THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

CANADIAN CATTLE EXPORT.

Agitation in the Old Country in rc " gard to tho lifting of the embargo on the importation of live cattle from | Canada is reaching fever heat, and the , movement has gained some doughty champions. Nevertheless (writes tho London correspondent of ''The Press ), there is a big volume of opinion that is ready to wager tuat officialdom s wau of Jericho will not even now tall, a - though tilie climax* of pressure is being timed for this spring, with big conreiences in London and elsewhere, -in a nutshell, the arguments cf tho agitators are as follows: "Arable fanners requiro ample supplies of animal manure, which tney do not get in sufficient quantities because of tue siliortage or stocK. Feeders want to get the kind oi cattle which Canada can supply and which sjio is willing to send, 'l'lie consumer in t e Old Country wants cheaper home-Kiaea meat rather than increased supplies 01 imported frozen beef and mutton, A no grazing areas in Great Britain are so limited in extent as to render the reading of Gtock in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of tho population an impossibility." , On the other hand, although so much has been said about t)he great cattle surpluses that Canada has to 6pare each, year for tlao Old Country, it is not so sure that the meat position of that Dominion is so rich as some would wish iu to appear. Weddel's annual review or the frozen meat trade reveals that tine official total of exports of frozen meatfrom Canadian ports in 1920 was only 6070 tons, consisting mostly of boned beef and sundries, as compared with 47,821 tons in 1919, 46,000 tons in 1918, and 55,000 tons in 1917. Ascertain amount of Canadian meat was shipped through United (States ports, but tho total export to Europe probably did not exceed 10,000 tons. Canada thus drops out of the running'once more as an important source of meat supply. The live stock returns, collected in Junej 1920, revealed a disappointing decrease of ■607,631 head in the number of cattle in tilie Dominion, the totals beiag 9,477,380 in 1920, and 10.085,011 in 1919. This reduction is partly due to tho greatly increased deliveries to the United States in .1919, when 550,000 head of cattle crossed the border, as compared with 249,000' head in 1918, and 211.000 head in 1917; and partly to increased domestic consumption arising from the removal of wartime restrictions, and the return of the Canadian army from overseas. Jottings for Farmers. Reports recording big cuts in • the wages of station hands are becoming quite common. The farmers are apparently determined to reduce their expenses. A private letter received m Wellington states that on an Alfredton station recently the owner called all his together. He told them that wages were 7 to be heavily reduced, and tihe men were informed that they could either accept the reduction or, go. In any case, their future employment could not bo guaranteed. The wages of the head shepherd, a married man, were reduced by £35 a year. The wages of the second shepherd were reduced from 40s a week .to 255, of anotlher station hand from 45s to 27s Cd. the cook from 50s to 27s 6d, and a fifth hand from 40b to 255. The cook and* at least one other hand decided-to leave. HORNBY-ISLINGTON. Owing to the finsuitability of the slabs of Nelson marble on which were inscribed the soldiers' names oil the Hornby School roll of honour, ■ the School Committee recently made yrrangements to (have them removed and • replaced with slabs of Italian marble. These .latter, slabs have now been put ; iri position', 1 and are a decided improvement. . iho names* of the twelve men who gave their lives occupy the front panel, and' are as follows:- —F. Ashworth,. J. Ashworth, P. Baker, ' L. Brown, G. Ohaney, F. Clarkson, L. Corbett, J. - Ellis, C. F. Horwell, 'E. Manhire, (>. Pine, and R Wilson. Asphalt paths have also been laid round! the memorial. Mr Hunter, of the Main_ South road, Hornby, has disposed of his residential property to Mr Simpson, of Shand'3 Track, and with his family leave for New Brighton, early liext week. The Islington "Welfare Committee is offering four prizes for the most suit able names for tho two streets in the township, now known as the Store street and the Boarding-house street. KAIAPOI. Tho thirty-sixth annual meeting of the-St. Andrew's Caledonian Society was held on Wednesday. The president, Mr AV. It. Stark, presided. '£he report stated that the past season had been most successful. Tho picnic and social gatherings had been largely patronised,. and the exchange of visits with the Canterbury Caledonian Society had been most enjoyable. The balancesheet showed a credit balanco of £4O 3s 7d. The following officers wero elected: —President, Air E. B. Simpson; vioe-presidents,' Messrs It. Malcolm and G. /Fantham; secretary, Mr. J. A. Mealings; treasurer, Mr G. McAllister: auditor, Mr R. Malcolm; directors, Messrs R. AVylie, G. McAllister. H. A. Cooper, K. Mcintosh, AV. H. Stark, P. ■Richards, H. C. Revell, J. G. Yellowiees, P. Hunt, G. Clarke, L. P. Hopkins, and G. Hirst. It was decided tr conurfenca the monthly socials and to continue the children's dancing class on April 30tiu Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring officers and the , ladies wftio had assisted at social gatherings during the past season. The annual ball of. the North Canterbury freezing works, held in tho Drill Hall, Kaiapoi, last evening, was largely attended. Excellent arrangements for supper were made by thte I-adies' Committee, and was continued to a late 'hour'to music played by apoi Orchestra.. # BANGIORA. The Rev. A. N. Scotter arrived in Rangiora yesterday to take up his duties as Methodist minister. Yesterday morning Mr F. B. Lane was waited upon by a very large and influential deputation with a request 1 that he allow himself to be riomina'tcd for the position of Mayor of the borough. The Mayor, Mr C. I. .Jenniftgs, in introducing the ■ deputation, said he Iliad held the position for seven years, and could no't see-his way to accept 'nomination for a further" term. Mr Lane had won the respect of all citizens, and as chairman of the Finance Committee for the past seven years had fully qualified himself for the position, beveral members of the deputation spoke in support, and Mr Lano consented to nomination. CLABKVILLE. _ A Peace Hall, erected by a local association witli a capital of £ISOO, was opened at Clarkviile, opposite tlhe district school, with a banquet and a concert and dance on Thursday last, at which about 500 persons were present. The hall, for which tho contract was £920, is of brick, with a main room 40 by 26 feet.«and a supper-room attached with kitchen a'nd pantry, and was erected in a substantial manner by Mr Alan Moore, of Kaiapoi. The main room was prettily decorated with flags,. and on the east wall was hung enlarged portraits of the men of the district killed in the war. The site was the gift of Mr Richard and Miss E. .M. Heyward, two of the oldest residents, and the building was erected . by a registered company, with Mr A. J. Rich as chairman, who welcomed the. visitors. Mr J. S. Smalley presented Miss • Heyivard with a silver key with which she unlocked the main door, and in an appropriate speech declared tho hall opened, expressing the hope that it would .be tfye scene of many pleasant

