DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) XORMAXBY. On September 21 the Town Board received a report from its sanitary inspector drawing the Board's attention to the existence of a pit in connection with the latrines at the local school. The inspector pointed out that an epidemic of typhoid fever had occurred in the district, and that the existence of the pit was a menace to the health of the children attending the school. After receiving the report the Board adjourned for the purpose of enabling the members to personally inspect the buildings. Upon resuming, it was resolved to take prompt action, with the result that the building was condemned, and next morning the sanitary inspector closed the latrine, Which, of course, necessitated the closing of the school for several days. Some improvements were carried out by the school committee and the school re-open-ed on the following Monday, after the Education Board's foreman had inspected the buildings. At a meeting of the | Town (Board on Tuesday evening correspondence was .received from the secretary of the Wanganui Education Board to the effect that its foreman had reported that in his opinion there was not sufficient cause to justify the action of the Boards' officer. This was the opinion, also, of others- who inspected the building, and it was thought that the action of the Board's officer was one of unwarranted interference. The chairman (Commissioner Free) said that an explanation shpuld come from the Education Board and School Committee as to why they had allowed such a disgraceful condition of things to exist. The Education Board knew they were in the wrong and tried to get out of it as gracefully as possible. Commissioner Riddle stated that the district health officer had condemned the pit years ago. Commissioner Annenson said the health inspector stated that the school should not have been dosed. Commissioner Riddle said that was not correct. It was only tlie Board's foreman that made the inspection, and he was a carpenter, and not a sanitary officer. The chairman said that in the hearing of three persons the district health officer had stated that he. had condemned the pit two years ago, and if it had been a private individual instead of a Government department it would have been remedied long ago. He refused to come down .ind see the pit, for he knew all about it and had condemned it already. Commissioner Annenson: Then he is not fit for the position of health officer (Hear, hear!) CommisI sioncr Annenson did not think the Board ' was justified in closing the school without giving the school committee an opportunity of remedying the matter. Commissioner Riddle: It was a wise tiling in any case. It was a matter that required prompt action, and he was satisfied the Town Board had prevented typhoid fever from sprejidfrig. After further discission, the cleric was instructed to reply to the Education Board stating (1) that the Board support the sanitary inspector in the- action he had taken in closing the latrines;' l~) that the members of the Board had" personally inspected the buildings and found them insanitary; (3) that the Board consider that an explanation should come from the Education Board for allowing such a condition of things to exist, seeing that an epidemic of typhoid fever existed in the district, land the district health officer had already condemned the pit system. The monthly meeting of the Town Board was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Commissioners Free (chairman), F. C. Riddre, A. Annenson, R. Harris and ,T. Cocker. Correspondence was received from the Postmaster-Gen-eral, stating that arrangements had been made for an afternoon counter delivery of letters. Some discussion took place about the troop 'rain not stopping at Xormanby, seeing that several recruits had left here on Monday evening. Commissioner Annenson said that it was not convenient for relatives to go to Itawera at 9.45 p.m. to say farewell, and he thought that an effort should be made to get the train to stop at Xormanby. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Defence and ask that in future the train 9top at X r ormanby. The Defence authorities have evidently determined to lose no opportunity of getting recruits into camp at an early date. A young, man from this district passed the medical test on Monday morning and left for Trentham the same flight. f It is understood that the Native Land Court will hold its meetings in Normaiibv. commencing on Thursday.

