LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3210, 30 July 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The monthly meeting of the Te Awa. reutu branch of the Farmers' Union is being held to-day.

It is probabJe that Mr Watkins, of Hamilton, will act as referee in the senior rep. match, Waipa v. Cambridge, next Wednesday afternoon at Albert Park.

New high records in the frozen meat export trade have been established this year, says the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board.

An alarm was sounded on the firebell early on Thursday afternoon, and the brigade turned out smartly. The trouble was an incipient blaze in a house in Park Road, where some live ashes placed out of doors had ignited the flooring of the back verandah. Little damage was done.

The Waipa Rugby Union secretary received intimation this morning that the Parnell Club's team, winners of the Auckland Union's senior B competition, is desirous of visiting Te Awamutu to play either a rep. team or a club combination. The date suggested is September 9th.

An unemployed story. Said Bill: " Times is bad. I'm a four-day relief man, but I work five. On Friday we always move. Of course there's the carter to pay, but it's cheaper than rent. I've shifted so many times that every time a cart stops outside the house the fowls lie on their backs and put their legs up to be tied."

Striking evidence of the value of group herd-testing and of the high standard attained in the district was produced by Mr S. J. Sheaf, general manager, at the annual meeting of conveners of the New Zealand Herdtesting Association in Hamilton on Thursday. Mr Sheaf quoted figures to show that comparisons between the C.O.R. (Government) test and the Association group herd-testing had shown a difference of only 2.98 per cent for 16 cows selected at random, and 3.33 per cent for 14 cows.

While the excellent record of the Meat Boards' operations this year affords reason for satisfaction, there is room for comment in regard to the increasing margin between reserves and expenditure. The Board's income for the year was £39,457, of which the levy produced £36,071. Its accumulated funds, however, now total £96,300, or nearly three times as much as the levy. The Board no doubt has its reasons for making such handsome provision for the proverbial rainy day, but it is a question whether there will ever be a rainier day than the present. Would it not be better business to invest some of this in extending its business and opening new markets ? It is stated in the report that over £17,000 was spent in advertising in Great Britain, "with good results." The experiment justifies a still bolder policy of expansion through effective publicity on a larger scale.—Dominion.

At the Takapau ploughing matches last week Mr W. L. Setters, employed by Mr T. Power, of Takapau, was awarded first prize for best doublefurrow ploughing in class B; first prize for best ploughing under 20 years; first prize for best feering in class B; first prize for scraightest ploughing in class B; and the gold medal. The judge, Mr Gilbert McKay, of Hastings, said Mr Setters was a Flock House lad, who has a credt to the institution, his employer, and himself. His work was outstanding and showe'd sympathy and confidence between man and horse's, without which such work was impossible. Mr Setters wou'd be a champion ploughman, and that spelled success in. New Zea-: land and in any part of the world. The young ploughman was born in Grimsby less than 18 years ago, and came to New Zealand in 1929. His father was a petty officer in the Royal Navy, and was killed in action when with the Hood Battalion at Gallipoli. In confirming his decision to close the teachers' training colleges at Wellington and Dunedin the Minister of Education effectively answered the representations submitted by local interests (says the Dominion) that all four colleges might be retained with reduced staffs. The fundamental consideration in all questions of economy is that efficiency can be retained only if the fieM of expenditure, as well as the amount, is contracted. The choice in this particular instance was between four colleges with attenuated staffs and two fully staffed. It is obvious that, the latter proposition offers a better return for the money spent, especially in view of the reduction in the number of students. There remains the question as to the proportion of students the Wellington and Dunedin districts are entitled toclaim. That is a matter of administrative detail;--'but it should not be overlooked. Public opinion would not ' agree to any suggestion that the teaching talent of New Zealand should be recruited only from the Auckland and Canterbury-districts. 1 Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, first i aid for coughs, eolds ; influenza.

The Leamington Club, winners of the Cambridge Rugby Union senior championship this season, has entered a challenge for the Binnie Cup. and will play Te Awamutu Club on a date to be arranged. ,

The final returns in the election for a representative on the Auckland Harbour Board in the interests of the combined counties of Waipa, Raglan, and Waikato. Huntly borough, and Leamington town district, are: A. S. Sutherland, 1142; A. Livingstone, 872; F. J. Farrell, 81.

