SOLWAY SHOW

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 8

SOLWAY SHOW

. The Ma'sterton A. and P. Association ha-s made! a. special effort this year, in the matter of catering for the farming community and the general public alike. The prizes allotted to the stock section/ of tho show have attractedi some of tlie' ' hest-known in _ Now ' Zealand,; : thus ensuring good quality animals for the fanner to i;dmiro. The "public are rot only, oplendidly catered for in the ' ,way of competitions, but a big attend-' aiicQ for'our soldiers in camp is-being , arranged .for. Everything possible "is being done in the direction of providing an enjoyable outing for the public. Unlimited lot water will be, supplied to '• picnic parties, and the beautiful bush will be found an ideal spot for picnick- ' ers.' The annual ram and ewe fair will 1 be held on the showgrounds 011 Febru- . ary 17' and 18, and a bi<* entry of high-; grade stock has been made. Late entries for the show close on Saturday, Febru- ' ary 5. '

About 100 ■ farmers and tlireshinp:mill owners met'a!t! InvercargilT oh Sat-, urday afternoon to consider the rate of pay to be given mill hands this season ,(says a Southland paper). After discussion, it-was! decided to increase it from Is. an hour and-found, to Is. 3d. and found, this being the wage paid in Canterbury.- ' It was! stated- that, . according to rumoiu-,..the, decided wot to accept- employment un-. less they were given; the increase which; the meeting said they were thisiseason owing to .the. price: of;grain. Mr. John Deejaiv of - Oreti, stated that owing to the rise in the value of belting and oil the mill owners had decided on the following rates of pay'by;farmers: 7s. per 100 bushels for oats, 7s. per hour for grass seed, and 8s: per hour for wheat.; In regard, to oats, the new rate is Is. per 100. bushels more- than that ruling last , season. ! ' . : : The birds, it is ' stated, are interfering with' the fruit in and about New Plymouth this year to an extent greater than usual. Opossums are'.also a big iiuisance to orchardists in some parts of the district. A Masterton man has come 'to the .'conclusion that fruit is intended for small birds, and not for-human-con-sumption. Early in the whole of his cherries, were taken. Then iiis red currants disappeared, Afterwards strawberries , and; .raspberries' went, and- now ,his plums'! and. .apples are being'destroyed-in.a wholesaled ner. arq*:wolrgft,,'thaii;'i(ife. bits," to make-; air-attack upoh'-my- -. potatoes. - Unless is .'done-'.to destroy, the_ small.birds, I am satisfied th'iit the fruit industry:, in New Zealand, .'can never bo'a success." .'•//' v.':;.'';;.! Italy's deputies—equal':, to:.;. Britain's'! M.P.'s—receives £210 a jeai,~ , "