.-. MAKETAWA. Tiie farewell socio} at the Norfolk School on Friday evening; last tendered to Mr. Dave Langley, who lias enlisted, was not so largely attended as was similar functions held in the school. The weather and counter-attraction in Inglewood prevented a large number from putting in an appearance. The all-absorbing topic just now Is th"« weather, and, judging by reports in the papers, New Plymouth has had its shale, but we, of the country—well, Mr. Editor, woTds fail to express the "treat" we hare-had. During my twenty years' residence I have never seen things so bad as tbey have been lately, and, jn •consequence, the milk yield has in every instance received a severe check. Wind (howling gales), fog (turning day into night)', rain (no name to fit), and thunder and .lightning (exceptional), has been our lot. The result of the combination is that all outside work is at a complete standstill, ground soddened with water, and mud and slush everywhere f the absence of suri and the continued rsin is causing serious damage to the roads. Several culverts on Durham Road have recently had bigger pipes inserted, yet the downpours taxed them to the utmost, and had the alterations not been made there is no doubt more serious damage would have occurred. .Stumping and ploughing for ►winter crops, which in previous years is generally far advanced at this time of the year, is savjly behind, and the shortage of casual labor is making the matter a serious proposition. In many countries a system of co-operation in such work as needs extra labor has proved both successful and beneficial, and there must be something wrong with New Zealand farmers that they have not adopted the principle. That old relic of Britain (Conservatism) is responsible for many handicaps to a young country's progress, and I believe it is the only reason why such a system as mentioned is not in vogue to-day. If farmers can co-operate in certain districts during hay-making time, I fail to see why they cannot do the same thing for the other farm work, and surely an equitable and workable method could he arranged by mutual agreement. Co-operation! We hear a lot about it, but I unreservedly say that the farmers of New Zealand do not know what it is and what it means for their" welfare if adopted whole-heartedly. When our school children »r« trained in

the principle, and the State encourages tiiem to put it into practice, then, and only then, will the producers of t-Ue country understand what co-operation has done for other, countries. Only then will the motto of the Dane, "Each for all, and all for one," be made to apply. The older generations seem obsessed with the idea that to help others means robbing themselves, in consequence all is competition. Well, that system is responsible for the present war, and a serious reconsideration of our basis will show a need for a radical alteration. When the man on the land will calmly look into the question he has to admit there is something rotten going on, aud that it is getting worse each year. We have but to look to our requirements as evidence. For instance, corrugated iron rusts through in from seven to ten years (the old makes are still in use); English barb-wire after 2o years' use is still good, yet .American and German will fall to pieces in seven or eight. We have to get legislation to protect the buyer of milk from paying for water, the buyer of boots from paying for paper, the buyer of cloth from paying for shoddy; our food is adulterated; we have to watch our seeds and our manures, else ; we get rubbish; we have to watch tlie

butcher, the baker, ami the grocer against light weights, etc., if we buy a cow—look out. The tools we need are trumpery, in fact, look at what you like and there's nothing genuine. All through competition, and they say ''competition is the soul of trade.'' Well, let the farmer go in for true co-opera-tion. Then perhaps the competition will be to see who can turn out the best and most genuine.artiele, not as we have it at present—pretty to look at, but useless for wear. Cheap and nasty. Competition means envy, petty jealousy, and a method of "havo-you-some-way-or-other," while true co-operation mean 3 fair and square treatment in all things.

WAITARA. Waitara, Ye-.ierday. A good deal of annoyance is being caused at the i public reading room through the thoughtlessness of some person or persons who are in the habit of cutting from the various papers. Jt also frequently ,happens that pliotos from the pages of the roll of honor in weekly papers arc taken out. Just recently a perpetrator did away with the Weekly Press, and other papers are frequently doing Ihe "vanishing trick." The ranks of the Waitara Hand have been sadly depleted of late, owing to some of the best players having enlisted, but those remaining are endeavoring by constant practice, under the able baton of Bandmaster Hughes, to keep up their reputation, and all that is needed is funds to keep the band in working order. On Sunday afternoon next the band will be giving a sacred concert at I'rcnui, and with' fine weather this should entice a large number of people out. A collection will 'he taken up during the concert in aid of the band's funds. The concert to be given bv the band in St. John's Hall next Thursday (No-M-mber 2.5) should- be well attended, both for the purpose for which it is given and for the high-class manner in which the various seeetions are handled. Miss Maude I'eart, Mrs. Wheatlev, Mr Hooker, Mr. Asher, and Mr. .J. 'Camphell ure among the vocalists.