MARTON NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 231, 30 September 1943, Page 3

MARTON NOTES

ROTARY CLUB SOME ASPECTS OF BANKING. As the talk previously arranged for the Marton Rotary Club meeting had to be postponed for unavoidable reasons, the president, Rotarian C. S. Beechey, explained that he had to fill the bill at somewhat short notice. He spoke on "Some Aspects of Banking,” and dealt, as he said, with the subject from the points of view that occurred to him during the preparation of his talk. "Banking,” he said, "is an ancient and honourable profession, based on specialist training, sane methods and just dealing. Like every other trade, profession or business, it is primarily a service end depends for its existence on what it does, rather than on what it has.” After mentioning that banking was practised in ancient Babylonia and Assyria. Greece and Rome, he showed how it had been of importance in Italy in medieval times and had evolved into more or less present-day banking. He gave some interesting history of the founding and growth of the Bank of England—‘The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.” This, he said, was the foremost bank of the world, the pattern of the Central Bank, and had been the keystone of Britain’s finances for several centuries. The speaker gave an idea of the relationship of trading banks and central banks. He said that the central banks controlled the quantity of currency in any country, while the trading banks were more concerned with the circulation of that currency. He pointed out that banking in New Zealand and Australia had developed from small beginnings until to-day the N.Z. trading banks had 1100,000,000 deposits in their custody and assets totalling over £130,000,000, which was evidence of their soundness as well as of the confidence that the public had in them. It was, he said, the human side of banking that made it interesting—the contacts with people vrho sometimes disclosed the best side of their natures and at other times the opposite. Some Of a bank manager’s interview's provided pathos, some humour. Rotarian K. A. Williams thanked the speaker on behalf of the club, saying that they had all learned something from the talk. Earlier in the proceedings the Rev. F. Parker (padre) was admitted to Rotary membership, being addressed by Vice-President T. C. Ward, and welcomed by the president. A short talk on the Health Stamps Campaign was given by Rotarian Frank Mairs, who suggested that the Rotary Club could do a good deal to make the campaign the success it deserved to be. Birthday greetings were extended to Rotarians Tom Ward and Ken Fowler by the president on behalf of the club. OOMING-OF-AGE PARTY. On Saturday, September 18, Miss Yvonne Watts, celebrated her coming-of-age in the Junction Hall, Marton. Friends and relatives travelled from Hamilton, Gisborne, Hawera, Wellington, Stratford, Wanganui and Palme, ston North in honour of the occasion. The hall was tastefully decorated with vases of beautiful stocks, grape hyacinths and currant blossom. I’here were over 100 guests present, and the evening was spent in cards and dancing. The winners of the Monte Carlo were Miss D. Martyn ana Mr. A. Kingham and of the Lucky Gay Gordons Miss N. Purvis and Mr. Les Ransom, of Wellington. On be-

half of Mrs. Watts. Mr. A. Bevege, of Wanganui, thanked all those who had assisted in any cv.'ay with the prepaiat’cns for the evening, and particularly all for fa.? beautiful array of presents to Miss Ivonne, to whom he pesented a golden key. He congratulated her on attaining her majority and wished her many more happy birthdays. A bounteous supper was provided. A lovely birthday cake, decorated in blue and gold, presented by her brother, Mr. N. Watts, of Longburn, held of place on the table, and was cut by Miss Yvonne to the singing of "For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Dancing continued til] midnight, when all assembled and joined hands for the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Rousing cheers for Miss Yvonne terminated a very jolly evening. COURT LITTLE JOHN A.O.F. VISIT OF DISTRICT SENIOR BEADLE. The quarterly meeting of Court Little John, A.0.F., was held in the Druids’ Hall on Tuesday evening. C.R. Brother G. Lewis presided. The secretary reported the death of the late Brothers Frank Smith and. Leonard Moss (lost in air operations, over Europe, August 1942), and also the loss suffered by P.C.R. Bro. W. A. Watt in the death of his son (drowned at sea, while in transit as prisoner of war from Egypt to Italy). Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the departed and the secretary was instructed to forward letters of condolence to the relatives. C.R. Bro. G. Lewis extended a cordial welcome to Bro. S. R. McCallum, secretary of Court Rhoderick Dhu and District Senior Beadle, and asked the members to extend to him the Foresters’ Fire. Bro. McCallum expressed thanks for the invitation to be present at the meeting. He then dealt with various aspects of the activities of the Foresters’ movement, which included an immigration scheme to be put into operation after the war, whereby Foresters or their sons in England could be brought as settlers to New Zealand. The details he gave were of great interest. He also explained in detail the loan and investment scheme instituted by the Wellington District A.O.F. and showed the great benefit it would be to members, and stated that all would shortly be given a copy of it. He stated that owing to transport difficulties it had not been possible for more district officers to be present or to pay official visits. Trustee P.C.R. Bro. A. Way thanked the District Senior Beadle for visiting the Court and for his very able and interesting address to the members. The C.R. also exended a welcome to the visiting members of Court Rhoderick Dhu, and they were given the Foresters’ Fire. C.R. Brother Reid, S.C.R. Bro. Loader, and P.C.R. Bro. Wiyks replied, and Secretary McCallum, on behalf of Court Rhoderick Dhu, extended an invitation to Court Little John to be present at their quarterly meeting in December. Visitors from Auckland and Palmerston North were also present and welcomed. The Court decided to nominate Secretary C. Bruce, of Gisborne, as District Junior Beadle and D.J.B. Bro. S. R. McCallum as District Junior Woodward. After the Court closed the visitors were entertained by the members and supper was dispensed. CIVIC THEATRE, MARTON. "SREET OF CHANCE.” Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor co-star in the year’s most peculiar murder mystery Paramount’s | "Street of Chance," at the Civic Theatre. Burgess comes out of a state of amnesia to find the police

hunting for him for a murder he does not remember, committed while he was living under a name of which <e has no recollection. Leaving his wife he sets out to find out what it is all about £nd discovers that he has a sweetheart, which adds to the complications. Just haw he finds out the name under which he was living, and who committed the murder of which he has been accused, is told in this exciting picture. The associate feature, “Gii’] From Alaska” is a thrilling mystery tale of the frozen Alaskan north. MARTON GOLF CLUB. A bogey competition will be played on the Marton golf links on Saturday. Draw at the clubhouse at 1.30 pan. Players are requested to finalise their games in the knock-out competition.