The departure of the Otago quotas of successive reinforcements for the training camps, although always impressive, has distinct limitations as a military display.
And, since the people of Dunedin have had no opportunity of judging what results are really produced, after a few months of assiduous training, in converting the raw material into the finished soldier, they have no impression left on their minds of the kind of picture that a full draft of reinforcements in marching array actually presents.
In the necessity of taking such things for granted they have had to dispense, unfortunately, with the effects of an influence which must be of great value in stimulating a response to the call to the colours.
It should be with the greater satisfaction, therefore, that the local public will learn that there is a prospect of its being afforded the opportunity within the next few days of witnessing a parade of trained reinforcements in Dunedin.
The residents of this city will be pleased to have the chance thus to be brought closely into touch with men who are ready to go to the front, and to express their appreciation of their conduct and of their appearance.
On the strictly practical side the event should have useful results. Example is better than precept, and there are those whose imagination must be touched before they see their duty as clearly as they might.
Apparently there is some slackness in recruiting at present, and the impressive spectacle of a march by a large body of soldiers whose departure is near at hand, and whose example cries aloud for imitation, may have a very desirable effect in encouraging the enlistment of men who have not yet found the call of the Empire imperative.
•The prejudice against women's labour does not exist to any great extent in the northern counties of England.
Indeed, in those counties the practice of women doing a considerable part of the farm work has always obtained. But in the south of England it died out long ago, and there the battle for temporary restoration is difficult.
Still, progress has been made, and one or two instances of women's achievements may be of interest. On a 500-acre farm, near Coventry, the occupier obtained eight girls, none of whom had previously done any farm work, and four of whom had never even done any manual labour.
During last season they side-hoed and singled roots, topped and carted them, hoed, lifted, and clamped potatoes, helped to thrash, helped with hay and harvest, whitewashed sheds, mended bags, harrowed before and after drilling, cut thistles, carted manure, and in fact took part in nearly all the farming operations which were carried on during the time they were on the farm, with the result that the employer expressed himself as being more than satisfied with their work and with the keenness they displayed.
•A mining venture which, it is hoped, will revive a languishing industry, will soon be in active operation.
This is the lifting of water by pumping on the highly auriferous ground at the back of the township of Ophir. Mr W. C. Pitches (director) informs the Dunstan Times that the pump is now being erected, and that the public will be invited to attend the opening ceremony.
- ODT, 10.8.1916.
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