THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

» NEWS AND NOTES. WHAT AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS WANT. (moil ovn off.v corues fondest.) SYDNEY, January 14. Tho Australian Workers' Union—the biggest union in Australia, which includes a great mass of miscellaneous workers not othenviso provided for proposes to fight for better conditions for the shearers when it holds its next conference, a f°w weeks hence. Ahea >, tho Australian shearer walks upon the earth with some of the rank ana prn >- leges of the uncrowned king but he is not satisii'.'d. The -'rruo lJlue unionist, in this country, would lie a traitor to his cause if he ever were 6atisnea. The following -are *01110 ot the proposals prepared for tho conference by various branches, and they show what the shearer wants: — . . . , "That in cases of lost time through stoppage, except wet vyeiather, tho shoJiers lie paid £1 per day. . "That station-owners be compelled to deliver the 'Worker' newspaper to station hands along witli, other mail. (?»lanv station-owners have to bring their mail long distances, and naturally refuse to carry a newspaper which consistently and bitterly attacks thotn.) "That all stations be compelled to instal direct wire communication with the nearest town or railway station. "That employers bo compelled to supply at least two bed sheets for each man employed*, same i-o be washed at. employer's expense at least once a week. "That oil pressers receive a guarantee of at least £7 per week and found. _ '■That spring mattresses bo substituted for hoard bunks. "That the general secretary make representations to the Pastoralists' Union for the obtaining of kapoc mattresses for all shed workers in preference to straw. "That all stations provide a reading and writing room. "That all huts for employees be built at least three feet off the ground) with a verandah all round. • "That officials, of the A.W.U. : shall receive union' wages while canvassing the country for'wlitlciil honours.'' . i .. JLiijy' "of the demijiicls are reasonable; en on.tili. The above, are some of .the unreasonable ones. JOTTINGS FOR .FARMERS'.. .... ■ lloporta from Otago Central etato' tlint tho district Inst week had two good Bonking rnins, greatly benefiting the crops an<l rendering further irrigation for tho season unnecessary. The wheat and oat crops will yield quite as well as last season, though the straw may not ■be so long. Harvesting will be later, .but it is anticipated it will be 1 -in full swing by February loth. Tho orchards are putting on good growth and the district generally is looking well. In some parts ; af America a novel means of overcoming the gate nuisance on big estates or ranches is adopted. The nuisance of frequent stops to ojpeni and close gates, and the certainty that trouble would he caused by careless tourists who would not bother to closo them, are neatly avoided by borrowing tho idea of the cattle guard from the railroad. A shallow pit is dug between two fence pests, and over this at right angles to the road are laid posts or planlcs close enough to accommodate the wheels of a car,, but not the feet of wandering cattle. There is 1 no gat©; the road is always ouen for the motorist. But cattle drift ~np and sniff at this modern contrivance and turn away, too wary of the ditch beneath to venture over. It is a simple idea and apparI ently effective. , • AMBERLEY. The monthly meeting of the Amberley and Kowai County branch of tho -Empi ro Service League was held on Tuesday evening. The secretary' reported that no regular meetings had been held since tho influenza epidemic started, the League being tho first society to take action at that time, and chiefly through its efforts the voluntary hospital was started and kept going. The members carried out- work of all kinds very willingly. A motion was carried- that the time had come for a public appeal to be made for funds. Tho branch had not asked for money while tho war was on, and had been doing a large amount of patriotic work and assisting in every way possible to win the war. A favoured suggestion was that the branch should take steps to build an artistic hall in memory of our fallen soldiers, a i«ora to be set aside for the use of returned men, a room for branch work, and a room for public lectures and instruction on agriculturo, health, and education of all-kinds for tho public good, and if wanted free, also for patriotic work. It was agreed to at once start to collect funds. ASHLEY BANIv. A very successful wefcomo homo social was tendered to Private R. Miller by the Ashlev Patriotic Committee, and a gold medal, suitably inscribed, was presented to, him by the chairman on behalf of »the committee. the evening songs were given by Messrs Lang and Arps. Two winners of the Military Medal have gone from Ashley, and one, Sergeant Lonhagen, has made the supreme sacrifice. Daring the evening three cheers were given for the other, Corporal R. Stewart. RANGIORA. Advice has been received by Mr J. R. Skinner.. Coldstream road, itangiora, that his eldest eon, Gunner Ralph \V. Skinner, is returning with dratt No. 211. Gunner Skinner left -with the Rifle Brigade in 1915, and has seen considerable service in France. Yesterday was the hottest day experienced in jN'orth Canterbury this season the thermometer registering 84 degrees in the shade. Owing to the stiff nor'-wester blowing, some anxiety was occasioned farmers w hose grain is almost ripe. BELFAST. On Tuesdav night a, public meeting was held lor the puniest ot forming a .

