STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) (All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr U. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receivt uroiUDt attention.) ' BOWLING MATTERS. May Id. At a meeting of the Stratford Bowling Club held on Wednesday night it wa3 decided to take part in the peace celebrations. The resignations were accepted with regret of Messrs. C. Randrup, J. Masters and J. S. Rowe. The annual meeting of the club will be held early in June. A general meeting of the Avon Bowling Club was held on Wednesday evening. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. J. Masters; vice* presidents, Messrs. R. McK. Morrison and 11. C. North; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Le. Betts, assistant secretary, Mr. A. R. Masters; committee, Messrs. L. M. Moss, H. Arthur, W. Pettigrew, R. Masters and J. Rowe. Fifteen new members were elected. A Finance and Works Committee was set up and the rules as drafted and amended were adopted.# A plan of the grounds was submitted and agreed to. THE MODERATE LEAGUE. A meeting convened by Mr. J. W. McMillan (Mayor) and Messrs. W, H. H. Young and A. Coleman for the purpose of forming a branch of the Moderate League in Stratford was held in the Town Hall last evening. The mayor presided and in opening the proceedings said they wore much indebted to Messrs. Armstrong and Findlay, who had, before the last licensing poll, placed before the people of the Dominion the views of moderate people. The Moderate League bad now decided to support State Contr"l which had proved a success in other parts of the world. The great difficulty in controlling the liquor traffic at the present time arose from the fact that it was in the hands of a few people. The question of control would no doubt be keenly discussed. His own view was that boroughs and counties should have I control within their own districts, and I should be permitted, after paying interest and other charges, to devote any I profits from hotels to civic improvements. Apologies for the absence of Messrs. Tyrer, F. W. Mac Donald and iColeman were received.

Mr. Armstrong then addressed themeeting on the work done by the. Moderate 1 .eague and the object in view. Since the inception in 1914 the League had dons its best to bring about reforms, and to Jhis end had pressed upon the C'ovcrninent the advisability of establishing a special department with a Minister in charge instead of leaving the administration of the licensing laws entirely to the police. Wh'at the league had asked was justified by the large revenue derived from the trade. The executive he represented had given a great deal of time to the consideration of State ownership and had come to the conclusion that it would be a advantage to the country both socially and financially. If it were decided that the State should control the liquor trade they would not, as would have been the case had no license been carried at the recent poll, be paying away four and ahalf million for nothing, but in exchange for the money spent woudl have an asset. The Prohibitionists had stated that to acquire the interests in the liquor trade would mean an expenditure of eleven or twelve million, but thtj.Act provided for ten millions. It did not matter what was paid as long as it wa« right and fair. Whatever money was spent they must realise that it was going to be a profit-making concern, as much as 15 per cent of the invested capital having been made in England with State-owned houses, as a further result of which drunkenness had been reduced 75 per cent. He believed that in each district there were conditions requiring local control and he believed that local boards should be set up. To arrive at some conclusions he believed tha* branches of the League should be established in each centre. It was intended to hold a conference at Wellington at an early date which would be attended by representatives of the various branches. With the information before them he thought the conference might evolve a scheme which would be a credit to the country. He referred to the probability of great changes politically and the possibility of there being one or two short Parliaments which way efface any reform movement. The moderate man, while he claimed the right to use alcoholic beverages, had a sacred duty to perform in removing abuses. Concluding lie denied the allegation that the Moderate League wns in any way connected with the trade. The central executive wa? composed of business men who had no interest whatever in the Trade and anyone had only to read their names to know that they were not approachable in the interests of the Trade.

Mr. Young said that prohibition had been rejected by a majority of the people of the Dominion. He thought it v. as time, however, the moderate people organised and lie would be safe in saying that not 10 per cent of thost who voted continuance were associated with the Trade. He was not prepared to support State ownership, yet, but they should try and bring about improvements.

In reply to a question, Mr. Armstrong said that no membership fee had been fixed as it ranged from the modest half-crown up to £SO. Tliey did not want the fee to be the means of excluding anyone.

On the motion of Mr. Power, it was decided that a branch of the Moderate League be formed in Stratford and the following were elected members: Messrs. T. Loner«an, .T. Maione, W. IL 11. Young. J. XV. McMillan (chairman), C. E. Middleton, W. J. Newton, Skogland, M. Power, W. Power and McPlierson. Mr. W. Power was elected secretary pro tem.

