The appeal outlined a scheme by which the council would form itself into a Recruiting Committee and co-operate with other bodies conducting a personal canvass for volunteers.
The scheme was heartily supported by several members of the council, but there was some hesitation on the part of others, who declared a strong preference for straight-out compulsion.
Eventually a basis of agreement was found in the view that as long as the voluntary system is in force it is the duty of patriots loyally to support it.
A motion agreeing to support the Recruiting Board's scheme, but expressing strong belief in compulsion, was carried unanimously.
• When the codlin moth a few years ago began to cause trouble for the apple growers in the dominion, various methods of dealing with the pest were adopted.
Some growers pinned their faith to binding the butt of the tree with sacking, believing that the grub or moth climbed up from the ground and would be stayed in its upward progress by the sacking.
Seeing that the egg, from which the larva is hatched, is deposited by the moth on the tree itself, the idea that the grub crawled from below was erroneous; still, there are some who continue to put sacking on their trees.
By so doing, Mr W. J. Courtier, the Government Orchardist, points out (says the Christchurch Press) that they are but providing a perfect breeding place for the moth.
The other day Mr Courtier was, in support of his warning, exhibiting in Rangiora a piece of sacking taken from a tree in the district which was thickly inhabited by the pest in all stages of development, from chrysalis state to the moth ready to commence the propagation of its species.
With this evidence of the fallacy of successfully dealing with the pest in the manner indicated, those who have adopted it would be wise to remove the sacking from their trees and spray with arsenate of lead, the only effective remedy for the moth yet introduced.
• A Masterton man who recently purchased a fruit farm in his district is not quite satisfied.
He states that he has come to the conclusion that fruit is intended for small birds, and not for human consumption.
Early in the season the whole of his cherries were taken.
Then his red currants disappeared. Afterwards strawberries and raspberries went, and now his plums and apples are being destroyed in a wholesale manner.
"The birds are worse than rabbits,'' he says.
"I expect them soon to make an attack upon my potatoes. Unless something is done to destroy the small birds, I am satisfied that the fruit industry in New Zealand can never be a success.''
• Corporal Charles Feilding, of Masterton, writing from Cairo, says (reports the Wairarapa Times) that one of the sights that struck him as being extremely unique was the delivery of milk by the Cairo dairymen.
The method adopted is to conduct the cow around, and at each door milk the quantity necessary for that particular customer.
This obviates the necessity of providing a cart and milk cans, the cow acting as the whole outfit. - ODT, 9.2.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
