Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 285, 29 May 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

( From our Resident Reporter. S EDUL'AXiuw lUATTERS STRATFORD SUGGESTED AS CENTRE. A leading educationalist, in conversation yesterday, mentioned the Local Government Bill, and expressed his pleaBUtfV that education had been .removed from the scope of the proposed measure. He was glad there was a chance of the education district boundaries bej ing revised, and trusted that now it would be possible to enlarge the Tarai naki district by extending its southern boundary near Patea. It is generally recognised, of course, that the district administered by the Taranaki Board ig top small; also that the adjoining districts are too large and cumbersome. "In the event of that alteration being made/' chimed in a third party, "Stratford will be more than ever the best centre from which to work education in this district. Don't you think the Education Board's headquarters should be transferred to Stratford, seeing that, the place is recognised as the educational centre of the province, the home of the biggest school we have, and certainly the place possessing the most 'go' as far as school matters are concerned?" "But what's to become of the education offices in New Plymouth?" I ventured to ask. "Sell them to an oil company," said he. With the great development along the Stratford-Auckland railway, ttiid the sugested extension of the district to the southward, there is little doubt that the question of moving the headquarters to Stratford, will have to be seriously considered. It would mean a tremendous saving of time to members travelling to the meetings of the Board, and would be generally convenient. "THE NEW EVANGEL." lomi M lectul 'e in the ' iown Hall on Monday night was nnt largely atended. His mai^contention appeared to be that the bulk of the : taxation should be placed on the land an argument that does not appeal to landowners. He was of tl ! at tlle landowners were getting J aII t le of lfc . and labor eas% the ■ worst of it. A tax of a penny il the . P oun( l l> e suggested as a means of rais*- ? n T d , relie l s' in ff the Customs. Of the United Labor Party, whose cause |he espoused, Mr. Fowlds said it aimed the production of the highest and most efficient form of citizenship, the establishment of social justice on the widest possible basis, in order to <m-e a proper chance, politically and socially, to the men on the bottom rune of the ladder—which sentiment sounded curi- ■ ously alike to that of the Hon. Geo. Laurenson's plea, a Whangamomona for the under dog. The transformation of society by the work of the United Lai,or M • 0 secure a more equitable distribution of labor's products, said the new evangel." By "labor" he did not mean merely the man operating the banjo on the co-operative works, or picking down a face of coal at Mokau or even the labor agitators, but the men m a small way of business— small farmers, country storekeepers, and so on The planks" of the United Labor Party platform he enumerated as follows: iirst, the securing for democracy of the soundest of education; second, proportional representation; and then the initiative referendum\ and recall, the endowment of motherhood, a State Bank with the sole right of note issue, provision for public defence as well as public prosecutions, a State fetry service of steamers, and co-operation with the Fedral Government in the direction of securing a State inter-colonial steamer service, and an increase in the land tax with a remit on Customs duties. ' After a question or two at the conclusion of an interesting address, the Hon. Mr. Fowlds was accorded a vote of thanks. "THE AEROPLANE ELOPEMENT." ■ This film, supported by a full series of scenic, dramatic, natural history, industrial and comic films, will be shown to-night at His Majesty's Theatre for the last time. GENERAL NEWS The Borough Council wrestled again with the loan proposals on Monday ' night. Among the decisions arrived at was to obtain estimates of the cost of -i concrete kerbing and channelling in sev-' eral streets, and the foreman will prepare these. The state of the Patea bridge in Broad-, way South is causing some anxiety. The ; upper structure, apparently, is sound enough, but the weight of earth in the approaches is causing the tumbled abutments to bulge. Some'time ago a truss was put in at the south-western angle of the bridge, and now something more seems to be necessary. When tlie bridge was erected the method of construction used was necessary owing to questions of finance, but to-day it is generally recognised that concrete is the best form of support. The report of Messrs. Robinson and Christophers upon the state of the bridge was before the Borough j Council 011 Monday, but was referred back for fuller information. Mr. Frank Bird, bur popular clerk' of i the court, and holder of all the usual , accompanying positions, is going north, ; exchanging with Mr. W. J. Reeve, of | Whangarei, who is seeking a less ener- - jvating climate. There are several .chances in favor of his finding it, fox j the hoar frost on several mornings lately has been quite sufficient to disprove I any allegations of humidity! in the ( Stratford climate. But we're sorry to j lose "Frank." He has been popular all alone the line, his courtes ' i the.office, and his earnest endeavors at all limes to , assist people having business at the j court, having greatly contributed to this end. He was practically the founder of the Boy Scout movement in Stratford, and is still senior Scoutmaster. He is also second lieutenant in the Senior Cadets. Good luck to him in the far north. Stratford will, of course, observe a ! general holiday 011 Monday next, King's Birthday. There will be a'parade of the military, who will five a Royal Salute, and otherwise show that loyalty to the Old Land and. to our King that we are so proud of in the colonies. To digress, those present at the Scottish gathering last week were led by sundTy stury Scots when the National Anthem was played. It is more of a rarity now than of regular occurrence for folk to stand bareheaded as the band plays "God Save the King." Yesterday, about thirty of the Stratford Boy Scouts joined their New Ply- 1 mouth comrades in the mail train, and departed amidst great excitement and to see and be seen by the hero of Mafeking, who is known to the boys as the Chief (Scout. Our Scouts are a lot of manly j little chaps, and they take their work I very seriously. There is more practical j instruction and less flummery in the | Stratford troop than in some of the others. The boys will return borne by I Friday night's express. Tt should be added that they are in charge of the 1 Scoutmaster. \ The Foresters' social on Monday evenj ing drew well. The night was miserablywet, but the memory of the preceding ! socials easily outweighed the weather j inconvenience. There was a capital floor, ' on which the dancers tripped lightly . till a late hour to music supplied by the ' Ngaere Orchestra and Messrs. Richard-

(son and Sanders. Mr. E. Hancock was | M.C. The supper, which was of the "sitI down" order, seemd to be keenly appreciated. Anyhow, it disappeared. The regular parade interferes with the attendance at Friday's debate on compulsory military training. The chances are that any Territorials desirous of upholding the Defence Act would find very little difficulty in obtaining leave. Present indications are that members of the Club will attend in large numbers. A journal is to be establiched in connection with the Fgm-ont Club's literary and debating circle. The compilation and management of the journal has bsen entrusted to the Daily News' local repreI sentative, who invites contributions -on local politics, social questions, or any-1 thing else that will form food for debate on "Journal Night." 1 The congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will foregather on Thursday over the cup that cheers but does not inebriate. There is to be a musical programme, including numbers by £elle McNab, of Auckland, whose sinking was so popular at tile Scottish gathering last week. THE RAILWAY PLATFORM. To the Editor. Sir, —Some litle" time ago you drew attention to the darkness of tlie railway platform prior to the night trains arriving. Has your reporter been over there at night lately? If so, there is surely room for another bit of comment, for on Monday night the lights were not switched on till the train was nearly in. I like your suggestion that these lights should be turned on for ten j or fifteen minutes before train time.— ' I am, etc,, j SHINGUARD.