FOXTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 11

FOXTON.

FOXTON, June 13. At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr M. E. Pcrreau), who presided, referred to the deatli of Mr M. H. Walker, of Wellington, a former councillor and resident, of Foxton. A motion of sympathy was passed in silence. To prevent stock damaging young trees and the cycle track it was decided to lock the Victoria Park gates. The' traffic inspector reported that several prosecutions were pending for breaches of the borough ■ by-laws. Six driving licenses had been issued during the month. The sum of £52 3s, being rates due on. Crown lands in the borough and unrecoverable, was written off. The solicitor of the Levin Borough Council advised that an agreement to have Foxton included in the Levin abattoir area had been prepared and submitted for approval to the Department of Agriculture. The town clerk reported that during May £ll9B 11s 4d was reoeived and £l2Ol. 9s 9d paid out. The overdraft was £lO3l 5s sd.

The monthly meeting of the Foxton Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild took the form of a combined gathering and also a gift afternoon in honour of Miss Agnes McKenzie, who will be married early next month. ' A competition was won byMrs S. Newth and an elocutionary item given by Mrs J. Symon. Mrs F. McG. Murray called on Miss McKenzie to accept a large number of gifts from those present.

Mrs G. Irwin, of Tokaanu, died at the Tauiuarunui Hospital on Sunday after a short illness. She and her husband were former residents of Foxton and went io Tokaanu some months ago. Mr A. Mathers, of Cook Street, is a son of Mrs Irwin. I

The necessity of more female operatives being found for the Foxton woolpack factory has been causing concern of late. Realising the seriousness of the position, l the Foxton Chamber of Commerce con- j vened a special meeting of business men ] on Wednesday afternoon and waited on Mr' F. W. Yickcrman (managing director) to sec if co-operation could be of any assistance. Mr Vickcrman said that the need for more female operatives was real indeed. “To-day wo are employing over 30 male adults in places where male juveniles could bo employed if available,” he said. “That involves us in heavy extra cost but that is not‘our main concern. We must have more female assistants to operate the looms.” Mr Vickcrman explained an- interesting graph showing a decided drop in output as a result of insufficient operatives on the looms of late. “What we need is the bringing into Foxton of more families. We can find work for the man and work for the family,” lie added." The Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) said that the call, for labour could well be regarded as a war effort. Many girls had left the factory to get married. They could serve their country now by returning to work. Grandparents could serve by looking after the fami- . lies of those wiht children and releasing mothers to return to their jobs. “For the past six months,” said Mr Perreau, “I have been told to tell the people of Foxton to stand by in connection with the war effort. To-day I call on them to turn to. Hero is a job that requires to be done.” Various suggestions were advanced and a round-table- discussion ensued. Housing loomed largely in the discussion and it was considered that at least fifty State houses should bo erected locally. A sub-committee comprising the Mayor, Mr 11. Osborne (president of the Chamher of Commerce), the town clerk (Mr W. Trueman) and Mr G. F. Smith was sot up to confer with Messrs. W. Hale (works' foreman) and J. Martin on the immediate necessity of providing fifteen femalo operatives. / Mrs Wyllic, sonr.. of New Plymouth, is the guest of Mrs E. M. Wyllie. of Clyde Street. A visitor to Foxton is Miss S. Miles, who is staying with her sister, Mrs S. E. Crawford. * ■ -