Citizens Sav

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 10

Citizens Sav

ARMY FARM AT PUTARURU

I read with interest the report on the Salvation Army’s scheme for putting its farm at Putaruru on a sounder footing and I wondered what the general public thinks of it. The ages of the children who are to work and help make this farm more self-supporting are, X understand, from six to sixteen I have in the past heard boys from this farm complain that they had not been able to finish a sixth standard education, because they were put to farm work. As a, mother, I write iff the interests of the children. JANET FENTON Morrinsville,

That home is the finest place we have m New Zealand," commented Major Annie Gordon ol the Salvation Army this morning. "The farm is quite distmct_ from the school, and teachers are appointed by the Education Department No boy works on the farm until he has completed his school training and not even then, if he has no wish to remain ana does not believe his future lies in farming. The children do a little gardening about the home to keep the place tidy and amuse themselves, but certainly no more than the average child which is in its own home.”—Ed. THE SUN,

MR. JORDAN ON EDUCATION

Sir,— In Saturday’s Sun, I notice that Mr, Jordan, M.P., says, respecting children who have earned free places in secondary schools: "The child having passed proficiency, the State must play its part by providing accommodation at its secondary schools or, failing that, by making arrangements that the child shall receive similar education elsewhere at State expense.” This, sir, is a typical example of political dope” a mass of words meaning anything, or nothing. Let us examine Mr. Jordan’s sententious statement- It means “Yes 1 believe in the State providing for proficiency pupils at its own secondary * schools.” It means' "No, they can’t do it, as I hat been approached by parents of children who cannot be admitted for want of accommodation,” Then, the member for Manukau goes on to say: “I think private schools should be paid for accommodating those children; but I will not say ‘Yes’ to that, lest some of my constituents should be expecting me to say 'No.' ” Me then puts in the words 'similar education” to flatter those who pay for the support of their excellent private and (as yet) unaided secondary schools, but he does not say he is in favour of them. Nor does he say notice should be taken of such schools unless the State cannot help itself. Thus he keeps in with those who

(To the Editor.)

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

THE WOOL DEADLOCK

think the plank of secular education in the Labour platform Is a sound one. One visualises him as he concludes this typical bit of jiggery-pokery with the (’’ought: “I have put my thumb into educational pie and pulled out a i -jm of meaningless verbiage. I have dodged every issue of the education question relating to private primarv and secondary schools, and State aid to them. I have offended no one. So you see what a smart bov am II” JACK HORNER.

Sir.— The Society for the of j Cruelty to Animals is undoubtedly one of the noblest institutions in the Dominion and the report, appearing in your paper, of the magnificent work done by the Auckland inspector speaks for itself. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when the Government will tangibly reconcile the society’s work, not only financially, but by passing such legislation as" will enable our magistrates suitably to punish the miserable specimens of humanity who unfortunately do exist in our midst, and who are at present let off with a paltry fine. It is doubtful whether cruelty to any great extent is evident in the cities, owing to the societies activities, but the fact that it is rampant in the country and in most of the constructional and other works outside the cities, cannot by anv means be overlooked. Contracts le't by the Government, local bodies and others make no provision whatever for the welfare of the horses, who do the bulk of the ivork, and especially is this noticeable where contracts are taken at such cut-throat prices that any consideration for horses, even in the shape ot one assured feed or one day’s rest in case of serious illness is entirely out of the question. The appointment of honorary inspectors in every town, irrespective of size, would greatlv the ®' v ? l and lt is to be hoped that this would be made possible by theT society which deserves our wholehearted support. s.x.s.

Sir. It is deplorable that such a thing should happen as the -Wool Buvers’ Association refusing to bid at the present seasons wool sales, just because they cannot have all their own way with regard to the quantities offered at the respective wool sales. From their pomt of view it may be to their ad ‘‘tT a , U the New Zealand weeks l? T okl Within the next few m the prlce ls certainly as low as it will ever go. But what about the

wool grower? Has he not a perfect right to hold his wool back pending a rising tendency and not be driven to sell his wool for any price a buyer feels disposed to give? The Buyers’ Association gives as its excuse for refusing to bid that there is not sufficient wool offering to fill their buying orders. If such is the case, well, the law of supply and demand should send up the price, but it is not doing so. The object of the buyers at the present time, according to their attitude, is to force the sale of the whole of the wool in New Zealand at the low prices prevailing, thus preventing the wool grower from participating in any rise of the price during the next few months. If, as they say, there is not enough v. col offering to fill their orders, it is not consistent with the excuse they gave the wool grower at the beginning of the season—that owing to artificial fibre being used in such large quantities there was not the demand for wool, hence the drastic fall in price. In September la?t the English-grown wool of. say, 40 s quality’, realised on the English market 12!dalb. To bring this to New Zealand parity, deduct 2d for freights, etc., which leaves the price 10Jd. At the present time 40’s quality woo* yielding 75 to 78 per cent, clean woo*, is only realising 7*d to 8d a lb. The clean wool price of this wool is quoted in Bradford today’ at Isd a lb, which leaves a very large margin between the New Zealand greasy wool price and the clean wool price in Bradford. However, the wool grower has himseh to blame to a certain extent, as he does nothing himself to improve the condition, only to go wailing” to the Government as soon as anything goes wrong. No remedy can come from that source. The only course for the wool grower t-. command better prices is to place k*s w r ool upon the marker in the best possible condition by standardising the qualities and making his offerings attractive. The “Yorkshire Post” some seven or eight months ago warned the Australian and New Zealand wool growers that the Bradford wool interests were not prepared to bear the burden of holding large stocks of high-priced wool and that the overhead expenses and cost of producing the wool would have to be lowered, one point being the reduction of the inflated land values. Nothing, however, was done, hence th® move of the buying interests to lower the price. I consider, however, the drop has been too drastic, as one shill' ing a lb is a fair price all round for an average New Zealand crossbred. The manufacturer himself is not to any extent represented on the buying benches, but the large wool speculator!* However, if the buyers already in New Zealand will not bid for the wool, there is only one course open to the woo. grower, and that is to send it to the London Wool sales, where it will got the competition of the wool-buying world, and if the wool is required ther* will be no boycott wnatever quantity is offered. WOOL STAPLER.