STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1922, Page 7

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with thecn. SCHOOL GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. EFFORT TO RAISE £lOOO. Feb. 22. The Stratford Retailers’ Association decided last night to raise the sum of £lOOO for the improvements of the grounds of the new Stratford Technical High School by means of a “surprise packet” campaign similar to those which raised many hundreds of pounds during the war. Messrs. R. Masters, M.P., and W. Pinhey waited on the association and placed the proposal before them. Mr. Masters said that they had the entire sympathy of the school committee in the scheme he was going to suggest. They had a school in the town-which had just been established, and which was a very fine school indeed. It had the possibility of being one of the finest inland schools in New Zealand, and he would like to offer an invitation to the executive to go and see through the school and grounds. The position was that they had 14 acres of land which required to have an amount of money to be spent to be put in order. They had ample room for hockey, tennis, football and other sports grounds, but had not the money to put the grounds into order. The department was “hard up”, and in any case the department had not the sole responsibility for putting the grounds in order. They had come to the Retailers’ Association as an organisation of business men to secure their sympathy in carrying out improvements. With his knowledge of their organisation he considered that if they put enthusiasm into the project they would very soon raise £lOOO. The idea was not a new one, but one which had been carried out in various parts of New Zealand by the Commercial Travellers’ Association, and in every place in which the scheme had been carried out it had been very successful. The suggestion was that they start a scheme to raise £lOOO by issuing 20,000 envelopes each with a number in it which corresponded with a prize. Everyone who bought a shilling envelope would get a prize. Their effort would be assisted by a £ for £ subsidy from the Government, and although this might not be forthcoming at once he was sure the subsidy would be recognised. He thought they could work in conjunction with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association and start off at their carnival on March 23.

Mr. R. H. White moved that the association affirm the principle of the scheme laid down by Mr. Masters. He thought it would be a very fine thing for the business people to take up this matter and push it. Mr. Lewers seconded the motion, which was carried. PLUNKET SOCIETY. The Plunket Society held a garden fete and baby show in Mr. H. E. Abraham’s grounds in Page Street yesterday. The weather was ideal, and the function was a great success in every way. There was a large attendance, and the society should benefit largely. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., opened the fete, and also presented the prizes to the winners. In performing the opening ceremony he expressed great pleasure at the large attendance supporting such a worthy object as the work of the Plunket Society—a work Which had become established New Zealand. He said in New Zealand the number of deaths of children under one year in 1910 was 1760, whilst in 1919 the number was 1108, and this saving of the lives of babies was largely attributable to the fine works of the Plunket Society. The society’s work was recognised by Parliament, which voted £6OOO for nurses’ salaries, £lOOO for the Karitane Hospital, and £5OO each to the institutions at Wanganui and Christchurch, and he was sure ths' Parliament would increase the grants if that were requested, if circumstances permitted. He concluded with a reference to the appointment to the Stratford branch of Nurse Ewart, who had been specially recommended by Dr. Truby King, and he asked everyone to rally round her and give every help possible.

Afternoon tea was provided, and there were a number of stalls and competitions, all of which helped to make a most enjoyable afternoon. Nurse Dix, of Hawera, acted as judge of the babies; and the results were as follow: One to three months.—Baby Briscoe 1. Six entries. Three to six months. —Baby Taylor 1. Thirteen entries. Six to nine months.—Baby Gordon 1. Fifteen entries. Nine to twelve months.—Baby Holt 1. Five entries. Twelve to eighteen months.—Baby Mackenzie 1. Eight entries. Eighteen to twenty-four months. —Baby Finch 1, Baby Kovaleski 2. Twenty entries. Twins. —Babies Dempchy 1. Three entries. AU the babies were then judged for the championship, which was won by Baby Finch. The thanks of the society are tendered to all who helped in any way to make the function a success. UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., has lately received a large number of requests for assistance from men who are seeking employment. Mr. Masters interviewed Mr. T. Ball, resident engineer for the Public Works Department at Stratford, and was informed that he had employed as many men as he had authority for. Mr. Masters then sent a telegram to the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates), asking the Minister to extend authority for twenty men to he employed between Te Wera and Te Roti, pointing out that these men wue nearly all married men living in Stratford. The Minister replied yesterday that he was arranging to absorb 20 married men on the Waitiri Road and the Opunake Railway. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION’S SPORTS. A deputation from the A. and P. Association, consisting of Messrs. G. Sangster and D. J. Malone waited on the executive of the Retailers’ Association last night to solicit their aid in controlling a sports meeting on March 23. Mr. Sangster said that the A. and P. Association was holding a sports meeting for the purpose of trying to keep the association alive. They had had bad weather for their last show, and had collected less prize money than they had expected. They were not exactly “on the rocks”, but they wanted the Retailers’ Association to help them to make the sports meeting a big success. They wanted the retailers to close at eleven o’clock. By assisting tha

A. and P. Association they were really assisting themselves, because the show was their own. The sports would be held on March 23, which was a Thursday. After the deputation had withdrawn it was decided that it would not be advisable to close the shops early as requested, but the Retailers’ Association would be prepared to give the A. and P. Association every possible assistance to make the sports gathering a success.

School stationery can be bought at reasonable prices at Wilson Bros.’ agency of the Daily News in Stratford. School pages, 3 for 2/6 ; exercise books, 80 ruled pages for 7d each. Also commercial stationery of all kinds at Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford.