DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAI-TOI-TOI. (Prom Our Own Correspondent). Mr. Leonard, who recently purchased Mr, King's property in the Mangamalioe, is now inthis district, and has takeu up his residence on the farm. There has been a considerable amount of sickness in the district during the past, fetf weeks, and one patient has been removed to the New Plymouth Hospital. Messrs Taylof and Ross, manager and second assistant respectively of the local factory, have botli been confined to their rooms for a few days, but are about again. Those intending to compete in the handicap running and chopping events at the Urenui athletic sporfs, to Ue held on March 11th, arc reminded that entries close with the secretary, Mr. G. N. Fuller, on March 4 I understand the working committee are making every preparation to have things in order, and, given a fine day, there is every reason to believe the meeting will be most Successful. Pull particulars of the" programme may be seen in the advertising columns of the News It is reported that Mr. Sid Sutton has disposed of a portion of his farm, including the homestead, to a Kaponga buyer at a satisfactory figure. It is understood that Miss Fenn, recently appointed nurso for the Uruti district, will take up her residence in that locality during the present week. It Is with great regret I have to record the death of an old and respected resident in Urenul, In the person of Mr. C. Wilson, who passed away at his late residence, the Kowhais, last week The late Mr. Wilson resided in Urenul for a great many years, and was an enthusiastic and successful orchardlst, his sheltered home at the foot of the hill, and adjacent to the river, being most admirably adapted for fruit growing, lie also took a warm interest in any movement fo>r t.he welfare of the township, and was one of the trustees of the public hall and n member of the Domain Board, besides taking a keen interest in the local cricket club, and unany of the old&T players will recall with feelings of pleasure his many acts of kindness and hospitality, whilst his unassuming and kindly manner endeared him to all with' whom ho came in contact. The deceased leaves a widow, two sons (Messrs. Win. and Chas Wilson), and a daughter (Mrs. A. .T. Thompson) to mourn his loss, and. they will have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends Jn ! their aad bereavement. | The New Plymouth Show, which takes place i rn the 4th and nth, is sure to attract a large number of visitors from this end. as practtcaily all the farmers in the district are members of the Association and take a keen interest, in its welfare. In the olden days, when the Show was held on the racecourse, .Air. Alf. Watklns. and tho late Mr. flouthey Baker, both of Wal-tol-tol, and enthusiastic Jersey breeders, used to exhibit mn*i successfully. Many will recall how the latter gentleman used to transport his pedigree Jersey bull (who was unfortunately inmo) tn New Plymouth on the. Waitara Freezing Works' old float, which headed a procession of remarkably line pedigree' cows and heifers Pome of the progeny of Golden "Brown are still in the dlstrltf, and have proved themselves high-class dairy animals. It. might be mentioned, to show to what an extent prices have risen, that at the late Mr. Raker's dispersal sale, some fifteen years ago, pedigree cows were sold at from five to ten guineas each. Since then the Associatlofi has passed through some troublous times, but by the pluck and enterprise of its promoters in securing an up-to-date ground at Walwaknlho, and mtkta? tht show m attractive as pos<'

Bible to both exhibitors and the public, It may be safely said that it Is rapidly reaching JiUch dimensions as will make it com* pare faTorably 'with other shows In the Dominion. YoUr correspondent "Whey," in taking up "Cheddar's" argument on dairy matters, does riot fieera to have altered the position to any treat eJrtent. Summed up, both these writers appear to claim that factory employees do not receive sufficient pay for the work done by theiti, and that farmers are obtaining biff profits by selling their farms at high prices through paying factory hands a Jow wage. Whether the employees are underpaid or not, one woiild think, is. a m&ttdr between thtra* seirea ajid their employers, and one, no doubt, that could be adjusted if approached in the proper manner; but it seems to be generally recognised that they are in receipt of privileges that iire nut enjoyed by most other trades, and that casual hands (who are in a manner serving an apprenticeship, with a view, no doubt, of becoming managers one day) could scarcely expect td be paid at the saih» rate as, say, a carpenter, who has served his time for several years at a nominal wage. It wilght also bo said that an employee, who Is not satisfied with his position, has the privilege of the alternative recommended by "Whey" to the farmer who cannot run his farm without the assistance of his family—to chuck it. What would be the matter with his taking up a farm, and thus getting at first hand some of tihose large profits which he claims tho right to share, I>aJry farms, together with grazing properties and town section, have been steadily increasing in value for some years past, but to Bay that the rate of wages paid to a factory hand is responsible for this is rather a tall order; and it la questionable whether the dairy farmer, in spite of the increased prices of produce, taking into consideration the high cost of labor, manures, seeds, dair# cows, factory requisites, etc., is a great deal better off than he was five years ago. in any case, although a lot of properties are changing hands, all the farmers aie not selling out, and whatever profit may be made by speculators can hardly be said to form a fair basis upon which to determine the rate of wages to bo paid in a factory. I should like to add that the remarks made on "Cheddar's" letter were based upon opinions expressed by different gentlemen (not all of them farmers), and that the views expressed In your columns rec&ritly pu the coal trouble (to the effect that the better results are gained by the parties directly interested meeting and discussing differences of this kind, with a view to remedying them and promoting a better feeling between .the employer and employee) would be very applicable to a case of this kind.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent). The Pungflrehu Hall has been booked for Tuesday night, March V, for a social and dance in support of the Pungarehu candidate at the forthcoming Queen Carftival. This is a social event that is certain to prove most enjoyable, so residents and visitors ihay attend with every confidence. The Cape Kgmont Dairy Co.'s new general store, tho official opening Of which takes place shortly, is now completed. There is a talk of holding a picnic with a social and dnjice in the evening, on the day of opening. ?he local school has started with a very fair attendance, the average being 40. Two pupils were admitted and five withdrawn during t«he pa.it year. A start has been made with the formation

of the new road to. the local factory, Mr. D. O'Driscoll is now reported to be improving. The rain which fell recently was good for the pastures nnd turnip crops. The turnip crops have turned out much better that, was anticipated earlier in the season. During the past few Weeks several visitors to Pungarehu have innde n point of inspecting the new Cape Eumont Dairy Go.'s hew store and flie opinions expressed respecting it have been of a very complimentary character. Visitors from surrounding districts hitvo spoken almost enviously of the provision made by the local directors for thelx suppliers. The supply of milk to the local- dairy factory is keeping up well, and there In every indication of the season being a record one. Respecting the recent eases of influenza at Parlhaka It Is now stated that all tiio caste but one have completely recovered.