FARMERS' INDEPENDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 8

FARMERS' INDEPENDENCE.

THE NEED FOR UNITY. Tho spirit of independence noticeable among dairy farmers was touched upon by tho chairman of directors of the Now Zealand Dairy Association (Mr. Wesley Sprang) r at the annual meeting of tho association, held at Pukokoho last week. "It may be, and probably is, to tho credit, of dairy farmers," he remarked, "that the members of no other class of the community are more sturdy and uncompromising in their individuality than the people upon the land. Their disposition is to stand .straight up on their own two logs, and to bo slow to accept assistance from anybody! As I know the dairy farmer, it is difficult for mo to imagine him as being horded and driven, or even led very readily. He represents a type of a democrat, which presents some of the most sterling aspects of a democracy, and at the same time offers some of its most difficult problems. "Side by side with the admirable characteristic of yeoman independence is the related disadvantage of 'unweldability.' However admirable fragments as fragments may bo, -the drawbacks of intense individuality are of corresponding magnitude when unity is the way of progress. Tliero are indications, however," he added, "that the value of cooperation is appealing to tho man on tho land to-day, as it has novor appealed before. "

When the Timaru Hospital Board was last week considering a recommendation by Dr. Lindsay that- a consumptive patient, a young man, should bo given sanatorium treatment by tho board, for which he could not himself pay, Mr. Norton Francis expressed .a sentiment which was heartily endorsed by his fellow-members. Mr.- Francis said that Dr. Lindsay had said that the sanatorium treatment would give this young man a chance, and therefore it was tho board's duty to give him that chance. As a board it was their duty to take every possible mean's to stamp out consumption, and tho question of expense was neither here nor there. Ho was • strongly of .the opinion that any patient who, on the doctor's recommendation, would benefit by the treatment, ■should be given the chance, 'and it did not matter if tho patients numbered 20 or 200. It was decided that application should bo made to the North _ Canterbury Sanatorium for tho admission of tho young man in question, and for another to Palmerston (Ota-go) Sanatorium. It was mentioned by Dr. Lindsay that the patients would probably have to wait some timo before vacancies would occur, for thero were long waiting „ lists at both institutions.

The handling of the city pork supply is causing concern in ' Duncdin. The "Otago Daily Times" states: — "Notwithstanding tho fact that a largo sum of money has been expended upon the construction and upkeep of tho abattoirs to ensure the supply of wholesome meat to city residents, it would appear that tho manner in which slaughtered pics aro disposed of at times is little short of scandalous.. We have been informed by several eyewitnesses that on Wednesday afternoon seven pig carcasses arrived from the north bv train, and were simply thrown out of tho van on the mud alongside tho signal-box. Needless to say, the carcasses had no vestige of covering to protcct them, and, the ground being niuddv after the recent heavy- Tains, the condition of the carcasses after being dragged clear of the line and dumped into a heap, may be easily imagined. Tt is almost unbelievable that pork intended for human consumption should he mishandled in such a nianner."