STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 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, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Ordera for papers may also bo left with them. RETURNED SOLWERS’ ASSOCIATION. August 17. A meeting of members of the Stratford R.S.A. was held last evening, when there was a very poor attendance. Mr. E. H. Young presided, and there were only twelve members present. The chairman said that probably the poor attendance was accounted for by the fact that soldiers could not, at this time of the year, leave their farms. The meeting was called as a result of a meeting of soldier settlers which had met a sub-committee of the association spine weeks ago and desired representation on the Land Board in order that their hardships and grievances might receive attention. The settlers bad aired their grievances, and the association had decided to write to other associations asking for co-operation in remedying these grievances.

The letter sent from the association had stated that the association received numbers of complaints from soldier settlers who said they had found difficulty in receiving fair and reasonable treatment at the hands of the Lands Office. The position had become rather acute, and a meeting of settlers had stated that their principal complaints were: (1) Delay in dealing with matters in which assistance was sought; (2) too much time, was lost between the passing of stock by the ranger and the payment for same; (3) there was too much delay in having communications attended to by the Land Board; (4) if a satisfactory case of hardship is made, then payment of the first year’s interest should be postponed, and so long as current interest and rent is paid, the settler should be at liberty to reduce the postponed amount by instalments as and when funds are available. The letter suggested that as a step in the direction of adjusting matters, the soldier settlers should have direct representation on the Land Board, and asking that assistance from the other associations should be given in obtaining this representation.

| Of the five associations written to S only two replied. -Hawera Association | wrote stating that rt was of the opin--9 Jon that the appointment of a represenI tative was a matter for the Dominion 3 executive, and that before action was | taken the matter should be referred to j the Dominion executive. The Waitara ?- Association wrote that although it was I I in sympathy with the Stratford Asso- || elation, the executive could not pass a 31 resolution in favor of co-operation as I' no, specific case of hardship had come | under its notice. | The chairman said that he doubted | whether action would carry much 3 weight from the association, especially i when the adjacent associations did not B co-operate, I Mr. G. E. Jago said that the only 3 thing to do was to forward a remit to $ the Dominion executive. e The chairman said that the Land •2 Board was composed of a chairman and • three members appointed by the Government, and one member who was S elected by ballot by the Crown settlers. 1 It seemed to him that if another repre 4 sentative were wanted it would require i an amendment by Parliament to the ! • Act - 5 Alter discussion it was decided, on ( the motion of the chairman, seconded K| by Mr. AV. R. Foley, that a communicaij; tion should be sent to headquarters urg- > II ing that they approach the Dominion i! Council with a view to obtaining a rej ] preventative on the Land Board. i I The chairman stated that a war tro- | pixies exhibition would be held, at StratC ford from September 26 to October 1. i | Volunteers were wanted to explain the 11 trophies to those attending the exhibiJ, tion. A concert was being held by the !• j Scottish Society on September 8, the ; I proceeds of which would be devoted tn i the fund for the proposed Stratford ■ : memorial for fallen soldiers. Referring ;’ to the dances held by the association i ‘ this season, be said that the first fum’

tion had just paid expenses, but the bad weather had marred the second dance, on which there was a loss of about £8 After discussion it was decided that the executive should consider the mat for of holding a smoke concert re-union. The secretary reported that the finance was fairly satisfactory, ami that of the fifty-eight members, only nine were in arrears with subscriptions. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. It is understood ihat as a result of I the inquest held on August 4 on the death of P. d. C. Sutton, following a collision which occurred between a car rn which the deceased was travelling and a gig. the police have decided to lay an information against the driver of the gig on a charge of manslaughter, and that the case will be heard at 10 a.ra. ou Monday. August 22. EGMONT OLTTB SOCIALThe Egmont Club last evening held a social organised for the purposes of augmenting the orchestra’s funds. There was a large attendance, |md a very jolly evening was spent. Tn the early part: of the evening items were given by th.i 1 orchestra under Mr. V. Lester and Miss Black and Messrs. Glemister, Renwick. A. D. Bills and H. Lester. At th« conclusion of the musical programme Mr. R. Masters, M.P., addressed thuspresent and eulogised the good work of the orchestra. He explained the aim of the social, and also apologised for the absence of the president (Mr. T. Lawson). The latter part of the evening was. devoted to billiards and cards, and a dance was held at the Parish Hall, Mr. C. Fox-’s orchestra supplying the music. GENERAL. The monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade was held last night, when it 1 was decided to hold the annual ball in . the Town Hall on Thursday, September 15. Two accidents occurred on Broadway North yesterday near the residence of Mr. J. Masters, and two gigs were overturned. The condition of the road about here is bad for horse traffic, and it is fortunate that no one was injured. The Stratford Gun Club will hold a clay shoot at Eltham to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 1.30. A feature of the programme is the Stratford v. Eltham challenge match. The Stratford Musical Society, assist- ! ed the Egmont Club Orchestra* will j

give a concert at Eltham on Monday evening, when the programme submitted in Stratford will be repeated. Half of the net proceeds will he devoted to the Eltham Salvation Army Bovs’ Home, a very deserving institution. The box plan is now open at H. G. Carman’s shop. Envelopes.—-Thousands of them, ‘at cut prices: Buff Manilla, commercial size, 8/6 box of 500, 16/- 1000; Azure Manilla, small size for accounts 4/- box of 250, 15/- ]OOO. Call or write early and get a supply.—Wilson Bros., printers and stationers, Stratford.