DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1920, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

I WAITOITOU ! (From Our Own Correspondent.) As the date (April Ist) of the races on the beach approaches, training operations are becoming quite brisk, and It is expected over thirty horses will be competing at the meeting: The local candidates are till doing strong work, and last veer's Cup winner (llorlkino), and a couple more from the same syifrle are expected) to ho present Visitors from Ilawera and New Plymouth have expressed their intention of attending, and the committee are making active preparations for a successful gathering, whilst a large number of members' tickets hare been disposed of. Tor the convenience of visiting parties. I understand, 'arrangements have been made for a supply of hot water, which no doubt will be greatly appreciated. In these days of high-priced benzine and l:ero3ene. and very often an extreme shortage as well, farmers who aTe dependent upon either of these commodities for running their mllkin? machines unight do worse than add i to their plant ait auxiliary in the shape of an ordinarv horse-power used for chaff-cut- I ting, etc. * One of these Is being at present l ined in this district, and answers the purpose admirably, besides effecting a considerable saving iit the cost, of running, a fortrbucket plant, and walcr pump for cooling purposes being run simultaneously One qu it old horse is capable of keeping it going for; a coupb of hours, or more, without undue exertion, and is easily educated to a pace that will keep up the necessary amount of vacuum without overdoing it. The adjustment is very simple, the vacuum pump being directly connected with the intermediate of the horse nower; and the water pump being worked by a pulley attached to the shaft of the >1 cmrni nuiup. A little lubricating oil is all that 'is necessary, and there js no trouble with u faulty lamp and other matters that are often connected with oil engines. One of our local jnlll; suppliers was recently offered £tfi per head for a herd of sixty cows—and the buyer keen at that . The enterprise shown by Mr Newton King In erecting sale yards at Urutl for the convenience of settlers in that district, is being rewarded by the highly successful sales that at? being held here, and the large entries *for the sale on Ihe lfith should Attract a largo attendance of buyers. It is reported that Mr. Alf. Smith, of Thorndalc, has disposed of his farm of 200 acres to Mr. McTCldowney, as a going concern at a figure quite in accordance with trie advanced prices for bmd N 1 One of the feni i* •- m' the recent Uremil athletic snorts ..was rite performance of W. flreen in the t ''."oping contest Eight blows, and the b" through is decent axe work. The Sports' Club Ball, held in the Urenui Hall last week, was equally as successful as the gathering in the day time, anct, as is usual on these occasions, attracted a large number of dancers and others The music supplied bv the Waitara orchestra was flrrtelass, whilst *he M.C.'s (Messrs. D. George and L Spurr) fulfilled the duties most efficiently. ' A good supper was provided, and everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. I expect the Editor of tho News is about, tired of tho discussion of factory hands' wages, hut with his permission I should liko to briefly reply to "Whey's" last letter. Whilst thanking him for his kind remarks on my notes. I still fall to see how he can deny that the continual rises In the price of iand nre due in a large measure to the high Tates ruling (and the still higher ones expected) for produce, to speculation, and probably in some instances to improvements If a rise all round in factory wages had been imade, say. a year ago. it would be a very small set-off to the increased value of land during that, period. As before remarked, whether the wages paid are insufficient or not, is a matter between the employee and employer, but faking '"Whey's" comparison between tho pick and shovel man and tho factory hand, he omits, in his calculations, that the former may have days, through weather conditions, on which he Is unable to his 15s, whilst the wages of the latter are going on all the time. In waiving the question of farmers' profits, one would think that. Is the basis upon which the rate of wages should be paid, and, as already stated, those profits are not so largo as they would appear to be. It is questionable whether a. conference between companies as a whole and employees would be productive of much good, as some of the former are so greatly better off financially than others that a standard wage could hardly be arrived at. and the matter must be treated individually. II has also been brought under notice that whether factory life is hard or otherwise, an advertisement from any of the coastal companies for hands (including Warea) will bring anywhere from 40 to fin applications, and managers are being repeatedly asked for openings months ahead. "Whey" my sympathy In being, unable to obtain satisfaction from tho company he works for. but, knowing nrtbing of the circumstances I am unable to offer an opinion; though I still think that most employers are open to reasonable argument on any matters connected with their employees.