Govt won’t prop wheat price

The Government has declined the request of the recent conference of wheat growers at Christchurch that it should guarantee the minimum FOB prices for wheat next season.

Mr J.D. Hall, president of the North Canterbury district of the Farmers’ Union, who acted as chairman at the conference, has received the following message from the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon W. Nosworthy): "The Government does not propose to guarantee or fix the prices of wheat, but will ask Parliament to increase the import duly on flour from £2 10 shillings to £3 per ton. The duty on wheat is to remain as at present. The existing embargo on importations is to be removed as from February 25, 1925." Mr Hall said he had not had time yet to consider the effect that the increasing of the duty would have in improving the price of wheat. About 48 bushels of wheat were used to a ton of flour, so that the difference of 10 shillings a ton in the duty on flour would mean about 2 pence per bushel.

Wolf Harris fountain cleared away

The Town Clerk wrote stating that the City Council had given the necessary permission for the erection of the War Memorial in the original site — the Queen’s Gardens, and that the fountain had been removed.

Watchmakers have a good time

About 150 people journeyed to Evansdale Glen on Saturday, when the watchmakers and jewellers held  their fifteenth annual picnic. The secretary (Mr W. Matthews), assisted by a committee, carried through an excellent sports programme before rain set in, which drove the picnickers into the hall and marquee, where dancing and community singing were indulged in.

Reviving dance shoes

Dance shoes get shabby very quickly. Many people advertise that they will re-cover them with your own material but, with a little trouble and patience, you can do them yourself. It does not take half a yard of any ordinary width material to cover a pair of average-size shoes. First lay the material on the shoe with the straight running from toe to instep. Smooth it across the broadest part of the shoe, putting your hand inside to take up the room your foot will take. Now pin the material to the end of the toe, the instep end to the two sides at the broadest part. Smooth back and pin again at the heel. Now tack all round smoothly just above the sole. It is not necessary to go right through only to catch the old covering. Tack also right round the top. Now slit the material from heel to instep and turn in the edges. Either hem these in neatly or cut them off level with the top and bind it with a ribbon of the same colour. This can be done on the machine. Cut the material off just below the tacks, leaving only enough to turn in. Now comes the only part that is a little tiresome, but, given a slightly bent needle and a little patience, it is not a great matter. With strong thread of the same colour slip-stitch the covering on to the old material, turning it in as you go. If it is sewn down right close to the sole it will not show in the least. Start at the toe and work towards the heel down both sides. Join up the two pieces at the back of the heel with a neat hemming of one over the other. For the heel itself, there are one or two ways. Either you may cut a piece on the true bias and stick it neatly on to the heel with some adhesive, or the heel can be painted. Trimmed with a smart buckle or choux, you have a brand new pair of shoes to match your frock.

— ODT, 11.3.1924  (Compiled by Peter Dowden)