STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1923, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and Items of news for publication In the Taranaki Dally News should be left at the office of our local representative, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. HOSPITAL BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. July 10. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held to-day. Present: Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman), P. Thomson. J. O'Neill, W. H. Were,. G. P. Harkness, E. Marfell, W. L, Kennedy and J. H. Beleher. Prior to commencing business the chairman welcomed the secretary (Mr. T. H. Penn) after his indisposition. The medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) reported that during June, 24 patients were admitted, 18 were discharged and there was one death, 26 remaining in the institution at the end of the month. There were eight operations, and three cases were in isolation. The X-ray transformer had been sent away for repairs. District Nurse Myers (Whangamomona) reported that during June she had attended eight cases. The Wellington Hospital Board asked for support for its resolution asking that the law be amended to provide that the average rate of subsidy to Hospital Boards shall not fall below £ for £.— It was decided to reaffirm the board’s previous resolution that subsidies be on a uniform flat rate of £ for £, and that special cases ibe dealt with by the Government. The matron reported that Nurse H. D. Grant had passed with honors at the recent state examination. The matron recommended that Nurse Grant 'be retained on the staff, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of one of the sisters.

JERSEY CATTLE CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Stratford Jersey Cattle Club was held in Stratford to-day. The president (Mr. F. Ranford) presided over about 30 members. The annual report stated, inter alia, that 16 new members had been enrolled, 103 now being on the books. The functions of the club had been very similar to those on former occasions, and had been the means of popularising the breed and of benefit to breeders generally. The annual conference held in Stratford brought many breeders from other parts of the Dominion. The annual field day and demonstration was held on Mr. Gadsby’s farm and was well attended. The thanks of the club were due to Mr. and Mrs. Gadsby for their hospitality. The cattle sales held by the club had not met with the success hoped for, and last proposed sale was abandoned owing to lack of entries. Large offerings had been forthcoming, but the quality had not been up tor the standard necessary to attract buyers. The report concluded by urging members to | keep the interests of the club constantly before them and to induce other breeders to join. The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of £2O 13s lid.

In moving the adoption of the report and the chairman said that they had had a very satisfactory year and the membership had been well maintained. It was to be regretted that a number of members had not as yet paid their subscriptions. The club was for the benefit of all. and could not carry on without funds. The functions of the club had been -.'el! attended and had proved of great value to breeders. A feature of the Stratford show had ~-een the large entry in the Jersey section, which constituted a record in number and quality. A conference of the Taranaki clubs had been held in Stratford, when much good work had been done, and he hoped the fixture would in future be an annual one. Referring to the holding of cattle sales, he stressed the fact that .the work of inspecting entries would have to be very considerably tightened so as to secure the confidence of buyers and build up the reputation at which the club aimed. This could only be accomplished by maintaining a high standard of quality and soundness of the animals to be sold. Outside .buyers were essential to the success of a sale.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. F. Ranford (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. D. O’Sullivan; committee, Messrs. D. P. Malone, E. Linnell, H. Hunt, R. Dagg and G. T. Gibbons. It was decided: ‘That this meeting affirms the principle of holding a provincial conference, with at least three meetings annually, and that a general meeting with a moveable venue be held each year, to which all Taranaki clubs shall be invited.” . Mr. R. Dagg suggested popularising r.neir annual sales. He stated that there were many farmers in the Waikato and Thames Valley who were in need of good Jersey bulls. He advocated extending their publicity. —It was decided that it be a recommendation to the executive to advertise the future annual club sales. The secretary was voted an honorarium of 20 guineas. Mrs. E. E. Hancock was elected a new member of the chib. In recognition of his good work in writing papers and giving lectures in the interests of the club -Mr. J. B. Richards was elected a life member.

THE TOWN CLOCK. RAISING A LOAN. At a meeting Tf the Borough Council last night the Mayor (Mr. J. AV. McMillan) said he did not think a special rate would be a fair way m which to raise money for the proposed memorial clock. They had been adv.sed that a suitable clock would cost neare £l4OO than £5OO, as at first estimated, and the most equitable way, would be to raise a special loan. M ilth this in view he had instructed the clerk not to strike the id rate proposed. He would Ibe quite prepared to face the late payers with the new proposal. A loan of £l5OO spread over 10 year, would not be a burden.

