WAIMATE AN EXPERIMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22066, 12 September 1941, Page 3

WAIMATE AN EXPERIMENT

Camp For Land Army Site In The Town Aii experiment is to be tried at Waimate by the Women’s Land Army of Christchurch which has selected the town for the establishment of a camp for land girls. Various circumstances have prompted the move, but its start could be traced to the appeal made by the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union for girls to help farmers’ wives. The camp will be located in Victoria Park.

Miss B. E. Shackleton, who is acquainted with the work of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, felt that some solution of the domestic labour problem might be forthcoming through that organisation, and after consulting Mrs J. C. Faulkner, president of the Waimate branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, she made some informal inquiries. It was learned that some organisations had already begun overtures in the same direction to the executive of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. although nothing very definite had come of them. The Women’s War Service Auxiliary, although enrolling members directly for emergency service, is also an organisation to co-ordinate all women’s war effort, and it has affiliated to it numbers of other organisations whose activities it only indirectly controls. One of those organisations is the Women’s Land Army, led by Miss Mary McLean, a member of the Christchurch City Council and the North Canterbury Hospital Board. When a Waimate farmer expressed his need for a number of girls to supplement the available labour for the early vegetable market, Miss Shackleton undertook to inquire into the scope of the work of the Land Army.

Land Army training consists of a very full and practical programme, including scientific courses at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, in farming subjects such as herd testing, soils and their management, horse ploughing horticulture in all its branches and so on. Twelve girls have completed the course and are now working on farms throughout the Dominion.

There are many women in the Land Army who. for various reasons, are not able to attend Lincoln College. They grow vegetables in a two-acre plot in Christchurch and distribute them to institutions and pensioners. Some are being trained in milk testing at the dairy which supplies the Plunket Society, and classes are also given at the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department in dairy farm cookery. Interest in Domestic Work

Although the Land Army is organised primarily for land work, the inclusion of cooking in the scheme ol training indicates an interest in the domestic side of farm life. It seemed that this body of city women, anxious to help in the primary production in war time, just waited the opportunity. At its general meeting in Christchurch last Saturday members of the Land Army received most enthusiastically the opportunity of going to Waimate, not only to assist the farmer whose needs were specifically put before them, but because they also felt that in camping at Victoria Park, they would, in effect, establish a base camp from which to reconnoitre and study how they could best serve the farming community. Mrs Houston, a member of the committee, will be in charge of the camp.

At a meeting of the Waimate branch of the Women’s Division, it was decided to meet and entertain the visitors and to hear a further report on their activities at the next meeting. Meanwhile, some of the members of the Land Army desire information about accommodation in the town, and Miss Shackleton, phone 201 M, would be pleased to hear from anyone willing to offer accommodation. . ARBOR DAY BOXOUGH COUNCIL FUNCTION A function in recognition of Arbor Day was held by the Waimate Borough Council in Victoria Park yesterday, and trees were planted by Mr F. H. Wood, a Waimate soldier, who has returned from the present war, and Stoker S. Grut and Steward G. Williams. Three boys and three girls from the Primary School, also planted trees. There was a good attendance of school children, pupils being present from St. Patrick’s Convent School as well as the primary school. The Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland) in outlining the history of Arbor Day. said it had been started in Nebraska. America, 60 years ago. It was always necessary to replace trees from time to time, and for that reason alone it was hoped to make the function that day an annual one. The occasion was the first on which it had been possible to welcome Mr Wood back from overseas service, and he had great pleasure in publicly welcoming him. He expressed a hope that his health would soon be restr i. The two sailors were on leave from a ship that had served abroad, and everything would be done to make then' stay in Waimate pleasant.

MINIATURE RIFLES At the weekly shoot of the Glenavy Miniature Rifle Club the scores were: D. McCulloch 79; W. Malcolm. N. Gibson 78; A. Coumbe. E. Simpson. G. Hamilton, N. Andrews 77. J. McCulloch, D. Bee 76: J. Paul, A. Cuthbertson, B. Dyff 75; L. Selman, D. Hollamly, G. Rainey 74; J. Broadley, W. Cook. D. Morrison, H. Mountford. A. McCulloch. R. Alexander 73; A. Borrie, J. Ward 72; A. Pringle, J. James. A. Bee 71. Scores at the weekly shoot of the Arno Miniature Rifle Club were:—J. Purdie 78, G. Thomas 78, F. McDonald 77. J. Campbell 76, L. Dasler 76. E. C. Wright 76, Gordon McKenzie 76, R. Cameros 73. E. Wright 73, N. Thompson 72. T. Turner 72, H. McKenzie 71. H. Allen 71, P. McDonald 71, S. Thompson 70. RUGBY The Maklkihi team to play Star at Timaru is:—D. Ponsonby, L. Scott. T. Clearwater, R. Coles, J. Coles, J. Slattery, I. Simmons, F. Carter. R. Murray, S. Sole, I. L. Coles. F. Sole. J. Shea, G. V"- -tjch, L. Sole. L. Bell. W. Tiffc - JR. Patterson. PERSONAL Mrs C. A. Martin. Christchurch, who has been spending a holiday with Mrs J. A. Neely, ’ rs returned home. Mr R. Kilworth, Wellington, is spending a holiday with his parents, Mr and Mrs F. Kilworth, Lower High Street. DOGS POISONED Valuable dogs have been killed with poison laid around Waimate by some irresponsible person. Some of the dogs were trained sporting animals and will be difficult to replace, apart from their value as pets. The death roll also includes a large number of cats. The police are making investigations.