The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931)(about) |
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Thursday 12 March 1908
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TOPICS OF THE DAY
I BOYCXOTTNG MARKET GARDENERS.
Some strong comments were made at a meeting of market gardeners and other* interested at the New Market on Wednes- day afternoon. Mr. C. G. James explained bow he had been threatened with boycot- ting. He said-"I supplied a man with pro- duce, and one of the packers I have been dealing with told me that if I intended to supply that man in future he would have lo stop any further business. I consider that is a mean and contemptible way of do- ing business and should not be allowed. It is not fair for a packer to say to a gardener that he will boycott him because he sup- plies another man with produce. I want to. deal with all.*' Another speaker, Mr. A. Quick, who convened the meeting referred to, said that four of the packers at the mar ffct had refused to deal with him because he sold produce to cash customers from his trolly. With a view to bringing about a better condition of trade, a. motion was car- ried in favor of joining the' Market Gar- deners' Association, which up to the pre- sent has branches in only four localities.
WHEAT AND FLOUR EXPORTS.
In our "Monetary and Commercial" column this morning will be found particu- lars of the movement of wheat and flour from South 'Australia for February, also for the first three months' of the present ex- port season, which began on December 1 last. The figures cover all shipments from the State, whether to other ports in the Commonwealth or to extra-State markets. The returns also give the ports at which shipments were made, destinations, and shippers as well as comparisons with the ex- ports for the corresponding periods in the two previous years'.
CREMATION.
The foundation-stone of the crematorium in the West-terrace Cemetery was laid on October 17, 1002, and the first cremation was conducted on May 4, 1903, when the body of a Sikh was incinerated. Since then there have been only l8 other cremations, so that this method of disposing of the dead cannot be said to be popular in Adelaide. It is generally acknowledged that incinera- tion is the most effectual method of destroy- ing disease perms, but the sentimental ob- jections to the system are extremely strong. Even in Great Britain, with its large popu- lation, cremation does not make rapid pro- gress. Whereas the number of cremations carried out there in 1906 was 732, being an increase of 138 as compared with the pre- vious year, in 1907 the number was 705. Tile number of crematoriums at work was 13, of which six-at Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Bradford, and Ilford-are munici- pal. The cremations were distributed as follows:-Golder's Green, 290; Woking, 108; Manchester, 96; Liverpool, 34; Glasgow, 30; Hull, 17; Darlington, 8; Leicester, 12; Bir? mingham, 33; Leeds, 16; Hford, l8; Brad- ford, 13; Sheffield, l8. The total number of cremations carried out since the estab- lishment of the first crematorium at Woking is 6,469. "Cremation in this country (says the 'Westminster Gazette," "is almost wholhy confined to persons of some intellec- tual distinction. The average citizen i" ¿till held in the fetters of custom, in which sentiment has taken root so deeply as to make it hard to eradicate. The religious objection has to a considerable extent died out. Many persons live in fear of being buried alive, and maKe provision in their wills that a doctor shall 'mak' siccar" by dividing a main artery or thrusting a knit o through the heart. The carrying into ef- fect of this precaution cannot in any case be anything but an unpleasant duty, and it is made au the more disagreeable by the fact that it is totally unnecessary. The haunting fear to which reference has been made will cease to trouble anyone who knows the precautions insisted on before cremation can take place."
THE FISH SUPPLY.
The paucity of the supply of' fish in Adeloide and the high prices charged % for the commodity have long been a subject of complaint, but nothing has been done to bring about a more satisfactory state of things.. Adelaide however, is not the only city which suffers in this respect, because residents of Sydney and its suburbs have labored under the dis- advantage of being unable to get fish in suf- ficient quantities at reasonable rates. Til« "Sydney Morning Herald," commenting on the subject of the fish business on Monday, said:-r"l'eriodically complaints about the method of disposing of fish in the city are made public, and no one connected with the business has escaped blame at one time or another. Undoubtedly it will take a strong hand to control the whole business in a business-like way, and even then the one who takes hold will not escape calumny, no matter how honest he may be. It seems as if fish as soon as they leave the water be- come the innocent medium by which many men do wrong, and the few who do right have a hard struggle to make ends meet. Therefore it is that we hear complaints by net fishermen that they are not treated fairly by some of the agents to whom they consign their catches for sale in the mar- kets, that agents complain of wrongdoing on the part ot some of the nctters in con- signing bad or underweight fish to them; that shopkeepers complain because some buyers are more favorably treated by agents than they; and that everybody whose busi- ness it is to handle fish complains of the mysterious way in which baskets become re- duced in the quantity of their contents. i Clearly there is something calling for a clean
sweep in the business, and equally clear ia it that the cleansing of such an Augean I stable is the task of a Hercules. It is not an imppssible task, but it is one amazingly difficult." I
NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT
TRADE. |
At the meeting of the Advisory Board of Agriculture on Wednesday a letter was re- ceived from Mr. C. J. Tuckwell, enclosing a communication from Mr. John D. Ritches, secretary to the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand, in which information was gi^en on the export trade in frozen meat m the Dominion. It was shown that this class of produce was shipped from 13 ports, and last year the trade amounted to 1,933,829 sheep, 2.738,238 lambs, and 55,250 cattle; making a grand total of 4,727,317 carcases. Members present expressed surprise that the New Zealand frozen meat export trade had reached such substantial dimensions, and it was decided to thank Mr. Tuckwell far the trouble he had gone to to procure the information.