Cr. E. S. Rutherfurd suggested that subscribers to .the memorial gates should be called together and authority obtained from them to spend a portion of the amount raised on the clock. ■Cr. T. I. Lamason thought too much was being spent upon the gates. The clock was a much more attractive memorial. The Mayor pointed out that the gates had been decided upon at a general meeting of ratepayers, and money collected for that purpose would have to be expended on the gates alone. The Mayor’s action in instructing the clerk not to strike the rate was approved, as also was the suggested special loan. HOUSING PROBLEM. ARE PLACES TOO DEAR? “The working man cannot afford to pay more than £1 per week for a house,” said Cr. C. Finnerty at the Borough Council meeting last night. “The houses the council are building cost 30s per week. They are too elaborate, and plainer homes costing about £5OO to £'6oo should be erected.” The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) explained that the council had had about £lO,OOO to spend in this direction, and had advertised extensively for working men to take up the scheme. Not one of this class applied. The only houses wanted were more substantial residences costing up to £l5OO. Cr. Finnerty interposed that the cheaper house was badly wanted now. He was in the business, and could assure the council that houses were not to be had for letting purposes in Stratford. If the Mayor would listen to the talk of the town he would realise this fact also. The Mayor took exception to Cr. Finnerty’s last remark, and he said, they did not want the talk of the town introduced in the council chamber. Cr. Rutherfurd stated that not one in fifty people wanted to buy houses; they all wanted to rent them. In any case the new State advances proposals would provide up to 90 per cent, of the total cost, and this was far better than the council could do. ' Cr. Finnerty said if they would build ' a number of houses at about £6OO he ' would guarantee to dispose of them, but it was decided to lej; the matter drop for the present.

FOOTPATH TRAFFIC. ENFORCING THE BY-LAWS. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council it was stated that considerable congestion was caused by the position of the ticket box at the theatre. “The time has come,” said the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) “when the coun cil will have to give serious attention to the matter of dividing north and southbound traffic on our footpaths. In order to make an improvement in the confused state of the footpaths on a busy day we will have to conform to the systems adopted in other towns.” The usual rule, he continued, appeared to be “keep to the right,” which was directly opposite to the rule of the roads throughout New Zealand. On at least two days each week the paths on Broadway were greatly congested. Councillors pointed out that the bylaws already stipulated that foot traffic should keep to the right. Cr. C. Finnerty drew attention to the practice of motorists parking their cars two or three deep along Broadway. The Mayor said the danger was recognised, and the inspector would pay greater attention to the matter in future. At the same time it was often very difficult, because a car could draw up anywhere at the side of the road, gs long as the driver remained in his seat. It was decided that the by-laws referring to traffic on footpaths would in future be strictly enforced. CARNIVAL DANCE. STRATFORD TOWN HALL. enormous interest is being aroused at the carnival dance to be held in the Town Hall, Stratford, to-morrow night. Patrons of all tastes are being lavishly catered for. There will be a pleasant mixture of old and new dances to the strains of George’s jazz orchestra. Those clever dancers, Ina Wills and Syd Chandler, will give another of their famous exhibitions, which will be worth going miles to see. Then the mysterious‘card dance will be—but Sh-h!—those who go will know.

GENERAL ITEMS. Dr. Elizabeth Gunn (school dental officer) .and Nurses Wise and Chapman are on a visit to the Stratford primary school. Police-Sergeant J. Dale resumed duty to-day after a short holiday. Sergeant Martin, who has been temporarily in charge at Stratford, returned to New Plymouth this afternoon. A pleasant evening was spent last night at the Parish Hall, when a social and dance was held under the auspices of the Stratford Musical Society. Mr. Stan Robinson acted as M.C., and excellent music was provided by the Misses Moon, Cook, and Weston. During the evening items were given by the following: Mrs. Stan Robinson, Misses Milner and Maisie Ward (songs), Misses Sheahan and Rigg (duet), Messrs. Curteis and S. Robinson (songs), and Mrs. W. Pettigrew (recitation). A man named Peter Keenan, who had been an inmate of the Stratford Hospital for some time, dropped dead in the grounds this morning while going to help the gardener. He was being treated for heart trouble. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford, for all magazines and periodicals. School stationery, “Bestway” series, fashions. Wireless World, Wireless News, Radio News, Radio, Wireless Weekly, etc. . The residents of Stratford and district ore notified that Ernest Davies, the Lon-don-qualified sight-testing optician, visits Stratford every Tuesday, and may be conBulted at Mr. Gaffaney’s, Broadway. Hours: 0.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.