JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2298, 31 October 1914, Page 5

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(Prom Our Special, Correspondents.) PALMERSTON. . The break-up of the Half-Holiday Association of Shopkeepers, though' perhaps not exactly probable, is at least mooted, says our Palmerstoii correspondent. The position was brought to a head at a meeting of the association yesterday by a letter from Mr. G. H. lionnett, the proprietor of a large stationery establishment. Ho wrote tendering his resignation as a committeeman, and saying: "I desire to point out the absurdity of tho association continuing in view of the defiant attitude adopted by a section of tho business people in connection with'the last decision arrived at by the committee. Personally, I cannot remain in an association unless there is perfect loyalty to the decisions of the committee." Mr. Bennett's reference was tea decision to observe a'holiday when the Australian cricketers visited Palmerston, . many retailers then remaining open. During the discussion ■ the chairman', Mr. A. E. Clausen, crockery merchant, expressed regret at the shopkeepers' attitude towards the committee's' decisions.' If things to conie were to be a repetition of things of tho past the association would be better disbanded, but ho thought the annual meetiii" Bhould be'held first. Mr. W. Park, stationer, remarked the committee was not representative of the bulk of the'shopkeepers. Mr. Cunningham©,- soft goods dealer, said the committee was eleoted by them and should be respected. Finally it' was resolved to ask Mr. Bennett to defer resignation till the .annual meeting, when- the- disbandment would be considered. The riieeting decided to olose all shops next Thursday and Friday afternoons for the Show. A fire, at a cottage in Ferguson Street, at the rear of Nurse Humphries' Nursing Homo, occupied by her son and brother, did damage computed at £20 to £30. Neither.the contents nor the building, owned by Mr. C. J. Hansen, Kimbolton, were insured. The -Bunnythorpo' committee has paid £105 over to tho British and Belgian Relief Fluids. Glen Orou has £83 to;.the British Ambulance Fund. Consistent, devotion to the euchre table has \VOII for Mr. D. Colch, a member of the Hibernian Society, a brand new bicycle which was transferred to him by the Mayor at the annual combined smoke concert of Friendly Societies on Thursday evening when the various prizes won 'during the year's ouchro tournament and. otherwise were presented. Mr. Cojch's achievement consisted of the greatest aggregate during two years' euchre. There was the usual fuli list of toasts, song's, and | ■ speeches. 1