NEWS OF THE BAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 56, 9 March 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE BAY

National War Savings The figures for National War Savings for the city on Wednesday, March 8, 1944, were £53 9s. Farmers’ Conference. The annual inter-provincial conference of the Farmers ’ Union has been fixed for May 31 in Palmerston North. The annual meeting of the Alanawatu provincial has been fixed for Tuesday, May 9. Farmers and Subsidies “I hear a lot said in Parliament about subsidies to farmers, ” said Mr. H. J. McLcavey (Ohau), chairman, at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, 11 but 1 would remind those members of Parliament that but for the huge subsidies granted secondary industries, there would be no need for subsidies to farmers. 1 think the Minister of Agriculture should be reminded of that. ’ ’ Section for Half-Guinea Application was made to the Gisborne Land Sales Committee for the sale of a suburban section of half an acre at half a guinea. The explanation made was that the section, valued at £2O last year, was part of a deceased estate and was being disposed of to get rid of a liability for rates and fencing. The purchaser was the adjoining owner, who proposed to establish an experimental plot. The application was approved. Jessie Mackay Memorial Award The .1943 award of the Jessie Mackay memorial prize for poetry has been announced by the judges, Dr. G. H. Scholefield and Mr. Johannes C. Ander sen. Mrs. G. J. Gullery, 25 Purnell Street, Wanganui, receives the award for her poem, “Year’s Wane.” Mrs. Gullery is known to writers as Mary B. Greig. First hon. mention, Mrs. M. T. liyan, "Bonaventure,” Springlands, Blenheim, for her poem, "Brown BenU son.” Second hon. mention to Miss Jean Mather, 149 Marine Parade, Eastbourne, for her poem, "New World.” Gumboots for Farmers The problem of gumboots for dairy farm workers was before the Manawatu provincial executive of the Fanners' Union in Palmerston North yesterday. It was reported that many deserving applications had been declined and the issue of a recent consignment had been on the basis of one pair to each milking shed. From Paraparaumu branch came a remit urging that women working on farms be given preference. The remit was approved along with a motion urging that production be expedited and that there be a wider range of sizes to meet the requirements of the women on farms. Electricity and Quality "It is a step in .the wrong direction,” declared Mr. H. J. McLeavey, of Ohau (chairman), at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, when the new scheme of metering hot water electricity was mentioned. He said it was difficult to get boiling water with the current going all the time on the flat rate but the metering would induce farmers to cut off the power to save costs. Under such conditions there would be little or no boiling water and it did not take much imagination to realise what the effect would be on the quality of production. Great Fun? "And how does the present meat rationing affect you?” asked the Grown representative of a butcher yesterday at the Palmerston North Armed Forces Appeal Board. "Well, it halves the sale of meat and doubles the amount of trouble,” replied the butcher. "Imagine travelling among 130 country customers, as my business is conducted, clipping out coupons, weighing out meat, counting out coupons upon my return and presenting them at the bank. It is certainly going to be great fun.’’ He also thought mutton sales would predominate, beef prices being too high for coupons to be expended on. The Land Has It? Tilling the soil appears to be a much-sought-after occupation nowadays, or at least, one farmer thinks so when he inserted an advertisement for a sharemilker and received 47 replies, included in which were applications from bus and tram drivers. This -was stated at a sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Palmerston North yesterday. Out of that total only 12 could fte classed as farming men. There were smiles on the faces of members of the Board when this large number of applicants w*as announced. For the past year farmers appealing before the Board have constantly stated their inability to secure even‘one reply through advertisement. Farmers and Taxation "It takes one-third of a dairy farmer’s herd to meet direct taxation,” declared Mr. V. Cottle (Levin) when speaking at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. He urged that the Government should be forcibly reminded of the fact when next it appealed for more production. He said he knew farmers who were reducing their herds so that they would be better off. ‘ ‘ The farmer is taxed on an 80-hour week and not a 40-hour week,’’ Mr. Cottle added. Other members of the executive expressed regret that a farmer should lower his production because of taxation, while there was a war on. Cause and Effect.

The Alanawatu executive of the Farmers’ Union, at its February meeting, spent a good deal of time discussing the industrial situation in New Zealand and voicing indignation at the continual labour hold-ups that had occurred. No doubt before arriving at the meeting members of the executive had "chewed the rag” over the situation and exhausted a great deal of grey matter in doing so. To cut a long story short, it was finally decided t,6 write to the Prime Afinister and at yesterday’s meeting of the executive a reply was received. It took less than ten seconds to read. All Air. Fraser had to say was: "The terms of the resolution have been duly noted.” Afembers saw- the funny side and greeted the communication with laughter.