STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(i'l'om Our Own Correspondent.')' [All communications, letters, etc., left with Hr U. .1, Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prouiit ■Mention.] , PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. AuguaC 11). The annual meeting was held on Saturday, the Mayor (J. W. McMillan) being in the chair. In moving the adoption of the report anil balance-sheet, Mr. Kirkwood referred to the very satisfactory results secured during the year, nearly £-1000 being donated and collected. • He paid a tribute to the work or Messrs Lander (secretary) and Crawshaw (treasurer) in respect to the conscientious manner in which they had attended to their duties. He touched on trlie good work being done at the Western front, but the war was not over yet, and the enemy was still putting up a big fight. The Mayor seconded. He paid a compliment to the good work accomplished by the War Relief Association, as line a body of business men 'iie had ever been associated with. He stressed the gre-t need of all to be up and doing, the need for building up funds being as great as ever.

Mr. Boon, after expressing appreciation of the work accomplished during the year, thought there were many who believed the -War Relief Association were paying out too much in grant 3 and loans to soldiers for land purposes. He thought that this was a matter for the Government rather than the Association and that the latter should reserve their funds for the men who had yet to come back. Mr. Kirkwood said the Association did what they could for the returned soldiers. He admitted the Government were doing very little for those desiring of going on the land, and the Association filled the breach.

Mr Hewitt expressed (he opinion the Association was advancing too much, and thought it would be better ii they iould find the men employment instead of buying land and stock . He was '■peaking plainly and hoped others would do the same. By placing the men in work they would be conserving the funds. The money subscribed was for men still at the front. He was sure that some of the men going on the land would not make a success of it. Mr Boon said he was not complaining about tho Association's work, but they had to conserve the funds. There were times when a man came alonjr and took up 200 acres or so and could not make : anything out of it. They should be put on smaller areas. I The Mayor welcomed the discussion. The Association should receive all the assistance possible regarding placing the men in employment. Mr Sole was satisfied the War Relief Association was doing good work, but it should always make searyiiing inquiry into the applicant's fitness before granting financial assistance.

Mr Hewitt said ha admitted thqre were only a few put on the land who did not succeed. Ilis point was, Don't put everybody on the land. Mr J, B. Richards said that one of the difficulties was "placing" a man on returning Before enlistment he might have been a blacksmith, and when he came back he would not bothered with the old work. So it was with other occupations. There should be .10 ditticulty in connection with the man with a knowledge of land, but many who evinced a desire to become farmers had no idea of the difficulties ahead If not out of place he desired to make a suggestion to the War Relief Association. In Canterbury the Government offered the Association 500 acres on condition that they established a training farm and thus break in the candidate who desired to-enter farming pursuits. If the men were prepared to put 111 a term on a training farm then they should be insisted by the Association as far as possible. The Government had Mr. Hine's property at Toko under offer, and if the Government offered the Association a small portion they would getUo work. With an experienced farmer at the h'ead of affairs the Association could train the soldier and also pay him a wage. If they thought there was any virtue'in the suggestion they could make a recommendation to the Association. Mr Kirkwood said every application received was carefully considered. The Association did not assist men on the land who had no previous knowledge. He also wished them to understand that these applications had been first considered bv the local Patriotic Committee

jvhere the man resided. They had not been robbed of one penny, lie could assure them of that. Mr. Hewitt reiterated that they did not object to the practical man being assisted, even up to £3OO. The Mayor: Well, the W r ar Relief Association's funds are getting low, and should not. be allowed to run right out. Mr Hewitt: Well, if you go the right way you'll get the money.