A. AND P. CONCERT AND DANCE, •Stratford, May 10.

The Stratford A. and P. Association's concert and dance on Thursday evening surpassed the beit expectations. The Town Hail was far too small to accommodate with comfort the large crowd admitted, and not only was every sea.t occupied, but every space that afforded standing room. The social committee, which had the arrangements in hand, secured the services of professional performers of high standing, and for quality the entertainment left nothing to be desired. All the performers were recalled. some two and three times. Miss Rena S. Te Au, already well established in favor as a public singer, so roused the enthusiasm of her audience that the applause amounted to an ovation. Her first number was "Down in the Forest." This was followed by "Waiata Poi," given as an encore. Later she sand the "Cradle Song," and was twice recalled. The Rev. Papakura's fine tenor eras first heard in a duet with Mr. N

Pay—'Farewell to Summer.'' As an encore they sang, with the same excellent eflect "Somewhere a Voice is Calling;" Later ,the Rev. Papakura sang "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," but he was better appreciated in "If You Would Love Me" and "Coming Home." A number of songs were given by Mr. N. Day, including "Invictus," "Because," and 1 ''Request." With Miss Te Au, he sang, towards the close, "Rose of My Heart." This was one of the most enjoyable items of the evening. Mrs. F. Goodson, of Hawera, so pleased the audience with her songs that she was also honored with encores. Her principal numbers were "A Dream" and "The Wren." Mr. A. 0. Sturrock with his pianoforte solos reached the highest point of favor with the audience. A burst of applause followed each item," the audience refusing denial of an encore. Two of his items were "Spinning Wheel" and "Di Oisian." Sir. G. Swan proved himself to be an excellent entertainer. In the subjects •he handled he showed remarkable versatility. On his first appearance he gave a reading, "Levinski's Wedding." On b'eing recalled, he recited, with the best effect, "All Hands." Further recitations by him were: "How I Envy MeGinty," "Duggan's Discovery," and "An Old Soldier's Reminiscences." In the absence of Mr. Duigan, Mr. Bert Vinsen gave imitations of a number of musical instruments, and no performer was accorded ii better reception. His work was exceedingly clever, and far removed from amateurism. The accompaniments were played by Mr. A. 0. Sturrock. After the concert the floor was cleared for dancing, which was continued till about 1.30 in the morning. Music for the dance' was provided by: Mrs. Bianchi (piano), Messrs R. George and W. Walsh (violins), West (flute), S. Parker (cornet), and Bert Vinsen (drums). Messrs G. Linnell and Jans acted as M.'sC. The gross proceeds from the concert amounted to about £IOO, and it is expected that, after paying all expenses, there will be a profit of about £SO. MAGISTRATE'S COURT, David Katwick was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Messrs C. D. Sole and J. Masters, J.'s P., with the theft of a. horse cover, valued at £2, the property of the Borough Council. Evidence was given by Martin Aldridge, to whom accused had sold the cover for Gs, and Arthur Ross, borough employee, who had recognised the rug on a horse owned by the previous witness. Accused, who was employed in the borough in carting away rubbish, had ' represented to Aldridge that the rug had been thrown away, and he had picked it up. The accused wa9 convicted and fined i' 3, with costs 30s. An order was made that the rug be restored to the Borough Council.

R. L. Downs appeared on two charges of indecency. The offences were alleged to have been committed in Victoria Park on May 6 aitd 10. Mr. E. S. Rutherfurd appeared for the accused, and put in a plea of not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the second. Sergeant Dale said that he did not wish to have accused sent to gaol, but he wished to put a stop to offences which had been going on for a considerable time, and which had caused the police a good deal of trouble. Offences of the same kind had been committed as far back as Chris,tmas. The case before the court was one of gross exposure. A statement had been made to the police by a girl, who had observed the offences, and it would seem from her statement that accused had made a deliberate attempt to insult this girl. The offence was a serious one, and the only penalty provided by the law was imprisonment. After commenting strongly upon the gravity of the offence, the Bench convicted accused and ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon. He was also ordered ,to pay the costs of the prosecution.

- T. I. Lamason reports: My usual weekly, sale, was'held, when a very fair entry of poultry and general produce was catalogued at prices fairly satisfactory. I quote as follows: Hens Is 6d to 3s, ducks 3s, cockrells Is Gd to 2s '(id, potatoes lis per cwt., onions lis, apples 2s 6d to Bs, pears 3s to 4s. Furniture, bicycle, and sundries at usual auction rates.

Bargain fortnight at James', Saturday 17 to Saturday 31. Sale discounts on all' fancy goods, jewellery, brooches, pendants, bangles, etc. Special sixpermy table. Special half price table. Discounts on ladies' hand bags. A fortnight's sale of fancy goods and toys. Please come and see. Charles E. James, Broadway, Stratford.*