Local and Genreal

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 186, 28 November 1941, Page 4

Local and Genreal

Sickness Prevalent Various forms of sickness are prevalent in Whakatane at present with chickenpox rife amongst children. This has caused a very noticeable falling off in the school roll and adds to a year broken by other ailments such as measles and mumps Fall From Ladder While working on a house yesterday Mr G. S. Whiteside had the misfortune to fall from a ladder, and as a result received internal injuries which necessitated his admittance to the local hospital. His condition this morning was reported as fairly satisfactory. The Holiday Season Accommodation at Ohope is rapidly diminishing practically every cottage being booked for the holiday season and late applicants will be faced with disappointment. Owners of beach houses state that generally tenants are renting houses for longer periods than usual. Many local people are also preparing for the annual emigration to the lakes and week-ends are occupied in preparing baches. Blackout Farce The inconsistence of the blackout regulations has been noticed by many Rotorua residents who have recently visited Maketu, which has the distinction of being the one bright-ly-lit coastal settlement in the Bav of Plenty. Katikati, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Te Puke, Matata, Ohope, Whakatane and Opotiki all have blackouts of varying intensity, and wardens conscious of their obligations to the community. Maketu. although small, has no lighting restrictions. Boat owners h&ve stated that from the sea at night the position of the village at the mouth of the Kaituna River is clearly marked by the lights ashore.—Post. First Things First A remit that received a cordial reception at last Executive meeting of the Auckland Farmers' Union was one from Northern Thames reading as follows: "That in the event of mauure being in such short supply as to cause severe hardship to farmers, Government development schemes should, if necessary, be abandoned for the time being. If a sacrifice is to be made, it should be made by State development schemes before it is demanded of the individual farmer." The remit was endorsed, the chairman, Mr J. H. Furniss, remarking that they were wise to stress the position that maintenance of production was more important than incurring fresh commitments. Fertiliser Prices The price charged to farmers for serpentine-superphosphate manure, namely £3 12s 6d per ton, compared with £3 9s 6d for Superphosphate, has been challenged by the Kaipara Farmers' Union, which stated that the approximate cost of the serpentine itself, landed at the works, is £1 per ton. The union's letter to the Price Tribunal on. the matter says: "We think you will find that the £3 12s 6d charged for serpentine-super is based on costings, during the experimental stages. The question arises, is there any justification for such a price when the manufacturing has been established?" "The Tribunal's reply states that the price for serpentine was approved for 3 months and is to be reviewed early in December. Bobby Calf Industry At last Executive meeting of thi Auckland Farmers' Uriion Mr E. Palliser outlined a scheme proposed for the formation of an organisation with Dominion scope represent the bobby calf industry in regard to marketing. The idea, he said, was to have such a body in existence ready at any time to act for the industry when price schedules were under consideration by the Government. It was suggested that there should be on the new body three representatives from Auckland, tw r o from the rest of the North Island (taking in Marlborough and Nelson) one from the South Island, and one from the New Zealand Dairy Board. Mir Palliser emphasised that the constitution was essentially democratic, inasmuch as the Executive would be a negotiating body only, and would act on instructions from pools as sent forward through their respective District Councils.