LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 December 1937, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A general meeting of tlie Masterton branch of the N.Z. Labour Party will be held in the Y.M.C.A. to-morrow (Wednesday) at 7.30 p.m. in the Y.M.C.A. Room.

In connection with the New Zealand State Placement Service the following are the Masterton figures from Ist April till 4th December: —Permanent j 197, casual 199, temporary 77, positions filled during current week 14, total private positions filled 473. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview last evening, made it clear that Parliament would rise by Friday of this week, and stated that if some of the less important Bills had not been passed by then’ -they would have to wait until the House resumed early in the New Year. A meeting of the Provisional Committee of the Masterton Co-operative Society, Ltd., was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening, Mr L. Lock presiding. A number of new shareholders were proposed and accepted. Two new societies were reported to be opening, making a total of 29 in N )w Zealand. The following dredging returns are reported:'—The Clutha dredge last week obtained a return of 147 ounces. During the seven months of operation the dredge has won a total of 5750 ounces. The London office advises that the estimated profit from Ist May to 29th October is £26,350. The Okarito dredge reports a wash-up of 340 z. for 125 hours’ work. The Mataki dredge return for the week ended sth December was 32 ounces for 116 hours’ work and 8000 cubic yards.

The lamb .schedule of B ; }d a lb. that came in this week, a drop from the Bfd a lb. of the past fortnight, is the same as that which ruled a year ago. Though the London quotation for lamb is higher than a year ago, the value of by-products is down. London reports Canterbury 361 b. and under at 8 l-Bd., but 12 months ago the price was 7jkl. The meat rise is therefore substantial and it is this that gives a foundation to the market. By Christmas, 1936, there was a general expectation of a id rise in lamb, and this eventuated early in January. Last season wethers opened at 25/-, and ewes at 15/-, but values rose fairly early thereafter. At the time wool was appreciating and feed was plentiful.

A special meeting of the executive .of the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society yesterday reversed the previous decision not to allow the holding of a military camp on its showground at Tomoana next autumn. The meeting, which was held in committee, considered representations from various organisations urging favourable j consideration of the Defence Department’s application to hold a camp at Tomoana. Included in these representations was a letter from the mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddison, who said that while he did not wish to interfere with the deliberations of the committee he felt impelled to point out that the people of Hastings were anxiously concerned about the committee’s decision, because they realised the great importance to the town of having 400 men in camp at the showgrounds. Inquiries made showed that similar camps, held at Waipukurau and other parts of the North Island, proved of the greatest value to business people of those centres, and that no damage had been done to the showgrounds or the accommodation.

A profit of £27/9/2 on the sports meeting and of £l9/6/11 for the year was shown by the Martinborough Amateur Athletic and Horse Sports Club, at its annual meeting.

The winners of the various competitions in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Ladies’ Auxiliary’s sale of goods were as follow:—-Doll, Mrs Beals; dressing table set, Mrs Kerr; cushion, Mr J. Wallis; Christmas cake, Mrs Strickland. The auxiliary extends its thanks to all who helped the effort by their gifts and purchases.

December is the month for the prizegiving functions at various Sunday Schools. In connection with St. Matthew’s Parish Sunday schools the prizegivings will be held as follows: —Taueru, Sunday, sth December, at 2.30 p.m., Upper Plain, Thursday, 16tli December, at 9.30 a.m. Kuripuni: Sunday, 19th December, at 2 p.m. St. Matthew’s, Sunday, 19th December, at 3 p.m. All the Sunday schools will resume for the New Year on Sunday, 6th February.

At a meeting yesterday of the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, the following motion was carried, for transmission to the Prime Minister: “That this association views with concern the suggestion that there may be legislative interference with the traditional freedom of the Press, which is one of the most cherished possessions of the English-speaking race, and expresses the hope that no legislation which would in any way curb the present liberty of expression will be introduced in New Zealand.”

The Carterton district and the Lower Valley, particularly where dairying is mainly carried-on by farmers, will need rain very soon to keep the pastures fresh for the cattle, and thus maintain the milk yield. Those who are haymaking are, however, satisfied just now at the splendid opportunity they are getting to gather the hay in good condition. During the past two seasons many good crops were practically ruined through continuous rain falling. After the hay is safely in bales, barn or stack, farmers generally would appreciate a generous downpour—but unfortunately the weather cannot be controlled by human agency.