hraucli nt the New Zealand Labour C- F. Vryke delivered nil nddrehs concerning the aims and objects of the party, and it was derided to tonr> a biancb. Sixty members vere enrolled, and the following officers appointed :—President, Mr 1\ Hansen: \ ice-prpsident, Mr E. J'udkin; spcret:\rv, .\lr ]]. J. Homo; committee. .Messrs C nnip'oell, Pool, liugir, flaridge. Price. Dobcon. Firman, Grimbliaw, Lan<: Pateman, Burns, and "Ropers. Iv v. decided xo ask Mr D. G. Sullivan to deliver a public address at Belfast at a future dcte. •SOUTHBRIDGE. J- Sutton presided over the monthly meeting of the Southbridge District High School Committee. Feeling reference was made bv several of the memhers to the death of Mr C. V. Jtoi, who liad served on the committee,, lor some considerable time. and a resolution vvas carried expressing appreciation ot the lat-e Mr Uoi's services, and sympathy with Mrs Roi and family-. Correspondence was received from the school Committees' Association, with which the committee recently decided to affiliate. It was decided to ask the Association to appoint someone to represent the committee at the monthly meetings. A letter from the caretaker asking for an increase in salary, or as an alternative to bo relieved of her duties, was held over for consideration at next meeting. It was decided to ask Mr A. McPherson to fill the vacancy on the committee caused through the death of Mr lioi. Mr Twiss was appointed treasurer and was also appointed trustee for tlio technical classes fund. It was decided to have the ground cleaned up before the school reopens next Monday. LEESTON. That the lads 111 the Ellesmere district take a lively interest in the duties imposed tipon them by the Defence Act was evidenced last Saturday afternoon by the faH that a parade held at the Dixon J tan go was attended by 76 Cadets and Territorials. The officers in attendance wero Lieutenant Manson. officer commanding tho area, and Ser-geant-Major .Shilton, instructor. Ideal shooting weather prevailed, and the marksmanship of the lads was very creditable indeed. Practice at what is called snap-shooting was indulged in. Five shots wero given at a iigure. 200 yards distant, supposed to represent a man, and the time allowed for each shot was five seconds. Several possibles were scored. Lieul. Manson presented to Corporal H. R. Harnett, of Leeston, a very fino gold badge for champion marksman of the group. It is the iirst time the trophy has been won in Area 39. Corporal Barnetb scored the remarkably good total of 171 out of: a possible 185. It is expected that the Taiaroa Belt competition will bo finished this month. The shooting has been very keen, and five boys are running each other vorv close. , The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., j Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, has consented to conduct the jubilee services of the Leeston Presbyterian Church oil February 16th. The influenza epidemic prevented the jubilee being celebrated in November. At a meeting of tho Ellesmere Aquatic Club, held at Lakeside, a statement of accounts, in connexion with the New Year's Day regatta, was presented by Mr James Quigley, secretary. This showed that there was a sum of £57 12s 2d to distribute between the Lakeside Red Cross Branch and the Maori Soldiers' Comforts Fund, in tho proportion of two-thirds to the former and one-third to the latter fund. Steps are .being taken to form an Ellesmere branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association. SHEFFIELD. Mrs A. A. Jackson ha 9 received \vo»rl that her son, R.Q.M.-Sorgt. < It. Jackson, who left with Main Body, will.be returning hpme in a few days.

:• 4 .... . ASECBTJRTON. ; Private T. lieid, son. of Mr 1. Reid, Waterton, who was taken prisoner, has been repatriated. . . At a meeting of the committee of the Ashburton Poultry Society, Mr G. Bundy presided. Mr v Nosworthy, M.P., who accepted the position of patron of the Society, wrote offering a cup valued at £3 3s for the best Sussex in the poultry section. Mr T. E. Upton offered 10s 6d as a special prize. Messrs 6. Bundy arid W. H. Amos were appointed delegates to the annual meeting of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association. It was decided to moke application to the Association for the next; championship show to be held in Ashburton. There was a large gathering at the; Railway Station to greet the returning troopers. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr F. Ferriman), welcomed'the following Ashburton district men:—Gunner McGinn, Rifleman Sutton, Private McKeig, Gunner Garrard, Sergeant Hopkins, LanceCorporal Doak (Mount Rifleman Darley (Hinds) and Private Woods. Amongst those who returned by the same troopship was Nurse. Christmas, -of Ashburton, one of the survivors of the ill-fated Marquette. , WAIMATE. - Tho late Dr. Margaret Cruickshank, by. her will, offered Knox Church haU' an acre of. land' adjoining the Church ground for £50. The value of tho land j is fully £200. The Church managers gratefully accepted the offer. Agricultural and pastoral workers have decided -to work on the threshing mills this season at the following rates: ■ —Ordinary hands ■ Is 9d per hour, feeders 2s 3d, cooks £4 per week harvesting. It is understood : tnat- the mill-owners have agreed to offer these rates, so.that no trouble is anticipated. Shearing and wool-carting are nearly over. The cutting of wheat and oats has begun on light lands. * Good raspberry crops are now being picked j also a heavy crop or two of loganberries. , Strawberry growers have had a good season. , Honey prospects are good, there being a wonderful lot of white clovcr about. . . Two cases of influenza remain in the hospital, and they are likely to be discharged this week. „ , William James Wild, who was mw ried in Decocnber, 1915, was_called in the First Division ballot m February, 1917, but failed to parade. He gave himself up- to the military police at Timaru on Tuesday, and was taken to Christchurch, where he will be courtmartialled on Wednesday. He says he lias been about the back-blocks ot Southland. . , • The Mayor of Waimate is plans drawn for an Arch de T" 001^. » to cost about £300, to serve as a war memorial. The site proposed is the entrance to Victoria Park. J