MANGATEPARU.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4523, 5 February 1923, Page 4

MANGATEPARU.

DAIRY FARMERS AND SCHOOL. ANNUAL PICNIC. On Saturday last the Mangateparu soldier settlers held a Combined Dairy Farmers’ Union and School picnic. With the exception of two small showers the we.ather was fine, and the function was well patronised, dairymen and their families being present from as far distant as Kereone. All enjoyed the outing immensely, and cow-time found them all too soon. Mr D. Grubb, of the homestead, provided a suitable paddock for the picnic and sports. The catering was attended to by the following ladies: Mesdames' Herbert, Carter, Wilding, Brightwell, Torr, Ferriday, Marwood, Bellington, and Martin, and Misses Cameron and Tompkins. The sum raised by subscription amounted to about £2O, besides many valuable trophies supplied by the business people of Morr.insville, and substantial cash prizes were paid out. to the first three of each race. The following constituted the snorts committee : Messrs Maxwell, Herbert, Carter, Flowerday, Lehman, and Grubb. | The sports started immediately after lunch, and, with Messrs F. Brightwell and D. Hasti.e as handicappers, there were some very close finishes'. So well did they judge the competitors that there were no fewer than five dead heats, and one of those was in the 440yds race. Mr H. Herbert also deserves credit for arranging the twenty .three foot and one horse events, which were decided during the afternoon. The chief organiser of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, Mr A. E. Fear, and the organising secretary, Mr T. C. were present, and during .the afternoon tea adjournment addressed'' th© gathering. • ■ • Mr Fear expressed -kdeii pleasureat being present, and'said he considered the Mangateparu settlement-was a credit to the industry of the soldier settlers, and their.-women folk, and that they were entitled to .the greatest consideration at the hands of the Department. That the Mangateparu; settlers had their troubles he was well aware, and that a little concession on the part of the Department, patience on the settlers’ part, and push on the part of tfhe Dairy

Union would, he believed, secure the desired result. 'Mr Fear remarked that he had interviewed the Commissioner on behalf of the soldier settlers last week and was able to place before him particulars of a convincing nature. The result, ue felt, would be satisfactory to the soldier settlers. While expressing surprise and pleasure at the splendid appearance of the soldiers' farnis, he said that appearances were sometimes deceiving, and recounted ,a humorous incident to illustrate his point. Mr Fear assured his hearers of the unqualified support of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, and urged them to continue the good work they were doing, thus earning the satisfaction which only work well done could bring and the admiration and support of all concerned. Mr Grace hoped the picnic habit would become a fixed one amongst dairy farmers, as through functions of this kind many of the cobwebs of worry incidental to the work of, home and .the farm were, for a time at least, brushed aside. “The peculiarities of a dairyman’s life,” said Mr Grace, “are such that we w.hp follow nniiinn- nf the cow-soanker tend

would become a fixed one amongst dairy farmers, as through functions of this kind many of the cobwebs of worry incidental to the work of, home and the farm were, for a time at least, brushed aside. “The peculiarities of a dairyman’s life,” said Mr Grace, “are such that we w.hp follow the calling of the cow-spanker tend to become individuated rather quickly in contrast with those of other callings who have the opportunity to congregate quickly and easily, thus enabling collective action to be readily utilised without undue effort, redress, or. concessions which very often were secured at the expense of the dairy farmer.

“Rarely,” said the speaker, “have we the pleasure of addressing in our ■work or organising such a galaxy ol youth and beauty. Usually our audience is composed, of ' sterner'" stuff. Personally, I like,(the? change,” said Mr Grace, “It seems so “homey” with the shouts of the happy kiddies and the-clatter, of crockery. I could fancy I again, where I have seven young disturbers of the peace'— all healthy, good picnickers.”

Referring to back rents and interest which accumulated during the transition period of the settlement, when the settlers were busily engaged in changing the Mangateparu sheep run with its carpet o,f chewings and fescue to an English pasture fit for dairying, the speaker referred to the increase in the production of but-ter-fat per acre as' an indication of the amount of work done and the progressive methods followed. The first year showed a return of 1511 b of butter-fat to the acre, the second

, 1 2511 b. and the third 5511 b. As a further indication, the returns of one , ' would serve to show what sort . | of dairymen were working Mangatci ' para, where we see 841 b of butter-fat ' the average per cow for the first i i season, 1461 b for the second, and 246j lb for the third season,. 16 of the . original herd of 20 cows being milk- . 1 ed right through the three years. “We 1 are after redress for you people,” said . 1 Mr Grace, “and we consider you are . ; as much entitled .to remission of back rent and interest which accumulated because your holders could not at the time earn sufficient ,t.o meet current expenses, and, further, that no dairyman, however experienced, could have taken mor,e from the land in such poor condition as the ordinary civilian who received concession from his private mortgagee. We are out to get for you which we have secured for the dairymen holding land under a profit mortgage by way of voluntary reduction, and will not take Our hand from the plough until justice has been done to .the deserving soldier settlers.” The local secretary has been responsible for the increase of branca members, who now number 45.