STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Yesterday. ' The animal meeting of the above Association was held in the Foresters' Hall yesterday, Mr. W. S. Gilbert (New Plymouth) presiding over an attendance of 40 delegates. The report and balancesheet showed that £1455 was paid to the various hospitals on account of the brethren foi treatment, the levy amounting to 3s (id per member per quarter. The liabilities owing to hospitals are fairly heavy, and it will take the Association all its time to make ends meet or. the present levy. The credit balance was £4O, which was considered satisfactory. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Several matters in connection with tiie welfare of the Association were discussed. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Bro. C. D. Sole; vice-president, Bro. A. Tunbridge; management committee, Bros. Sole, Tunbridge, F. Amoore, F. Brabant, T. B. Ewcns, W. S. Gilbert, E. Caldwell; secretary and treasurer, Bro. F. Amoore (re-elected); .niditor, Bro. R. JI. PoppereH. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £SO for services rendered the Association. The quarterly levy was fixed at 3s Od per member, lady members 2s Gd. During the day the delegates, at the kind invitation of the Borough Council, were shown over the new municipal buildings. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. The fortnightly sitting of the Court was held this afternoon, before Sir. \Y. E. Haselden, S.M. Four small boys were charged with the theft of sucks and hinges from tradesmen in the town. Mr. F. C. Fookes, who appeared on behalf of two of the lads, said the fact of residents giving children sacks for the asking was a practice that should be condemned. No doubt the lads had been tempted. His Worship said he was surprised at principal firms purchasing large quantities of sacks from children; it was not right. In the present case 21 sacks were purchased by one firm for is, while 14 were sold to another firm for the same amount. He supposed it would be difficult to find out the assistants who bought them. Tie entirely agreed with Mr. Fookes that firms should refuse to purchase them from children. His Worship fined one lad 10s and costs l.'ls, another 10s and costs !-)s, while the other two lads were admonished. In the civil case R. Tlannah & Co. v. C. .1. Wiley, judgment was given plaintiff for C2 5s and costs. Judgment Summonses: S. Spence v. C J. Hawke;, .CO 3s, order varied by consent to 10s monthly. McCluggage & Co. v. W. Woodney. £l4 18s fid, order was refused. Paul Zimmerman, a returned soldier, was lined 20s and costs 9s for quitting a train while in motion. A lady resident was lined 5s and costs 7s for allowing a chimney to catch lire. George Collins, L. J. licvins, H. McCracken, Leo Shelter, Roland F. Healv. P. L. Bcere. and l-\ Covbett were each fined 10s and costs 7s for absenting themselves from parades. Harold I'aynter. A. If. Berius, W. M. Barlow, Thos. Farrcll, and Fred Parry were convicted for similar offences and ordered io pay Court costs, 7s each. CENTRAL.

In connection with tlio remarks of the Magistrate regarding the indiscriminate purchasing of sacks from small children, the linns interested inform ''your own" that they do not. as a rule, purchase sacks from children. In any case they make inquiries before doing so. and in some instances have 'phoned the parents to ascertain if the children had their permission to sell the sacks. In some cases parents have resented the suggestion of making inquiries regarding their children in the matter. The Stratford Wounded Soldiers' Fund now stands at £7llO-1 fls 7d.

The proceedings at the Juvenile Court this afternoon at one time almost bordered 011 comic opera. Two families of -the same name were being proceeded against. and the tangle the .Magistrate had to unravel in discovering who was who in one family and which was which in the other family was most amusing. Eventually his Worship placed one family three feet away from the other, and the cases were proceeded ,with. At 2.30 this morning, some fellows evidently'thought they would let the residents know that thev were "night birds," and aroused the whole town from its slumbers by ringing the fire bell. Thoughtless acts like this can only be put down by a heavy fine, and it is to be hoped the authorities will take tilt matter up and teach these young fellows that advertising the fact that they have returned from a dance is a costly matter.