TE AWAMUTU

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU

FARMERS’ UNION BUSINESSES AND FARMS WARTIME SUPERVISION At the monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the president, Mr W. G. Neill, presided. Mr Neill reported the Te Awamutu District Centennial Memorial Committee’s decision to abandon the projected memorial scheme as a result of the outbreak of war. He gave a resume of the business transacted at the last meeting of the Waikato subprovincial and made special reference to universal military training and the formation of defence rifle clubs. Mr G. T. Crawley also reported on the provincial executive meeting and stated that it was understood that the Government was considering the possibility of providing houses for farm workers at a cost of about £6OO. Mr G. Lawry drew attention • to what he considered a lack of knowledge on the part of horsemen leading other horses as to the correct course to adopt. He understood that the correct method was to approach oncoming traffic on the side facing such traffic. He thought that it was time that there was an authoritative ruling on the matter. It was decided to obtain a ruling from the Minister of Transport. United Effort Required In order to discuss the question of supervision of farms and businesses of young men called up for service, Mr J. G. Wynyard was present by invitation. The president said that the Farmers’ Union had been active on the matter which had been taken up with the Waikato sub-provincial i body which had in turn gone into it with the provincial president, Captain Rush worth. Mr Wynyard said that everyone could not serve in the forces but everyone could do something towards winning the war by shouldering the responsibilities of those who took up arms. A united effort was required and he was sure that the project appealed to the Farmers’ Union which should have been asked to sponsor the movement. But the first available occasion had been the annual meeting of the Agricultural

and Pastoral Association, which was a farmers’ body. These two bodies and the Chamber of Commerce, which he represented, could unite for the purpose and function with success. In 1914-1918, a number of men had left farms and businesses to go to the war, and, with experience, there should be on this occasion a better system of administering their affairs. The suggested advisory committee would not have to be a large one if it could co-opt with extra advisers in special cases. He had written to the Minister of Agriculture for official recognition of the committee and already there had been several offers of assistance from men who were over the military service age. Shortage of Labour Mr W. J. Hodgson moved that the scheme be approved. It would not be a question of how much good could be done but one of how much would be possible. There would be a shortage of labour which might necessitate closing down non-essen-tial enterprises so as to divert labour to farming. Mr G. T. Crawley, in seconding the motion, said that the Auckland provincial executive had recommended that all Farmers’ Union moves be made through the Dominion President, Mr W. W. Mulholland, who was a member of the Dominion Production Council. Other speakers pointed out that the great problem would be to supply suitable labour for there was a shortage already. The motion was then carried and . Messrs W. G. Neill and A. S. Wyllie, both ex-soldiers, were appointed as the branch representatives. Mr Hodgson then moved that the Government be asked to consider the urgency of transferring labour from non-essential enterprises to aid essential industries so as to balance the deficiency which would be brought about by men engaged in the essential industries joining the forces. Mr F. Gooder thought that there were difficulties as, for instance, the fact that it might be necessary to engage two untrained men to do the work of one skilled farm labourer, There was also the question of wages. Mr Hodgson replied that he did not propose to offer solution at this stage. One of the first actions of the Government should be to conscript all the resources of the country and abolish the 40-hour week fetish. Mr Wynyard thought that conscription *vas the fairest way and each man be called up in turn. He suggested that all who believed in conscription of wealth and manpower should forward their views to the Government so that it could be shown that there was wiae support for the scheme. The levolution was carried unanimously.

