WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18833, 23 March 1931, Page 6

WAIMATE.

MAGISTRATE’S COURT. At the Waimate Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, before Mr M. J. Corrigan, J.P., Denis Joseph O’Rourke, who was arrested by Constable Marsh in Steward Street the night previously, was fined 10/- for a second offence of drunkenness within six months. FARMERS’ UNION. A meeting of the committee of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday afternoon, those present being Mr G. Barclay (vicepresident), in the chair, and Messrs M. Mcßae, E. J. Meredith, J. H. Milne, E. Stokes, E. B. Harrison, A. E. Wilson, R. Sinclair, H. Ruddepklau, and W. M. Moyle. An apology for absence was received from Mr E. C. Studholme. Correspondence. Mr R. Sinclair wrote acknowledging a letter of sympathy with him in his recent bereavement. The Director of Education, and tho secretary of the Waimate Board of Governors, both wrote in reference to the deficit in the running of the woolclassing technical, classes at the High School. Mr Sinclair said that the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Borough Council, and the Waimate County Council had already contributed towards the deficiency, and he moved that the Union contribute £3 3s towards the object under discussion.—Carried. A circular was received from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union stating that at a meeting held in December, the Meat Producers Board had decided that the levy on meat exported after January Ist, 1931, would be reduced by 25 per cent. According to the last annual report of the Board, the levy on meat exported, less cost of collection was £36,203, so that the reduction will amount to between £9,000 and £IO,OOO for this year. The chairman 'said that he was against the reduction of the levy, provided the money was judiciously spent In advertising. Mr Mcßae asked if it were proposed to buy meat with the accumulated funds of the Board, and give it to the poor. The chairman said he thought the money raised, if spent to advantage at the other end, would prove a decided asset to the producers.—The letter was received. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Bulletins for January and February were received and laid on the table. Mr Malcolm Fraser, Unemployed Commissioner, forwarded a circular giving particulars of the various schemes of the Board for the employment of farm labour. The chairman said that the farmers ! at the present time hardly knew where they stood. There were many good men out of work, and he thought that employers of men on the land might have the privilege of nominating a man whom they wished to employ. Personally the speaker thought many of the unemployed could be given work, which would give better results on the farms in gorse-grubbing, fence cutting, etc., than in chipping grass on the street of the towns. Other members agreed with the views expressed and the letter was received. General Business. Mr Meredith brought up the question of payment of award rates for shearing. It had been decided at an earlier meeting to pay the award rate of 25/per 100 for shearing, and it was known that many farmers had not stood by the arrangement.—After discussion it was decided to hold the matter over till next meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairman said that everyone in the farming community was aware that' things were fairly bad. However, there was no use in passing resolutions, as this would not help matters. Person- J ally he realised that things would be bad for a while still, but he was of opinion that things had touched bottom, and now had an upward tend. Mr Barclay finally said that all the Boards representing farmers’ selling interests could with advantage copy the manner in which the honey from the Dominion was marketed. This organisation had realised 2d per lb more than any other honey on the Home market due soley to the fine manner in which sales were organised. Accounts amounting to £l3 9s 5d were passed for payment. PUBLIC LIBRARY. I The annual meeting of subscribers of the Waimate Public Library was held in the subscribers’ room on Friday night, when the president (Mr W. G. Paul) presided over a small attendance of members. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed receipts £174 17s 6d (subscriptions £ll2 11s, magazine sales £8 Is, Borough subsidy £25, dance proceeds £29 5s 6d), and expenditure £lßl 35s lOd (salary and wages £73 4s, books and periodicals £43 10s sd, repairs £5 4s, lighting and firing £2O 16s 7d, dance expenses £3O), leaving a deficit on the year’s working of £6 18s 4d, and reducing the credit balance to £9 7s lid. The balance sheet showed assets £1379 4s 9 (buildings and land £896 8s lid, Savings Bank £49 Is lOd, outstanding subscriptions £7, Union Bank £9 7s lid, less outstanding account £ll 7s 3d. In moving the adoption of the balance sheet, the president stated that the year had not been so flourishing as the previous one, mainly owing to there having been a small loss on the citizens’ ball compared with a profit of £45 last year. Subscriptions also were down £9, but on the whole the balance sheet could be considered satisfactory. The balance sheet was adopted. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the secretary (Mr A. Buckingham), the treasurer (Mr G. Nash), and the librarian (Miss Strong) for their excellent work during the year. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr W. G. Paul (re-elected); committee, Messrs E. B. Fraser, R. Gillon, G. Nash and A. Buckingham. The president referred to the excellent improvements made to the library building surroundings by arrangement with the Borough Council. Responding to a vote of thanks for his regular attendance at the annual meetings, Mr F. Nash said that subscribers should at least make some effort to be present. The attendance that night was little short of disgraceful, and if there were no improvement in this direction next year he would advise the Committee to close the Institution down, and then perhaps people would realise what was being done for them. Members agreed that a larger attendance would be encouraging, even if people only came along to air their grievances. It was decided to improve the i lighting in the subscribers’ room, and

it was also resolved that the Committee be recommended to go into the matter of improving the facilities of the Library. This is a seller—Seven acres frchold, near to town, heavy land, sound 3-roomed house; electric power; good cowbails and pigstyes and accommodation for 1000 fowls. Price £7OO. Cash required £250. FORBES WALLACE. Auctioneer. Box 47, Waimate. We be* to notify having commenced business in Queen Street, in conjunclon with Mr A. E. Lewis, Pluinbei ill branches of electrical work at lowest rates. Workmanship guaranteed. Prompt attention. RUSSELL AND KANE. (Late of Turnbull and Jones) 'Phone 153. Waimate.