TAHORA NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 51, 29 October 1915, Page 2

TAHORA NOTES.

(h Tom our own CoiTer-^uiulent). -it the present time Taliora presents I a somewhat deserted appearance. Just lately a large man her of men were to he seen busy at work on the railway works in and around the township; now, one only sees barrows and planks piled up in heaps, and we are l unused to inquire what has happened I to the men. Have' the funds given out? Is the work to be stopped? But, no; the men have simply left to light and mine in the trenches for their country and Empire; so wo,do not complain. It is said that there are only about 50 or GO men all told at work, mostly about the tunnel and its approaches. Many ol our best young men have gone from here at their country’s call. Many ol them can ill be spared, and who, il they had stayed on on their hums, wore doing their duty to the country as much as those who have left. Surely some discrimination might be used in regard to the men taken. While there are any amount of slackers, principally in and around the towns and cities who should be compelled to go, the bona fide producers might bo left until later on, when, if I their services are still required, could I then bo taken. Perhaps the National l ßegister (when the results are compiled) will remedy this. In the meanlime, we- do not need to have members of Parliament coming around here .trying to tell men what is their duty; jwe all know it only too well, and are j anxious lo do it when we are clear as to wind form it is to take. Many .here have a real grievance against the {Defence authorities. Having enlisted, jthey are told to go back to their emJr'w; meats and they will be told when jtJi.-v are wanted; some who have enlisted months ago have nut yet been jcalled ; ethers who have enlisted only a short time have gone to Trentham; while others who, when they gave in their names made it clear that in order to fix up their business they could not go before the Ist November, have had the call a fortnight ago, and told that they must come at once. 1 be- 1 lieve that if, when men are wanted I they could be then and there accepted, it would be infinitely more acceptable than this hanging on indefinitely, and also tend for better recruiting. We have had a splendid spring here so far, and the country has never looked better; grass is very abundant. The docking of lambs is now about ] completed, and the percentage, by all 1 appearances, will be easily a record for the district. The prospects of a heavy clip of wool is very good, and if the weather would only clear up, shearing would soon be in full swing. Labor is very scarce, and farmers are at their wits’ end to know how to get the necessary work done. « I hear a good many indignant remarks over what seems to be a bit of pure vandalism. A very nice piece of , Native, bush close to the township was reserved for scenic purposes, which has now been cut and hacked about, for material for the tramway by the Public Works Department, so much so that all beauty is gone and it is an eye-sore to every passing traveller. It 1 does not seem as if there was any absolute necessity to take the timber, as there, are other places where it could i have been had, perhaps at a little more cost, but, surely, that does not 1 justify the action.