“NOT SO WELL OFF”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21735, 17 August 1940, Page 4

“NOT SO WELL OFF”

Financial Assistance To Farmers Executive’s Decision The contention that farmers were not so well off as they anticipated under the Governments plan for financing farmers in increasing production was made by Mr C. G. Verity at the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. Mr Verity moved: “That the Government be asked to accept the crop on which money is advanced by the State Advances Department as the sole security, where a request is being made for assistance to increase production.” In seconding the resolution Mr A. W. Robinson said that the Department required security over the whole farm and chattels. Farmers would not take advantage of the provisions as they stood as they were of no use to them. The resolution was adopted. Mr D. C. Kidd. M.P., wrote acknowledging a letter of sympathy. Producer Gas Units Replying to an inquiry from the Executive, the Dominion secretary (Mr A. P. O'Shea) advised that the Government had been occupied with the problem of producer gas units for some time. The main difficulty was the finding of a suitable wood which would give the right type of charcoal without tar, and evidently the Government had not got far enough to publish their conclusions. Referring to the assistance given r o British farmers, Mr O'Shea stated that the only form of subsidy of which he was aware was £2 an acre on the ploughing up of pastures seven years’ old or over which are to be put into approved crops. Labour on Farms The question of labour on farms was mentioned at many meetings he attended in Canterbury, advised Mr J. Dunlop of the New Zealand Dairy Board, the main point being that if a farmer had several employees and milked more than 10 cows he had to pay 7/6 extra to all employees, as the farm was classed as a dairy farm. He had consulted the Dominion secretary of the Farmers’ Union on the point, and was informed that a farmer was not called upon to pay the extra 7/6 to those employees who took no part in the milking of the cows. It was agreed to forward the information to the branches. Mr L. V. Talbot reported briefly on the general meeting of farmers at which plans for primary production in South Canterbury were outlined. Sick Pay In a lengthy circular on the liability of farmers in regard to the payment of wages to an employee during sickness, the Dominion Executive advised that no deduction in respect of time lost by any worker should be made from wages payable, except for time lost by reason of the default of the worker or by reason of illness or accident. The effect of the provision appeared to alter the common law principle and entitled an employer to make a deduction from the workers wages in respect of time lost through illness. The following representatives were appointed to attend its group conference at Christchurch, Messrs A. J. Davey, C. W. Lynn, W. S. Crotty and P. R. Talbot Remits Dealt With On behalf of the Geraldine branch Mr W. S. Crotty moved: “The Geraldine is totally dissatisfied with the meagre steps taken to protect the freezing works in this country, and press for full military protection of all freezing works throughout the country.” “If 20 good men were to land in Timaru there would soon be no freezing works,” said Mr P. G. Withers, who seconded the remit. The remit was approved. Mr Crotty moved a further remit that support be given to the recommendation of the Automobile Association that a greater allowance of petrol should be made to soldiers on leave.— Approved. On the motion of Mr C. G. Verity, it was agreed to ask the Dominion Executive to request all county councils to collect information relative to the value of sheep worried in their districts, and the number of dogs registered in each county. The meeting approved a remit on the lines of a North Canterbury recommendation that it be made compulsory for dogs to be tied up at night time. Members Present The meeting was attended by Messrs A. J. Davey (chairman), C. Ley, L. V. Talbot, J. Cleland, A. E. Dobson, P. R. Talbot, A. Ward. B. E. Evans, R. Cleland. V. Verity, G. Blakemore. M. Crotty, P. G. Withers, C. R. Barnett, A. W. Barnett. W. L. Hay, A W. Robinson, W. J. Fletcher, G. Murray, H. Arden, J. McKercher, D. France, J. Howell. W. Buchan, B. Trumpet.

WANTS TO JOIN PARASHOTS NINETY-YEAR-OLD SADDLER (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, June 15. Mr Frederick Ewens, of Funtington, near Chichester, Sussex, was a crack shot of the old Sussex Volunteers more than 70 years ago. Now, at the age of 90, he wants to join the Local Defence Volunteers. Although he is physically fit and still works 12 hours a day, he is afraid that he would be rejected on account of his hearing. He has been stone deal for years. “I could bang them down for all that. I am certainly not too old,” he said this week (with the aid of a slate and a certain amount of lip reading). “People have often asked me the secret of my accuracy with a rifle. The answer is that I never aim at the bull. Great mistake. I always bring my rifle slowly down on to it and the result is a bull nine times out of ten.” Mr Ewens claims two records. He was official rate collector for his parish for 57 years, in recognition of which he now gets a pension from the West Sussex County Council. He also claims to be the oldest saddler in the world, and is hoping to beat the record of his father, who was still in the trade when he died at the age of 92.

Mr Ewens has been working for 77 years. Every day he starts at 7.30 a.m. and seldom leaves off before 9 p.m He goes to bed shortly before midnight and never feels tired. After working in his saddlery shop all day he spends the evening digging for victory. Unaided, he has turned his fair-sized garden and planted it with enough vegetables for himself and his family. In his “spare” time he writes articles for his trade paper.