WINTON

Southland Times, Issue 24421, 29 April 1941, Page 2

WINTON

BOROUGH COUNCIL At the monthly meeting of the Winton Borough Council the Mayor (Mr Neil Metzger) presided over Crs G. W. Walters, W. Brandford, T. N. Eastlake and F. Tilley. The traffic inspector reported that one driver had been tested for the month of March and 14 warnings had been issued.

The sanitary contractor (Mr J. Laverty) wrote asking to be relieved of his position. The resignation was accepted and it was decided to call tenders for the work.

It was decided that the parking lanes in the main street be repainted. A councillor remarked that he did not know whether the lines were of any use or not, as when the inspector was in Winton the drivers behaved themselves (and parked within the lines, but when he was not in the town “rafferty” rules” were the order and cars were parked anywhere. The Mayor said that at the meeting of the Emergency Precautions Scheme organization it was mentioned that the fire engine was not in as good order as it could be.

The chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee said that the equipment had been inspected and there was not really anything wrong. The engine wanted tuning up and this had been carried out and everything was now in good working order.

The Mayor stated that he was pleased to see that the Southland County Council, the Progressive League and the Automobile Association were discussing the planting of trees on the sides of the main roads. He thought that Winton had created a precedent as it had one mile and a-half of main thoroughfare with trees planted on each side. These trees had been planted about five years ago and they were now just beginning to grow. The trees were easy to plant, but it took a long time to get them established. The clerk reported that at the end of the financial year there was a credit of £BOO in the general account. PLUNKET SOCIETY

At the annual meeting of the Winton sub-branch of the Plunket Society, the president, Mrs J. Irwin, presided over an attendance of 14 members. The annual report and balance-sheet was adopted. A satisfactory credit was shown.

Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: - President, Mrs J. W. Irwin; vice-presidents, Mesdames H. Anderson, W. Hamilton, C. R. Shand and R. Swale; secretary and treasurer, Miss J. G. Russell; Committee, Mesdames, J. H. Cox, FI. E. Denny, A. Hamilton, W. L. S. Harbour, J. F. Harrison, J. L. Hazlett, J. Henderson, J. T. Hobbs, J. T. Hubber, M. Kean, G. King, R. King, W. H. King, J. T, May, J. P. Moore, H. McCallum, C. McDonald, W. Norman, T. E. Peterson, R. D. Pearce, G. W. Rouse, C. R. Shand, W. T. Simmers, D. Simpson, J. H. Swale, G. Wadsworth, C. Wilson, J. J. Woods, W. Woods (South Hillend), and Miss N. King; advisory board, Dr. P. Gow, Messrs J. F. Harrison and O. A. B. Smith; auditor, Mr R. O, Pearce; delegates to executive meeting at Lumsden, president and secretary. At a subsequent meeting of the committee it was agreed to arrange a medical examination for the pre-school children on July 17.

HOME GUARD TAKES PART IN MANOEUVRES

i Interesting manoeuvres were carried out by the Winton Home Guard on Saturday afternoon, when they took I part in the “Battle for Winton” at the [racecourse. The attack was launched .over half a mile of country, and, ali though the enemy held on grimly, he was finally routed at the point of the bayonet. He suffered severe losses and i the remainder of his force was only I too willing to surrender. The Home j Guard casualties were slight, however, numbering about 20, but the ambulance unit, members of the Emergency Precautions Scheme, worked unceasingly giving first-aid in the thick of the battle and later removing the wounded to a dressing station some distance away. Members of the emergency fire brigade were at their stations and had some practice at putting out fires. A communique issued by the Mayor of Winton (Mr N. Metzger) stated that he was very pleased with the full-dress rehearsal and hoped that the Home Guard and Emergency Precautions Scheme committee would arrange a similar “stunt” in the near future. ■ The scheme was the first to be held at Winton and proved a great success. The alert, the fire siren, sounded at 1.30 p.m. and within 12 minutes all the Home Guardsmen had reported at the Drill Hall and had embussed ready to move off. At the same time the various committees of the Emergency Precautions Scheme took up their stations. Four motor lorries were used to convey the guardsmen to the racecourse and one for the ambulance. The troops debussed about half a mile from the racecourse and marched up the road I until fired upon by the enemy, when I they opened out and began the attack. I The enemy was members of the Emer- i gency Precautions Scheme who had taken up a defensive position and blank cartridges and crackers were used to indicate their positions. In all about 130 took part in the rehearsal.