RONGOTEA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 210, 5 August 1937, Page 15

RONGOTEA

(From Our Own Corersponilent.) RONGOTEA, Aug. 4. A series of lectures of educational interest to farmers arranged for tho winter months by the local Farmers’ Union have been most successful. The third m the course was delivered by Mr o. till!Motion, 8.5., M.R.C.V.S., in tho Coronation Hall. Rongotea, on Monday evening, when 110 took. as his subject, -Nutrition and Disoaso in Dairy Steele, llioro was a splendid attendance, Mr A. tv Morcom occupying the chair A good eon tingent from, the Youg I'armcrs Gluu were present bv invitation. lhc lcctuic was illustrated by numerous lantern slides The speaker emphasised the importance 01 dairying and the appalling losses fiom disease, much of which, lie stated, was prevontibio. Tho cow population of New Zealand was two millions. In 1906 the butter-fat production per cow was 12U1U and in 1937 it was 2201 b. The dairy m dustry was subject to losses through sou depletion and deficiency diseases 80 per cent of which were proventiblc. 1 robably half'tho losses were due to lime deficiency; if the mineral balance of the land could bo kept, right many of tho common dis; eases would be lessened. The principal requirements were phosphate and lime; the addition of the former could bo overdone, but the supply of liu.io could not be. An abundance of lime would ward, oil tuberculosis. If the body of an animal were properly nourished the span of Ate would bo lengthened and disease would be cut down tremendously. Animal dis eases were more common when tho min oral and nutriment valuo of feed was low, than thev wore at any other time. Mr Morcom ‘thanked the lecturer, while Mr J Gloyn, on behalf of the Young I<armors. voiced their appreciation, and ox pressed the hope that they would be in vited to attend future lecture”. On Mondav evening the monthly meeting of tho Young Farmers’ Club was held at an earlier hour. than usual, m order to U'ansaot tho business, and then attend tho lecture arranged by the Farmers Union. Mr J. B. Gloyn was m the chair, and had tho assistance of the presideill Mr 11. J. Lancaster. A talk on motor tractors was given by Mr James Foster and proved most informative. WOMEN’S INSTITUTE.

A smaller attendance than usual war re corded at. the monthly meeting of the Rongotea Women’s Institute on Tuesday afternoon. The seasonal renewal of activities on farms, together with threaten ing weather conditions, no doubt were ac countable. Mrs H. V. Cavcrhill prosided An invitation to attend their fourth birth day celebration was received from the Carnarvon Institute. Apologies for ab sonce were received from Mcsdamcs \\. Amies, Barker, Hobbs, A. J. Will, Misses V. Hobbs, E. Knight, and Richfield. Mcs dames R. Scott and W. A. Churchill were appointed to re organise the drama circle. It was also decided to form a glee circle, and intending members will meet for practice next week. A travel talk of unusual interest was given by Mrs J. Penketli, of Palmerston North, being based on fiveyears’ residence in Samoa. The quaint customs and usages of the natives were do scribed, and illustrated with many curios and articles of Samoan handicraft. Mrs Penkoth had also visited the leper settlement on Makogni Island, and describe! many things she saw there. As a result of this it was decided by the institute that at their next meeting a 6d “bring and buy” stall bo conducted; tho proceeds from this will be forwarded to the. New Zealand representatives for the mission tobe used for tho benefit of children on tho island. Tho competition was for a kitchen apron. Senior, Mrs C. W. Davison 1, Mrs T. Collins 2, Mrs A. Aird 3. Junior, Miss E. Knight 1, Miss J. Bower 2 and 3. The hostesses were Mcsdamcs G. Davison, A. Burgess, A. Trcnkner, Friedrichs, and Miss M. Sparrow.