AN EXHORTATION TO EMPLOYERS.
In speaking -"at St. Mary Magdalene's Church on Wednesday on the subject of "Christ and Business,*' the Bishop of Ade- laide said that the responsibility of an em- ployer to his employes did not end with the payment of the wages of his men. The conditions under which they worked, their hours of work, their health and housing, and their opportunities for recreation might aXÜ^jii&.-trrniíSSTÍrL ?concern., He^aaiià
like to see the old mutual personal relation* between master and men reverted to., If this were done, the result would be that the workman would give his best work to his employer.
MARKETING OF PRODUCE.
I On Wednesday afternoon about 60 markes I gardeners and others assembled at the New Market, East-terrace, to protest against what they considered we're serious disabili- ties in the disposal of their produce to the packers. It was contended, without being denied by the packers present, that the gar- deners take their produce to the market in the mornings, and several hours later they receive cart-notes, together with a state- ment of the price to be paid for the pro- duce. That plainly meant that the gar- deners wpre in the hands of the packers, and had to take whatever price was given to them, as by the time they knew what they were to receive their produce had been sent to the railway-station, and ivas On its way to the country. With a view to remedying fhis a resolution was carried that the gar- deners should provide, their own cart-notes in future, and that the price as agreed upon by buyer and seller should be placed on the cart-note by the buyer at time of delivery. A recommendation was made in favor of the use of an Imperial bushel case for fruit, and arrangements were made whereby all sound and clean cases should be sold .with the fruit and resold to the growers at the same price. Under the present system of re- turning cases many go astray. The ques- tion of market hours ivas discussed, and a motion was carried in favor of opening at 8 o'clock each market day.
SPARROW KILLERS.
At List a mysterious winged enemy of the common sparrow has appeared, and in one district in New South .Wales it has com- pletely eradicated the pest. The Condobo- lin correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald" telegraphed on Saturday to that paper as follows:-"Large blue birds with black heads have been destroying sparrows on the farms this year most effectively. At Wheatacre, on Mr. A. J. Taylor's holding, the sparrows were a peet, but these-stran- gers have completely exterminated them."
THE ADELAIDE SHEEP AND-" CATTLE
MARKETS.
