggie; catches the half-crowns and conveys them to his superior officer. He could I have no doubt take sole charge on an emergency. . , Farmers are enjoying a well-earned spell from the monotony of the milking shed; that is to say those w’ho are not on the wallaby for fresh fields nor have just arrived from other parts. These wanderers are causing much consumption of midnight oil, or electric current, in lawyers’ offices, where overwork is the rule just now. The ordinary transfer of a farm is now in these days of piled up mortgages a long, complicated and costly process. Another class of toilers, connected with the farming interest, that finds the time not ono for lotus-eating is that of the accountants and dairy company secretaries. All the business of the past season has to be tabulated, balanced and wound up in the short interval before the now season gets into its stride. There is considerable activity among cheese buyers and, for the time, the controversy over the Co-operative Wholesale Association is shelved in favour of the momentous question—to sell or not to sell. The offers are very tempting and several boards of directors have decided to close witli them rather than tempt fortune on open consignment. In this connection I would, out of a long experience, warn newspaper readers to regard all statements involving figures relative to prices of produce and resultant butter-fat values as taradiddles until confirmed by someone in a position to know. As a rule such news items are eminently -unreliable. Thov may also safely look upon the man-in-thc-stroet as, upon such matters, a liar until proved innocent. The member for Stratford has done well in bringing forward the matter of maternity homes for conn try districts. If such institutions are provided at the cost of Government for tho cities, in all fairness assistance should bo given on a liberal scale to those country districts that are willing to rate themselves for such purpose. A subsidy of £3 +« £1 is not too much.