DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) In a general way {here is nothing very exciting to report from trig district. Weather condiliors have he™ varlabio and backward ' generally, feed being still rather short, thus causing a shortage in the milk supplies. Owing to the labor shortage, there lias been an almost continuous cry these past few months for additional hands in Taranaki cheese factories. The local factory manager (Mr. T. W. Guild) has heen fortunate in securing the services of two competent men this past week, whirl:' brings the staff up to present requirements. In connection with the recently-formed Dairy Factory Employees' Union, it is stated that new members continue to he enrolled, and (lie position of the Union Is becoming very strong. Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, the Education Department's medical officer, paid a visit to Pungarehu School on Monday, 27tU September. The childrer's teeth were carefully examined, and, with a few exceptions, found satisfactory. She expressed herself as highly pleased wltb the discipline and tone of tho school, considering it was one of the best she had visited In this direction. The tremendous amount of dental treatment reciuired in ail State schools has been exercißiig (lie minds of tho Education Department recently. It has been pointed out that it was being found impossible to provide anything like an adequate qualified, dental service. Meantime, therefore, it is expected that parents will continue- to assume their responsibilities in that respect. Two MormoL' elders from Idaho, U.S.A., paid a visit to our locality the other week. The Interest. In the Ashing season, which opened on Ist October, is by all accounts very keen. Fishing prospects are very encouraging. The curtailing of the gas supply, tramway services, etc., owing to the Bhortage ot coal will bring home to the people of the Dominion ir.i an acute form the full meaning of the conditions under whicb the country is now suffering. Householders already feel the effect of the shortage of coal, but when the travelling public experiences tho turn of the screw it will he felt that New Zealand is hy no means a pleasant place of abode. The iroty of the situation Is that there is plenty of coal, sufficient mien to win It from the coalfields, and enough ships for distribution purposes, yet there is a coal famine ttat threatens to inflict grievous hardship on the people, paralyse industrial activities, and cause loss to tile community. What is required Is action that will be effective, organisation that, will answer requirements, and initiative that will prevent such a crisis as that with which the country is now faced, yet no effective means are taken, the position Is accepted with equanimity, and more burdens are laid on tte people. The Prime Minister's optimism regarding a fall in the cost of living has rot so far been realised. The cost of necessaries still climbs steadily upwards, and the family man on a fixed salary or wages, witli the price of bread, meat, sugar, boots and clothing still rising, has a burden of anxiety to bear such as has not previously been known in this courtry. The immediate future, if not hopeless, so far as the prospect of an early improvement is concerned, cannot bo described as bright, not so much because of the difficulty of finding a cure or cures as because the temper of tre natioi 1 as a whole appears to be more frankly materialistic than ever before.