The number of sheep forward for yester- day's sales was practically similar to last week's yarding, about 8,000 being penned. The percentage of prime sorts was not equil to requirements, many consignments having decidedly begun to "go off,'' though carry- ing good skins. From the start business with the trade was brisk, the demand being somewhat increased, and prices for all best lots again advanced. There was also an im- proved tone for other grades, and the yards were easily cleared, northern graziers being instrumental in taking nearly 2,000. Owing to the shortage of prime lots, however, Western Australian buyers only bought about 100. For prime northern Merino wethers 16/6 and up to 18/ was obtained, with some of extra weight and first-class jackets to 19/ a-picce. Merino ewes sold at li/, whilst good sorts brought 11/ to 12/. Prime crossbred wethers were worth 17/ to 18/, and ewes of the same description 15/ to 16/. The principal owners represented were:-Messrs. G< R. & A. Melrose, Rose- bank; late J. II. Angas' trustees, Broad- view; Mr. James Melrose, Willogoleche; Mr. P. J. Browne, Moorak; Messrs. T. R. and A. P. Bowman, Campbell House; Mr. John Murra j-, Cappeedee; Mr. Albert Geb- hardt, Mackerode i Mr. R. J. McBride, Oulnina; the Hon. G. Riddoch, Koorine; Mr. J. F. Kirby, Mingbool; Mr. C. O. Spehr, Mount Gambier; and Mr. G. L. Dickson, Maaoupe. All classes of lambs were again in good request, and slightly firmer values were in vogue, especially for fats. Towards the close of the sales, however, many butchers suddenly found their wants in this direction unprovided for, and wil- lingly paid a substantial advance on late rates for any loft at their disposal. About 360 went to graziers. The floods in the far north last week had the effect of blocking the railway traffic up that way, with the result that at a late hour it was found that 300 station cattle would be unable to get through in time for last Monday's market. Many local lots were sent, however, and about 670 were mustered for sale. This was 210 fewer than came forward the preceding week. The supply on the whole consisted of fair trade quality cattle of moderate weights. The chief drafts were derived from Mr. Keith D. Bowman, Poltalloch, five of his bullocks realising up to £20 7/6, and averaging £18 12/; Mr. D. Kerr, Quindoo Park; Mr. John Murray, Spring Creek; the estate of the late Thomas Dodd, Mundoo Island; Mr. G. A< Jervois, Wellington sta- tion; Mr. H. F. L. Holzgrefe, Blue Gum Park; the Hon. J. J. Duncan, Manunda; Hughes' estate, Booyoolie; Messrs. E. C. and J. L. Stirling, Nalpa; Messrs. H. W. Morphett & Co., Woods' Point; Messrs. Dutton & Melrose, North Booborowie; Mr. C. R. Jenkin, Terowie; Mr. L. McBcan, Baldon; Mr. J. Grunike, Melrose; Messrs. Ward Bros., Wilson; and Messrs. T. R. and A. P. Bowman, Campbell House. The trade requirements were augmented "this week owing to the milder weather and the larger consumption caused by Show visitors. Bid- ding throughout was extremely spirited, and prices jumped considerably, prime beef averaging 31/ per 100 lb. Calves also met with a better sale, though pigs were, less re- quired than of late, and values were some-
what easier.
"THE CHRONICLE."
"The Chronicle," which is published to- day, in addition to all the usual features which have made it so popular with the public, contains a full description of the Adelaide Autumn Show, together with the prize-list in the different classes. The illus- trations are particularly good. The dreadful tragedy in Lisbon is the subject of a thrill- ing picture, which shows- the assassin in the act of shooting King Carlos, while the heroic Queen is attempting to shield her husband and son. There is also a view of the murderer firing at the Crown Prince. Separarte portraits are given of two of the assassins. Two full pages are devoted to photographs taken at the Adelaide Show. There are pictures of the grapes and other fruits, the collections of vegetables, and the apples. Horses in action are also to be seen, the winner of the high jump and other competitors in that and the hunting contests being included. Three of the prize ponies are likewise given, while some idea of the immense crowd which patronised the Show may be obtained from the snap- shots of the spectators iu the grand stands, on the mounds, and on the raised seats watching the jumping contests. A group photograph is given of the delegates who attended the annual meetings of the Far- mers' and Producers' Political r Unions in Adelaide last week, and there is likewise a portrait of Mr. W. H. Hall, the newly-elec- ted president. There are portraits of the Rev. W. A. Potts, who is resting from ac- tive work in the Methodist ministry this year; Mr. R. J. Rudall, the fifth South. Australian Rhodes scholar; Mr. W. J. Noble, Mayor of Maitland; and Mr. A. B. C. Murray, of Penong, who died recently. The members of the Sydenham-road ten- nis team, premiers for 1907-8, in class III. of the South Auntralian Lawn Tennis Asso- ciation matches, are the subjects oFa pic- ture. A group photograph is published of the delegates who attended the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Druids held in Adelaide last week. A number of dis- tinguished gentlemen came to Adelaide last week to attend the Federal Congress of tile Australasian Massage Association in Adelaide, and a fine picture is given of the delegates and visitors who at- tended the meetings. There is an immense amount of reading matter,
specially interesting to producers. Sporting I in all departments receives adequate atten- tion, and ohere is a fine selection of literary matter; while the Sunday "reading is of a high standard.
The Commercial Agent in London tele- graphed at 5.20 p.m. on March 10 to the Government:-"South Australian cargo of sbeateS. ami, soM 25/l¿¿ w«&"-.