and profitable meetings. On the public being admitted, ttiey Mere seated at four long tables, at which an excellent repast was provided. Grace was said by the Rev. J. Holland. Th« toast of "The King", was proposed by Mr Rich, and the National Anthem sung. Mr F. J. Horrell, chairman of Uho Eyre County Council, proposed the toast of "The Clarkville Hall Association r " and congratulated the promoters on thei' enterprise. Mr Rich, chairman, responded, giving particulars of the company's balance-sheet, showing the total cost of the hall and furnishings to have been £1025, and adding that the Association had been greatly assisted by Mr and Miss Hcyward by the gift of the land and in other ways. (Applause.) Mr J. H. Blackwell, Mayor of Kaiapoi, proposed "Tho Ladies." ' The Ladies' Committee had given help to the war funds as well as this undertaking, and the large gathering was proof of their efforts. The toast was honoured with '"For She's a Jolly Good Follow" and cheers. A concert and dance in the evening concluded the proceedings. BAKAIA. The Rakaia folk are naturally very proud of- the win of their tug-of-wor team at the Ashburton gala. The winning team consisted' of AV. Wells, F. Brown, Sheehan, A. Mead, B. Goulds, and A. Shannon. Much of their success was due to the efficient training of their coach, Mr Geo. Tatterson. There seems to be a good opening for the formation of an Association in Ilakaia to secure uniformity of action in regard to closing of shops and offices on special occasions. For the Ashburton gala some wished to close, but as others would not, they were obliged to keep open. On Thursday evening the quarterly meeting in connexion with the Rakaia Methodist Church was held, and there was a good attendance. Tho Rev. AV. Hay gave a stirring address, musical items were contributed, and supper was dispensed. On Thursday evening in Rakaia, Mr L. Cordner, agent for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., met with an accident. _ Ho had a fall where.by his leg was injured, necessitating his confinement to bed for a time. ASHBURTON. The following nominations have been received for tho Ashburton Borough Council: Messrs G. AV\ Andrews, J. Watson, and W. Page. The nominations close on Monday, and it is anticipated that the total then received will do'sufficient to cause a congest.