THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17122, 18 April 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

TABM AND STATION WAGES. BEDVCnOX IN HAWKE'S BAY. • (nuss jlssocutios • teleo*a¥j> NAPIKR, Apnl 16. At, a largely-attended " °? sheopfarmers it was decided J* general reduction m and station hands should about, and the following «Jf agreed uflon: -Cnitchera 4s a , j ffiiands Is an hour, a week, drovers los a day, station cooks 30s W4O s a week, cowtevsjfe to 25s a week, ploughmen 40s awcek, station' hands a week, .inaiTiea couples £BO to £IOO per annum casiurt labour Is an hour, harvesters 1b 3d an hour.

Jottings for Farmeri. Quite a have held on to their sheep and cattle an hope of higher prices ruling,, and .m. tms manner they have' been (writes' the correspomlent o the "Dominion"). S° m ? , 'i, „ ™ would not-sell .at £1 a head for sjieep a little while ago, and now |> d f to quit them,, for about half tha* amount. Farmers, generally, however, are confident that matters j.will right themselves as soon .as is ed in the Home market, but . the .question is how to keep their sheep in condition in tho meantime. .

In connexion ;with the proposal to establish co-operative, freezing .worksm Marlborough the Progress has Uiad a reply from Mr F. H..Labatt, of Christchurch; who was.asked. to visit Marlborough and undertaEe tho prclim:nariaa of munching the venture. Mr Labatt states that he is quite eatisheJ that it would be in t)he irterests or Marlborough farmers to have their own freezing works to be bpcrated on cooperative lines'. ' The ' question is whether the present timo. is opportuao for launching the proposal: Mr.Labatt things'that in view of "the financial stringency it wonld.be advisable for all concerned to defer action until the iinancial situation improves- - At the same time ho. hopes-to visit Blenheim shortly, when ho would-be pleased to discuss the matter with those :coiioernea. In considering the letter a,t its meeting last week, the.. Progress Committee agreed with Mr Labatt's iewe, and decided) to writ© and: tell him* that he memoers would be glad ■to meet liim when ho came.

A case indicative' of . the hardship which many, stock owners arc undergoing at ■ present was mentioned to , a "Levin Chronicle" representative. Just before the slump this particular farmer held 10;000 fat wethers, for which he received an offer, of 30s per head,'but he refused ito deal at less, than £2. He still has the eheep, the present value of .which, is about 7s .6d per head.

, PENDARVES. • An interested crowd of parents and friends assembled" in the iiall on Friday evening last, to hear the school children's annual concert. Items 1 were given by the children, Miss Anderson, and Miss Moorhouse. Miss Galbraith was aocompaniste.' After the presentation of prizes, special awards were; made as follows: Most industrious pupil, Harry Watson; attendance,' Olive Doig, Daisy .Watson; sewing, Olive Doig, Delia Tyler, Marie Malcolm; map drawing, Norman Malcolmmost popular girl'- and boy, Daisy Watson and Harry Watson. Excellent danco mußio was 'supplied by Messrs _w. Rankin, A. Rankin, and Miss Halliday. pkebSton. On Saturday, the annual distribution of school prizps took, place at tho Recreation. ground. A. large, gathering of parents and friends assembled to enjoy an afternoon with . the little ones. Mr T. Robins, chairman of the' School Committee, distributed thp 'prizes. • The Prebbleton Braßs Band addedanair'flf festivity, to. the .gathering. . During'tne afternoon races and 'games ..were ,the chief, feature. r , Mrs Tod isimaking an :.excellept;recovery after hfcr eerious operation ii® Christchtirch.- ■ , .'• * ' The soldiers' memorial is in place and Veady for the : unveiling, will probably, take place 'at the. <snd !pf the week. It is hoped that the member for the district, tne Hon. Sir®. iHeaton Rhodes; will perform the_ ceremony. ' Much disappointment iB being felt in the district- aii- the delay-in necting up this ■ locality with 'the ; Lako Coleridge system, despite .the efforts' of our representative on the council. It is hoped that something, definite may eventuate in the near future. ■: i

SOUTHBRIDOB. A; highly sucMs'sful- concert;was' given in the Southbridge, Town Hall ;-:by the Christchurch . Commercial,. Tr&yeljers Concert Party,,in. aid of, the-funda of the local football.- club. ■ .The hall was crowded, and it is antioipated that tno net' proceeds will amdtmt to fully £3O. Items vrere given by Miss Phyllis Massey,- and 'Messrs K. Connor, Alex. pey", J. H. Cocks, Cowries Brown: and A. H.. Soanea. The accompanist was Miss Bonnie Young, assistant, being givfeh in the early part of the concert by Miss KUkride, a local musician. The visitors were aocorded' a hearty»vote of thanks by acclamation, on tne ; motion of Mr S: Woods, organiser of the concert, and' were [entertained to, an excellent supper by. the ladies of the district before returning to Christchurch. A dance was held after the concert, the musicians being Mesdamcs and Campbell. axaroa. On Friday evening the Presbyterian Church was well filled with an audience that listened with the keenest interest to the story Sister Jessie had to tell of her work and. her as a. missionary among the, Maoris the Urewera and Galntea country. Mr J. Tihi, of Little River, who was present at the meeting, warmly thanked Sister Jessie for her efforts to uplift the Native race, and conveyed to her the cordial appreciation of the Maoris of the Peninsula for her missionary work among their . kindred of the North. The Rev. J. W.Hayward, who presided, extended to Sister-Jessie the* hearty thanks of the congregation for her Bplendid address. Following the meeting, Sister Jessie and the adult members of the congregation, were entertained at supper by the Akaroa branch of the Presbyterian women s Missionary Union. On Wednesday, representatives ot the Borough Council and Banks Peninsula Power Board will meet in'conference, to -discuss the details of thesale of the municipal electric plant to the latter body. In connexion with the proposed sale of the.plant,_a step.authorised by resolution of the, Borough Council, a* movement is on foot to' prevent it. A prominent councillor,, who has all along been opposed to.the selling of the plant, has obtained, a number, of signatures to a petition that will be forwarded ,to the Governor-in-Counci 1, asking that ,the ; sale he vetoed. .The. forthcoming municipal election will be largely fought on the question, "To Eell-j or not to sell!" . . I •At the last- meeting of the Akaroa : Borough Council. Cr. A. R. Monro asked the Mayor. (Mr Geo. Armstrong) to allow himself to.,be nominated _• once more for thi).'position> referred to the long and. excellent record Mr Armstrong had behind him.' -Cn Monro's remarks were by Crs: Leet-e, Williams, and" Parnham. Ip .responding •to the invitation, tbo Mayor- thanked t oonnpillors ..for.i theirexpression of. opinion.' He : was igetting an old man, and had served -toe tow" as-Mayor for 17: years, yet _ be was stili prepared to carry on a- littler longer. There were several- projects borough that ; he particularly wished to ( see, accomplished" fcibts - before -.he re- i tired. He instnncied} in '. particular; 'ho "iew maternity hospital ■ and +he war