STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16913, 9 December 1920, Page 2

STRATFORD.

FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT. , December 7, —Stratford Dairy Factory will probably after Christmas follow the majority of dual-plant factories and make butter instead of cheese. There will he an enormous increase in butter production in South Taranaki and a corresponding decrease in cheese. The County Council is putting in hand another section of tar-sealing on the Mountain Hoad, from the borough boundary northwards. Progress is not so fast os one would like, but some day the motor trip to New Plymouth will he made as pleasant as is travelling op the roads in the other direction. Boys from the Salvation Army Homo near Eltham have a great reputation for physical exercise entertainments and did not belie thejr fame at the Town Hall last evening. The weather was not of the best, hut there was a fairly good house. December 8.-—Constant recurrence oft mild epidemics left a mark on the school attendance for the past quarter. The headmaster reported to the committee last evening that out of a roll of 670 in the Primary School there was an average attendance of only 454.' He had a more pleasant tale to tell of the year’s work which, in spite of drawbacks and difficulties, had been very good. Mr. Tyrer had the more pleasure in. knowing this to bo the case, as it.would be the last full year that he would bo in charge, his intention being to retire when the Technical High l School is opened next year. _ ' The National Dairy Association has undertaken to see that, whenever possible, oversea consignments of requisites for Taranaki dairy factories are placed aboard direct boats for New Plymouth. The chairman of our Chamber of Commerce received this assurance on a recent visit to the association’s office in Wellington. Our Racing Club seems to have had little difficulty in letting a big contract for earthwork and tunneling in connection . with the course improvements. Vet the bitter cry of shortage of labour goes up from local bodies and the Public Works Department. I suppose lluskin carries no weight in these days of very advanced sociology or else it might bo re'ooramendod to the younger generation to study his remarks upon unreproductivo expenditure The terrific crash of the market for hides and skins following upon the great slump in coarse wool is causing some anxiety as to what vie future holds for other farm products, but on the whole there is confidence in ulti- v mate recovery to n range of reasonable prices. With some speculators, however, there is the doubt of ability to “stick it” until the recovery takes place.