Mr I). J t Malone said he welcomed the discussion it only to prove to the people of Taranaki that the War Reliel Association wanted more money. They needed another .t;>0;OUO. This was a "wealthy province, and if properly organised and people contributed as they" ought he believed they would be able to collect £IOO,OOO. There should be no talk ot money petering out. The money would come in when the people realised the position. After a little further discussion the report and balance-sheet was adopted. ROADLESS FARMS. Mr Boon brought lip the question of soldiers taking up laud for farming on the Croydon Road, who had no entrance or roads to their sections. The cows were coming into profit, and how the men were going to get on he could not say. He thought ihey should urge the Government to make the roads straight away. The sections were mostly bare, and when the carpenters were ready to go it would take a team of 7 horses to drag timber through to the sections. This was a time to make a protest on behalf of the men, and he moved a motion to the effect "That men are being settled on the Croydon Road and have n.t roads to •their sections; tiiat, the Government be urged to give the matter their immediate attention." Mr Sole seconded. In answer to another question, Mr Boon said it was a matter of urgency; 'he men were wasting time. The general committee for the next /ear were elected as follows: Messrs. \. P. Jvirkwood, 1). .]. Malone. <). Itfhaids, A. F. Grant, W. Cruwshaw. f W. Boon. W. A. Hewitt, C. D. Sole **id M. McDonald. ' The election of a secretary and tiv .. :rer was left to the General o deal with. J On the motion of Mr Sole, the Execi t ive Committee are to carry on till pointed by the General Committee. Votes of thanks to tlie Chambers lor use of rooms, to the Mayo/

[for presiding, and to the Press concluded the meeting. ! Weather permitting, a good attendance' of the public is expected at the social to bo held in the Cornation Hal), Toko, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. The ladies; are controlling affairs, and have secured* platform favorites. The floor lias received extra special attention. Tim pro-, cceds are to purchase Christmas for the men in teh trenches. Patrons who 'have made arrangements may rviy on spending a most enjoyable evening. Takings at the Patriotic Tea Rooms on Saturday were .C(i os (id, and at the shop ill 3s Cd, which includes 3s Ud from Mrs. Hivett, secured for sale of pot plants. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., have a good record in connection with t'iie war. Without counting on recent, calls through the ballot, no less than 185 officials htwe joined the -Expeditionary Forces. Of this mun'oer no less than 3f> have been in the casualty lists, and, unfortunately, it is necessary to add that 23 ha,ve ''gene west.' Tt does not appear many«montlis since Tuna was part and parcel of Midhirst, but now Tuna is out on its own, -and on Saturday the .first annual meeting was lie'il, Mr. W. Skedgwell. chairman of di* rectors, presiding. Although the actual, working time is far short of 12 months, the results ajppear to be very satisfactory. The milk received totalled 2,297, 0401b, huttcr-fat 95.4721b, making cheese 222,'!>231b. The average test Wis 415. The pay-out to suppliers for the season was Is 3d per pound on hutter-fat, and there is a balance of 51/, 4 to the credit of the working account and £44 carried forward- Mr. Skedgwell was re-elected v, director and. al.=o appointed chairman. Discussing the question of settling returned soldiers, Mr. Kirkwood, chairman of the War Relief Association, stated at the Patriotic Committee meeting on S?.tnrday that the association had two local advisers (Messrs jr. M'Doimld and V. Smith), whose recommendations regarding the fitness and ability of the applications had largely guided the association. Also, to avoid misapprehension to the public, it should he known that there was a Returned Soldiers- .(employment Bureau, and any man desiring assistance to trade or industry was always helwd to the best of the management's ability. A number of Taranaki men up on final leave left for camp this morning. At. Whangamomona last week, a very enjoyable evening was spent in the hail I there at ft euchre tournament and dance. Mrs. Murkitt won the trophy for kidies. and that for the gentlemen fell to Mr. Rotherv.

Tn be a successful business man, one must have what the nublic wants and at a price that will satisfy the hunger. The success of C. E. James' jewellery warehouse lies in the good value he offers. Purchasers know from experience that ?oods secured here are all of the highest crradc in value and at prices that defy competition. At the present, moment there are 1000-and 1 articles offering in sold, silvdr. and croekervware that are selling at pre-war prices.—Advt.