THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

9 NEWS AND NOTES. WINCHESTER SHOW. | [ -The committee of the Toniuka ni.< | Geraldine A. ami I\ Association met 01 Tuesday. the president, .Mr !'. Cn.irlo ! presiding over a good attendance. ! A letter was received from the Kan j way Traffic Manager stating tjiat botl j express trains would stop at \\ indicate, j on show day. j Mr Gain brought up the proposal t< j com© before the annual meeting of th< 1 Timaru Association, to alter uie dat< iof iU> annual £bow from spring t< j autumn. If this were carried it was proposed to hold a conference to arrange dates so that all four South Canterbury shows would be held in close succession. It was pointed out that Fairlie Show is always held on Easter Monday; that it would not be easy to get a close succession of dates; aiid that the Christchurch Ram and Ewe Fair would have to be taken into account. It was decided to await the result of the Timaru A. and P. Association's annual meeting. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. At tiie ITawarden sale on Thursday, a lino of SO') lambs gent in bv Matson and Co.. Jirooksdale Estate, made 2fls tid to 32s Gd. They were out of halfbred ewes by Suffolk and English Leicester ranis. In a reference to State farms, tho Minister of Agriculture stated when lie was in Hamilton a few days ago, that, despite many difficulties, work was proceeding satisfactorily. The chief obstacle was tho scarcity of experts. About 100 officers had gone to the front, and others would sopn bo called up- Jfcwas practically irapossiblo to $ct suitable men, either in the Dominion or from outside, at present. But, on the whole, the work was well maintained, and tiic farming community was well satisfiefl. After a visit to Australia, where lie attended the convention of tho Australian Workers' Union, Mr C. Graynd-lc-r, secretary of the New Zealand Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union, lias returned to .Now Zealand. Speaking to a Wellington reporter with regard to his mission, Air Grayndler said that as the result of tho roccnt decision of tho A.P.U. to amalgamate with the Australian lmtly, the convention liad decided to form a branch of the A.W.U. in New Zealand. Legal advieo was being taken with regard to tho constitution to be adopted. Ho was confident that tho movement would mark a new era in industrial development in New Zealand. The policy of the A.W.U. provided for political as well as industrial action, but as the A.P.U. was registered as a trade union, and politically Labour was as yet. only in its infancy, it might he regarded ivs a practical certainty that the Ne-sY Zealand branch would confine its efforts to its consolidation as a strong industrial union, and would take no part in politics as a union. GREENPARK. The cereal harvest in this district is now gathered in. and much of it is threshed. The results have in most eases been satisfactory, though some crops have not realised expectations. There was no shortage of labour experienced. Farmers, too, are co-operat-ing with ono another and thus minimising the .labour difficulty as.much as possible. As elsewhere, there was a very heavy rainfall hero on Friday and Saturday,* which in most cases was very welcome, as the grass had gone off "considerably, resulting in a marked diminution of tho milk supply. Several farmers, however, had many acres of peas lying cut, and ready to bo carted in. To them the rain was r.-f doubtful benefit, to some a direct loss, as the rain, being a warm one, the ripe peas quickly sprouted, and the handling of the pea crop when dry would result in a considerable loss. Miss Collins, assistant-mistress at the local school, is being transferred to Christchurch, and is being succeeded by Miss Trace}', from Alford Forest. During her stay in Greenpark. Miss Collins has been secretary of the local branch of tho Red Cross, which at its meeting last Tuesday entertained i-.er at afternoon tea, when speeches, appreciative of Miss Collins's good work, were made by Mrs G. Whitelaw Cpresi'dent), Miss Yarr (vice-president), and Miss D. E. Kimber. AKAROA. The Mayor (Mr Geo. Armstrong) visited Christchurch on Wednesday to join the Hon, C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C. ; in interviewing tho Chief Postmaster with respect to improved postal facilities at French Farm. The two gentlemen pointed out that, at present, the Post Office was placed in a private house there. This was inconvenient. A small detached building, properly equipped, would be appreciated. Tho Postmaster was very sympathetic, and undertook to facilitate matters in the direction required provided that 14 subscribers to the telephone were obtained in the Bay. ASHBURTON. i Miss Berry, of Timaru, has been r.p- ---! pointed assistant-mistress at lTamnj stead school. The Hampstead School Committee on Wednesday evening decided to writo to the Education Department, asking that the compulsory technical continuation classes be enforced in tho Asliburton district. The regulation applies to pupils residing within a radius'of two miles of the Asliburton Technical School. Mr H. E. Longworth and Miss Gore Martin, the Canterbury Education Board's physical instructors, and Dr. E. Baker, are at present visiting the primary schools in the Ashhurton district. Mr Longworth states that SO per cent, of the pupils who have undergone a special course of drill during the year to remedy physical defects, such as round shoulders, etc., had developed wonderfully, and were now smart in appearance. The valuable results throu;:h physical culture were, however, nullified to a «v?rtain extent by defective teeth, ar,<l he considered tile time would come when the; problem would have to be fneed, and j a system adopted to provide free den-; tal treatment for the teeth of all j pupils >n the State schools. RAKAIA. The Rev. A. Morrison, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, is away in Dunedin on holiday. • At the monthly meeting of the! Rakaia branch of the W.C.T.U.. Mrs; Hopwood was appointed delegate to the • conference in Timaru next month.; Selections from the "White Ribbon" j were read, and afternoon tea dispensed, j A pleasing function took place tt j the Rakaia railway station on Tuesday, the occasion being the departure of | Mr James Stewart, senior cadet. to | take up duties at Springfield. In mak-] ing ,v presentation of an umbrella and | an album containing views of Rakaia j and photos of the staff, Mr E. Brittenden, stationniaster, referred to the, excellent manner in which Mr Stewart' had carried out his duties and to"his! deserved popularity. The recipient suitably responded.