GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 6

GERALDINE

BUSINESS MATTERS APATHY DEPLORED Convened by the Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald), a meeting of Geraldine businessmen, held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening, was attended by Messrs D. MacDonald, J. R. Lack, A. G. Brown, E. H. Logan and B. Logan. An apology was received from Mr C. C. Knight. Owing to the small attendance the meeting was adjourned till June 11 when the question of holidays and other matters of interest to the business community will be further discussed. The Mayor, who presided, intimated that he was partly responsible for calling the meeting as they probably knew that there was a want of unanimity among the business men in regard to holidays etc., and the holiday question was always cropping up. Mr J. B. Stewart, a former resident of the town, had formed a Businessmen’s Association, but it did not last as they had gone out to the country and so on. A voice: That is what spoilt it! The Mayor continued that there was certainly a reason for an organisation of some sort instead of an Association. If they appointed a committee from each class of trade, soft goods, butchers, grocers, bakers, etc., this committee could meet to decide what should be done in regard to holidays. Such public questions as the Rangitata Bridge could be discussed. Mr Macdonald explained that he had not stated the reason for calling the meeting in his advertisement as he felt that the business men would be sufficiently interested to attend, and, moreover, he had thought that the spirit of inquisitiveness would have proved an encouragement to attend. Agreement Difficult. Mr A. G. Brown remarked that in the past it had been very difficult "o agree in regard to holidays. One or two of the business men ran round the town in an endeavour to airive at some unanimity. “The pity is that more of the business men have not taken the trouble to get together," he commented. "The advertisement calling the business men together should have caused discussion." There had been considerable discussion in regard to the holiday on the Thursday after Anzac Day. which fell on the Wednesday. It had been said that, if they kept open on the Thursday, on which day the stock sale was held, there would be very little business, but the decision to close on the Tuesday afternoon and to keep open m the Thursday afternoon had showed that it had been a splendid day from a business point of view. There were various matters on which it behoved the business men to get together, but there were so few present that he doubted if the meeting could do much. The matter of the deviation of the main highway via the Rangitata bridge was a matter which the business-men could have readily discussed and one which vitally concerned them all, and there were a number of other matters which affected the business community. Mr D. MacDonald remarked that it was very unfortunate to see such a small attendance, especially of representatives of retail businesses. It was not necessary to form am. her business men’s association, but if. a small committee was elected, it could fix up various matters. A small committee was his idea of the thing, and, when holiday questions or other matters arose, they could be notified to meet. The Mayor: If necessary the committee could convene a general meeting of the public. Mr B. Logan remarked that the previous Businessmen's Association had merged into a Beautifying Association and all that sort of thing. Mr Brown said that he had just heard that Mr E. Twigg held the remnants of the former Businessmen’s Association, and he would not like any action by the present meeting to cast any slight on Mr Twigg. The Beautifying Committee of the Association had done good work. The Mayor explained that he had ■called at the shop and had been informed that Mr Twigg would attend the meeting, but, unfortunately he was not present.

Lack of Unanimity. Mr B. Logan referred to the fact that, although the shops were supposed to close at 11 a.m. on the two days of the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting, some did not do so. The Mayor remarked ihat he was not altogether of the opinion that it was necessary to close the shops early on those days. Mr B. Logan: We like to giv* our employees a chance to get away early. Mr D. MacDonald: The first race is at 12.30 p.m., and if the shops do not close early it does not give the employees much time to get home to change and have lunch. The Mayor: That is so, of course. Mr J. R. Lack said that it had been a great mistake to widen the 6Cope of the former Businessmen’s Association. They had started in a small way and the initial meeting had been as small as the present, so that there was no need to be discouraged, if they formed a committee, and even if it confined itself to the question of holidays only, it would do good work.. The previous Association had tasen on other things, with a result that it has gone as flat as flat could be. It had been tottering before the secretary (Mr J. B. Stewart) had left Geraldine. Mr B. Logan said that he agreed with the previous speakers, but added that he would like to see a permanent Businessmen’s Association formed. They should hold another meeting, and endeavour to get all the business men present. There seemed to be a section who hid behind the few who endeavoured to do something and criticised what was done. He would like to see a live organisation formed. The business-men's association had nothing to do with the country people: it was a purely local matter. The Mayor agreed that the suggestion to call a further meeting was a good one. Mr B. Logan was thanked for his offer to canvass the business men with a view to securing their attendance at a subsequent meeting on June 11th. Mr Brown expressed the indebtedness of those present to the mayor in calling the meeting which was of no direct interest to him, and he had placed the Council Chambers at their disposal. The Mayor replied that it was not only his duty, but his privilege to call such meetings. WAIHI REBEKAH LODGE. Sister E. South, N.G.. presided over a good attendance at the fortnightly meeting of the Waihi Rebekah Lodge. A welcome was extended to three members who had been absent for some time. It was decided to hold a dance at a future date. D.D.G.M. Bro. McCabe presented Sis. D. Tindall with a P.G. certificate. HOCKEY. The following are the teams for tomorrow : Union—J. Pugh. J. Maitland. E. Brown, S. Callanan. C. Knight, J. Clyne, D. Brett, J. Hendry, G. Cowie, A. Vincent, H. Davis, L. Borrell, E. Williams. Northern—R. Hayes, P. McShane, W. Angland, J. Buckley, V. Prouting, G. Vial, J. Sullivan, D. Turner, J. Patrick, G. Webb, D. Eathorne, J. Lorimer. Southern—B. Stringer, J. Weaver, R. Dixon, G. Coombs, W. Rule, G. Haves, G. White, K. Wallach, W. Patrick, J. Davies, J. McNamara, W. McShane, J. Webb. EALING INSTITUTE. At the monthly meeting of the Ealing Women’s Institute, Mrs E. H. Davis presided. ' Miss H. Lill (Willowby) gave a demonstration of the making of a “humpty,” using syrup tins as a base. One new member was proposed. It was decided that the birthday anniversary take the form of a concert and dance. Mrs E. Davis was appointed delegate to attend the annual conference in Wellington in July. t The competitions resulted:—Sponge roll. Miss McGuigan 1, Mrs B. Witheil 2, Mrs C. Keen 3. Best dish dessert apples, Miss I. Grant 1, Mrs W. Giddings 2, Miss P. Good 3. Jar mixed chrysanthemums, Miss F. McGuigan I, Mrs C. Keen 2, Mrs E. Davis 3. Mrs Clothier and Miss Lill judged the competitions. The hostesses for the afternoon were—Mrs W. Gidding, Mrs B. Witheil and Miss Good. PERSONAL. Mr F. W. Graybum has been appointed honorary secretary of the Geraldine Returned Soldiers’ Association in the place of Mr A. Roy Hawke, who has resigned after several years’ service. The Orari Tennis Club will hold its end of season dance in the Coronation Hall to-morrow. Miss R. Killoh. Orari, advertises that she has received a diploma for dress designing and dress cutting from the Hollywood School of Dressmaking, Christchurch.