STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY Advertisements and items of news for publication in tte Taranak’. Daily News should be left nt the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Or dera for papers may also be loft wit!* them. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. September 7. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Present: Messrs. J. B. Richards (chairman), McAllister, W. Mclnnes, W. Macdonald, C. Martin, D. J. Malone, P. Thompson. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood and J. W. McMillan. In reply to a telegram urging that he should announce that any reasonable tender for the building of the new post office would be accepted, the Minister stated that the matter would be given careful consideration. No further action was taken.

The following replies were received supporting the suggestion of the president that the main arterial road from Kaitaia to Wellington should be via Ohura to Stratford instead of Te Kuiti to New Plymouth: From the association at Ohura, public meeting at Ohura, Ohura County Council, Kohuratahi Settlers’ Association, Whangamomona County Council, Tahora Settlers’ Association. The Minister acknowledged receipt of the suggestion.—The subject matter of the replies is to be conveyed to the Minister.

It was decided to ask the Department of Public Works to test the quality of conglomerate deposit in the Tahora district, by laying down a section of road with the metal.

It was also decided that the railway district traffic manager should be asked when improvements would- be likely to be made to the sheep and loading yards at the Stratford railway station. A letter sent from the Matau Settlers’ Association to the County Council, urging that there should be alterations in the Toko branch train service in order that settlers and their families could travel to their homes in the daylight, was referred by the council to the chamber. The chairman said that the matter had been the subject of a deputation to the general manager of railways. The district traffic manager had met the deputation again last week, and had pointed out that the department was endeavorii.g to be more economical, but he promised to use his best endeavors to secure an alteration to Thursday’s train, making it run to the same time-table as Tuesday’s train, and cutting out the seven o’clock train excepting on Monday and Saturday nights, the late train going out at 4.30 instead of 7 o’clock. It was decided to advise Macau of what had transpired. R.S.A. REUNION. The annual reunion of the Stratford Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last night, in the form of a smoke concert at the Town Hall. Mr. E. H. Young presided over a good attendance, and an ex- j cellent evening was spent. Apologies for | absence were received from the Mayor (Mr. * J. W. McMillan) and Messrs. R. Masters, . M.P., W. P. Kirkwood and W. R. Foley. Dr. W. P. Gordon, in proposing the toast of “The Air Force, Army and Navy”, rc- : ferred to the great work done by all sec- I tions of the fighting forces. The British Navy, he said, was essential to the Empire, and New Zealand’s existence depended upon the seas being kept open because her primary products must find their market overseas. He also paid a tribute to the Air Force. Mr. J. B. Hine, in responding to the , .toast, said that the Air Force had displaced the navy as the chief danger zone. It was all over with the airman if the slightest mishap occurred, but there was 1 never any shortage of recruits for the Air ■ Force. The men of the Navy had carried : out their services in accordance with the best British traditions, and he referred to the men in the merchant marine who carried on unarmed and at the mercy of a raider. The British Army in the late war had reached the highest position it had ever held in the Empire, and he gave very great credit to the rank and file, who were more responsible than the officers for the high standard which had been reached. j “The Veterans” was proposed by Mr. G. | lE. Jago, who commented on. the fine spirit i the veterans had shown on service. Mr. W. F. Brooking responded briefly on ' I befealf of the Maori War veterans, and I t Mr. T. Lawson for the Boer War veterans. The latter referred to the re-organisation i I of their society for the purpose of getting some recognition of the services rendered in South Africa. Some of their members, | he said, were getting old and in a bad way, and the Government had promised to give consideration to their claims as soon as the needs of the ' esent-day soldiers were satisfied. The chairman proposed “Kindred Asso- 1 ciations”. and suggested that the Returned Soldiers’ Association should help the Maori and South African veterans in getting more recognition from the Government. He deplored the manner in which the rifleshooting had languished, and would like to see rifle clubs revived. He also referred to the good war service which had j been done by the Legion of Frontiersmen. I Mr. T. M. Winiki responded on behalf r of the Legion of Frontiersmen, and emphasised the manner in which that body had lived up to its motto of “Preparedness”. It was hoped to soon have established a rifle club in every settlement in which there was a unit of the Legion. The toast, of “The Patriotic Societies” was proposed by Mr. Macalister, _ who referred to the good work done by them during the late war, and claimed that no society had been better managed than the local one. ' .

Mr. W. Power, in responding, said Taranaki had raised about £250,000 for patriotic purposes, and the present policy of the Government Repatriation Department was the policy of the local body since 1916.

Mr. O. Boldt proposed “The Territorials”, and stressed the importance of training. Mr. T. T. Murray responded, and pointed out that when the “Old Con tern ptibles” were wiped out it was the Territorials, or “tin soldiers” as they were called, who had filled the gap. Other toasts honored were “Our Allies”, proposed by Mr. Winiki and responded Io by Mr. F. D. Gaffaney; "The Association”, proposed by Mr. J. H. Thompson and honored by other non-members present, the chairman responding; "The Ladies”, proposed by Mr. C. A. Gray; “The Press”. Items were rendered by Messrs. S. H. Martin, R. G. Jamieson, songs; Mr. G. Dick, piccolo solo; Messrs. Winiki and Jago, elocutionary items. Mr. J. H. Thompson presided at the piano.

GENERAL. ''' A grand Scottish concert and dance is to be held in the Town Hall to morrow evening, when the programme to be submitted is stated to be something very much above the ordinary. The proceeds will go to aid a very deserving object, and one which should have the support of everybody in the dfotocWjgi Stratford foltea wkStets’

memorial. The Scottish Society, however, are not asking for money for nothing, and special items in a very good list will be given by Miss Marie Nilsson (whose songs include a group of Hebridean songs), Mr. McFarlane (the well-known Wellington tenor), Miss Leitch (who is equally well known in New Plymouth as a contralto of high merit), and the Hawera Male Quartette (whose quality is too well known to need further mention). The Eltham Pipe Band will play on Broadway from 7.30 till 8 p.m., when the concert will commence. As is usual with such gathering’’, there will be Highland dancing, which is always enjoyable. After supper the evening will conclude with a danqe. Mr. T. I. Lamason announces the sale of modern household furniture from the residence of Mr. Sharp on Thursday, September 22.