STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tte Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, WJ|son Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with them. THE HALF-HOLIDAY. MEETING OF THURSDAY SUPPORTERS. Stratford/March 23. About sixty persons, including a number of ladies, were present at- a meeting of Thursday half-holiday supporters last night. Mr. A. Rawles, chairman of the Thursday Half-holiday Association, occupied the chair. He said the meeting was called for the purpose of securing the support of all who were willing to help in getting back the Thursday half-holiday. He thought all present recognised that the change to Saturday had been detrimental to the best interests of the town, and he expected they* would win easily. Mr. Rawles then announced that both he and the secretary (Mr. S. Sharp) had taken the positions only temporarily, and now desired to make way for others. Both Mr., Rawles and Mr. Sharp were re-elected to their positions, and Mr. Lightband was elected assistant-secre-tary. The chairman reported that several towns had ]/een communicated with in regard to their experience of the Saturday half-holiday, but replies had not yet come to hand. The advertising committee reported on the action they had taken up to the present. The chairman urged those present to get all the Thursday supporters on the roll, and suggested that the town be divided into two sections and canvassed. Mr. H. E. Abraham, Stratford manager for Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., said he wished to explain his position on the matter as he had no desire to sail under false colors. He did not know whether he was in favor of Thursday or Saturday, but he was in favor of a provincial half-holiday, and that was the crux of.the whole position. His business brought him into direct contact with farmers, and they were ah .dead aghinst Saturday half-holiday. He he ought to support Thursday, but he was in a quandary. As things lookcd it appeared that New Plymouth and Hawera would carry Saturday, and Eltham Thursday, and“*at one time he

would have said Stratford would carry Saturday, but now he was doubtful. As a business man he would say there was no question about Thursday being the best day for the half-holiday, but under existing circumstances he might not vote at all. He did not like the way the council wen| about the matter, a lot of people having signed the first petition under a misapprehension. If Stratford closed on Thursday and the rest of Taranaki on Saturday, he thought they would be worse off than they were at present. He, believed that if the council hadn't forced the change on the town, Saturday would have been carried easily, and all the other towns would have done the same. As far as he was concerned, if the members of the Thursday Association honestly believed they were going to carry Thursday, he wished them good luck, and if they did not have \iis vote, they at least had his moral support. (Applause.) The chairman said that if Stratford carried Saturday and Eltlham Thursday, he felt sure it would be the best thing that ever happened for Eltham. He did not agree with Mr. Abraham that if Stratford carried Thursday and ail the other towns Saturday they would be in a worse position than they were at present, because they could not possibly be in a worse position than they were now—(applause)—and if that did happen he was that the town would prosper more than ever before. Mr. J. H. Thompson referred to the fact that under Saturday closing the country children could not be brought in to town without being taken away from school. If the people in the country had a vote on the question he felt sure Thursday would be carried by five to one. Mr. A. H. Hoggett, speaking as a farfner, said he did not think one farmer would be found in favor of the Saturday half-holiday. Mr. R. TI. White said that he had come to the after analysing his business returns, that after the first week of the change, Saturday morning was only equal to what Thurs day morning was. The people had not made Friday the great shopping day that Saturday was, for the reason that they could not get in as easily, and also they could not bring the children. He maintained that the townspeople had to study the country people, especially as two-thirds of their business came indirectly from the farmers, and most of the balance directly from them. He would be very surprised if Inglewood, Eltham and Hawera carried Saturday, and they -were determined that Stratford should not carry Saturday. There had been a tremendous swing back to the Thursday, many who were previously in favor of Saturday being rfow convinced that a great mistake, had been made. They wanted to br\%g all the business they possibly could 'to Stratford, and. the idea Was that after the poll, the. association should form itself into a Progress League for the purpose of boosting Stratford. general discussion followed, after which a ladies’ committee was set up to' canvass the town. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, the president, Mr. J. B. Richards, presiding over an attendance of twelve members. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president traversed the work of the Chamber during the past year, Referring to the Stratford-Oka-hukura railway, he said that the policy of the Government was to curtail expenditure, and in consequence the line was suffering. With regard to the Kaponga-Stratford railway, his firm conviction was that if it was constructed, and he firmly believed it should be, the Kapuni-Te Roti section would be of very little value. The chairman also touched on numerous other matters referred to in the annual report, which has already been published. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, and congratulated the chairman and the executive on the work done during the year. He described the Stratford-Mam Trunk railway as the most important

uncompleted main trunk line in the Do-, minion, and expressed the opinion that the Government must be made to see that Taranaki was united in demanding that justice be done in the matter. Speaking of hydro-electricity, he said the Government was not assisting them as might have been expected. It was not a matter affecting New Plymouth only, but the whole of Taranaki, and the Chamber should urge on the Government the necessity of relief being afforded to complete the New Plymouth scheme. Replying to Mr. Kirkwood, the chairman said the Chamber had no intention of relinquishing its efforts to impress upon the Government the importance of pushing on the work at Tahora as well as at the east end. Whether the railway went on at the Tahora end or not, the Chamber should endeavor to obtain an improvement in road communication. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. J. B. Richards (re-elect-ed) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. W. McMillan and P. Thomson; committee, Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood, D. J. Malone, T. J. Salmon, W. Mclnnes and C. Martin. It was decided to affiliate with the Taranaki Progress League. Votes of thanks were passed to the Minister of Railways for the very satisfactory lease granted to Stratford, to the Borough Council, to the secretary (Mr. W. Power), to the Press, and to the chairman. A YOUNG WOMAN’S LAPSE. The hearing o-f the charge against a young woman named Florence Conza, which was adjourned from Stratford the previous day, was resumed at the Eltham Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. The accused was charged with the theft, on or about February 23, at Kaupokonui, of the sum of £ll, the property of Alma Rosa Willing. Mr. A. Coleman, who appeared for the accused, said Rhe now wished to plead guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. He submitted that the best interests of the girl would be admitting her to probation. Sergeant Dale said he would be quite willing that the girl should be placed on probation, so long as the provisions were fairly strict. The magistrate granted the accused probation on the condition that she accepted employment approved of by the probation officer, was not out at night except under supervision, and repaid the stolen money by instalments. She was also ordered to report monUily to the probation officer.

Redeem the long-standing promise and have the photograph taken at McAllister’s Studio. We ake always ready, day or night; no delay{ no waiting either in taking or finishing, at this studio. Ring 25, Stratford. Your stationery requirements are vfrell catered for by Wilson Bros., Stratford, who have a comprehensive stock of all office typewriter supplies. Here are a few good commercial lines: Pilot letter files, 3/6 each; wire document baskets. 4/6 each; desk blotting pads, 4/9 and 6/-; first-grade typewriter carbon, foolscap size, 15/- box. Don’t forget to call or write.—Advt.