The speakers stated that the up-river settlers had to a great extent to depend upon the steamer service as a means of outlet for their produce, and an inlet for their supplies.
They felt that the board ought to be able to run the boats without raising the tariff.
The raised tariff, amounting to 30 per cent, coming on top of a bad season in wheat and the demands at present being made on the farmers for patriotic purposes was considered to be too much.
A regular motor service run by a private concern could do the work for less than the board charged.
It had often been observed that the boat when returning down stream would leave grain in the sheds which should be taken first, and would take a cargo of grain that had been dumped on the river side where no shed had been erected.
Another grievance was that the man who put his grain into the shed last had it removed first, as he had put his stuff in front of the other man's.
There was also considerable ill-feeling over an inquiry into the sinking of the steamers not having been made public. Mr Anderson (chairman of the River Board) said the matters referred to would be gone into carefully by the board and a written reply furnished to the Farmers' Unions at Greenfield and Clydevale.
• An entirely novel and interesting competition in a trial of skill for the women of Otago and squatters and farmers was announced by Messrs Arthur Barnett (Ltd.), of Dunedin, some time ago.
The competition for ladies is for five oven and five girdle scones for prizes valued at nine guineas, while that for farmers will be an exhibition of three heavy turnips, for prizes valued at nine guineas.
The entries received for both competitions are very large, especially in the scone competition.
The judging will take place this morning, after which the whole of the exhibits, with the awards attached, will be placed on exhibition in Messrs Barnett's window.
• A large shipment of motor cars from San Francisco was on board the steamer Waitomo, which arrived at Auckland on Wednesday last.
In all there were about 200 cars, of which about 50 are to be landed in the north, and the balance are for Wellington.
A number of the motors were brought as deck cargo. Many came in cases practically ready for the road, and the remainder were brought in parts, to be assembled after being landed. - ODT, 30.5.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