A Press Association message from Dundin states: Mr L. McConnell, aged 86, a pensioner residing in a lane off King Street, was found wandering in George Street at about 8 a.m. this morning -suffering from wounds to the head and eyes. He stated that his hut was broken into last night by men, who assaulted and robbed him of £l3. He had wandered out for help at dayl'ght. His injuries are not considered serious except in conjunction with his age.

Arohena district's accession of population, in connection with the Unemployment Board's land settlement scheme, has attracted an enterprising storekeeper, who intends to erect a building and supply the needs of the district.

An Arohena district settlers reports that several gangs of_ relief workers are engaged on farms in that district, and are making good progress with the scheme for clearing areas of land on each farni^ ready for putting down in crop and pasture. Stumping and clearing is the principal work.

An unusual occurrence was witnessed at the Grey Power Board's power house at Kaimata last Tuesday. A number of " wax eyes " after a hasty meal from a piece of lard that had been discarded, found themselves incapable of movement. They remained motionless for some time, and no trouble was found in gathering them up for examination purposes.

While playing hopscotch at the local school yesterday, Doreen Hanna, daughter'of Mr J. Hanna, of Brady Street, slipped and fell heavily, injuring her left hand. An X-ray examination at Hamilton last evening, showed that no bones were broken, and though the injury is exceedingly painful, the little girl is making good progress.

Wellington will in October of next year entertain more than 100 guests from all parts of the British Empire, as the 1933 conference of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Envpire is to be held there during that month. In addition to 80 delegates,, most of whom will be accompanied by their wives many British and Canadian citizens will probably visit the Dominion in company with the delegates.

An announcement that the . New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company would pay a substantial bonus to suppliers at the end of August was made by Mr Dynes Fulton, chairman of directors of the company, at the annual dance arranged by the staff of the company's Tuakau butter factory this week. Mr Fulton made it clear that he was not yet in a position to say how much a pound of butter-fat the bonus would amount to. He remarked, " I would like to tell you that we would be paying a bonus of 2d a pound, but the final figures are not yet available."

The inquest concerning the death of Allan Arthur Turton. the two-year-old son of Mr Arthur Turton, of Huntly, who was struck by the AucklandTaneatua express at Huntly on June 21, and died the following: day in the Waikato Hospital, was concluded before Mr F. W. Platts. S.M., coroner, on Thursday. Death was caused by a fracture of the skull. After hearing the evidence of the engine driver, and an eye-witness, the coroner said the ehild strayed oh to the line and was struck by the express. He subsequently died in the Waikato Hospital from his injuries. The coroner added that no blame was attach. ' to anyone,

Revealing the extent of war pensions payments in New Zealand, Mr E F. Willcox, secretary of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, told the quarterly meeting of the association on Monday evening that on March 31 last there were 21,041 war pensioners. The amount paid out in war pensions last year was £1,261,778, which represented an increase of £16,279 over the total of the previous year. Discussing the War Pensions Appeal Board Mr Wilcox said it was carrying out a work of great benefit to soldiers. Mr G.. Hayden remarked, at a later stage of the meeting, hat of the 21 000 pensioners 16,000 odd were actually exsoldiers and the others were dependents.

" If," as is contended in the annual report of the Wellington Employers' Association, " people could only_ be persuaded,to let go their purse-strings and circulate their money the present outlook would undergo a rapid change, and a buoyancy in the spirits of the community would soon be apparent. In so far "as private spending is concerned, and counsels of prudence are given respectful audience this is quite sound; but the Association further suggests that the Government should give a lead " by pushing ahead with numerous public works which have been shelved in the meantime." That is not at all sound. The money to do this would have to be borrowed, which would simply mean fresh taxation. How can the Association reconcile this suggestion with the demands ot the industrial and commercial interests it represents for a reduction of taxation. What is really wanted is a revival of private spending on essential requirements. The necessity for economy in public expenditure is as great as ever, and must be insisted upon. Cheese-paring economy on the part of the private individual who has no-real need to do so is another matter. . Multiplied to any extent it involves the business of his community in serious and unnecessary dislocation and loss. If there are no good personal reasons for private economy there are no good patriotic ones.