POWER SUPPLY WATER HEATER CHARGES REDUCTION RECOMMENDED BOARD REJECTS PROPOSAL For some time, the Te Awamutu Electric-power Board has been considering the question of charges for water-heaters on farms and the matter was finalised at its monthly meeting when Mr J. G. Sutherland’s motion, which was seconded pro forma by Mr N. Lethbridge, was defeated. Mr Sutherland recommended that in place of the present charges the following be substituted. Where a 2000-watt element was installed with a 2 h.p. motor, a 1500watt with 1£ h.p. motor, and a 1000watt. with a 1 h.p. motor, the charge be 10s per 100 watts. Only the mover and Mr J. C. Montefiore supported the motion. Mr Sutherland said that the position had become acute and his recommendation might be regarded as drastic because it would mean reduced revenue, but he believed that increased efficiency would be obtained in the dairy shed. He showed some comparisons and asked that an alteration be made to give a 10s wattage charge where the heater element was greater than the motor capacity. By such a service, said Mr Sutherland, the board would assist the farmer to get better grading which was an important matter seeing that first grade received a premium of £d over second grade. There were 600 boilers in the board’s territory. He added that the industry needed all possible help, especially during national emergency. Relative Costs The chairman, Mr J. T. Johnson, asked members to consider the relative cost to the board and to consumers. The board had fixed a very low charge because the milking machine, motor power and water heater unit were complementary. In later years there had been a change in which water heater elements became greater than the motor capacity. The peak load had to be watched also, and, on examination of this aspect, it would be found that the approach to the peak was everincreasing, which, at a cost of £2 per quarter per k.v.a. was important. If the motion were carried, there would be grave danger of a loss, said Mr Johnson. The board had not been able to keep pace with the Dairy Division requirements which were aimed at maintaining qualify, which was desirable, but in the aim to get the premium for but-

terfat, the question arose as to who was to bear the extra cost—the farmer or the board? He was a dairyman himself and would like to see something done, but he did not think it would be fair to assist the farmer at the expense of other consumers. Several other boards had considered the question and were waiting to see what move the Te Awamutu board made. The unit charge at present for water heaters was .17d and the board paid the Government .3ld per unit. Mr Montefiore said that the board showed a profit every year and it should attempt an improvement in the service to the dairy sheds and assist in production of a better commodity. A loss to the board on the service would not matter a great deal as there would be the compensating benefit to the dairy industry. Mr W. J. North said that the proposal was too costly, and Mr N. M. Lethbridge said that though he always strove for reduced costs, he would be guided by the chairman’s opinion. Mr S. C. Macky thought that it would be preferable to lose money on dairy-shed water heaters than on household stoves, the charges for which were, he thought, too low. Mr A. L. Storey doubted whether the present time was the best for a change that would be somewhat drastic. Increasing Load The manager, Mr D. T. McArthur, said that for some time he had been greatly concerned about the growing load due to water heaters and boilers. The board’s charge was lower than that of most other districts. The peak came in June and he attributed this to the general use of dairy shed water boilers while household stoves were in use. The subject had been discussed at a conference of electric-power boards at Hamilton recently and careful men had stated that the charges were made too low. Southern country boards’ officers had reached the same conclusion. Answering a number of questions, Mr McArthur said that relative costs of supply to farmers showed that they received more advantages than other users. Mr Sutherland maintained that the farmer had done his job in bearing a fair share of the board’s business, and the farmer had much to do with the economic life of the area covered by the board and if the board decided to ease the burden in the direction indicated, the proposition was a sound one. In any event, the discussion would show to farmers that they could get better results by using larger elements. When the vote was taken, Mr Macky refrained, stating that he wanted fuller information on charges for different services.

RED CROSS SOCIETY ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAINING Mr Ira J. Bridger, Dominion Organiser, explained at a recent meeting of the Te Awamutu Red Cross Society, that for the purposes of coordinating the training of members in the district, the following ar--1 rangement had been made. All students for first-aid would be trained under the St. John Order. Members of both the Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance unit for home nursing would be trained under the Red Cross Society. On completing lectures and passing the examinations, pupils would receive their certificates on production of evidence from the particular body which had given the j training. j BOWLING CLUB j PRESENTATION TO SECRETARY < At the Te Awamutu Bowling Club pavilion last Saturday, a farewell was extended to Mr Cyril W. Smith, the | club secretary, who leaves for the | Hopu Hopu camp to-morrow. The | president, Mr A. E. Patterson, said that Mr Smith had been held in the highest esteem by the club and his efficiency as secretary for two years had been such that he deserved great credit. The president was supported by Messrs T. Grant and S. Dowds and musical honours were accorded the secretary, who was the recipient of a pipe as a momento of appreciation for his valuable work.