THE monthly meeting of the Frankston Progress Association was held on Tuesday last, when considering the stormy weather prevailing, there was a splendid attendance.
Present: Messrs J. D. Jennings (pres.) Jacobs, W. Lind, W. Wright, Lalor, Jacobs, W. Lind, D. Wright, Lalor, McIntosh, C. Holman, J. Bradbury, jun., A. Bailey, Moulder, J. L. Pratt, H. B. Legge, Cr. W. J. Oates, and the secretary, W. C. Young.
The President extended a welcome to Mrs. Rogerson, who attended with a number of young people to hear Mr. Wheeler’s paper.
Mr. McIntosh was welcomed as a new member.
BOWLING GREENS AND TENNIS COURTS.
Mr. J. Bradbury reported that the deputation from the association, consisting of the president, Lieut.-Colonel Lazarus, Mr. Young and himself, received a splendid reception from the Country Roads Board last week, when the application to utilise land on the side of Mornington road for bowling greens and tennis courts was favorably considered.
The deputation was supported by members of the shire council.
Mr. Bradbury said the Board commended the Progress Association on its enterprise and wished the movement every success.
The chairman promised that the Board would inspect the site within the next two weeks. (Hear, hear).
HIDDEN FIRE PLUGS.
Mr. H. B. Legge moved that application be made to Mr. Williams, of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission to have fire plugs in Frankston made accessible to the fire brigade. He said it was impossible to find many of the valves.
Mr. W. Lind, in seconding, said that Mr. Marshall, when in Frankston recently commented very unfavorably on the condition of the fire plugs, many of which were below the level of the roads.
This was a menace to health, as drainage could enter the valves when water was drawn from the mains.
The motion was carried, Mr. Bradbury remarking that an effort should be made to secure a motor hose for Frankston.
FOOTBRIDGE AT ENTRANCE TO FRANKSTON STATION.
The footbridge recently placed over the drain in Young street at entrance to railway ramp, provoked discussion.
Mr. Haggart, who has been moving in the association for several months past, to have this work done, thought that a vote of thanks should be passed to the council.
Cr. Oates: It is a disgrace to the council to put such a thing there.
Mr. Jacobs said the bridge was dangerous. It was too small and should be provided with a hand-rail.
Mr. McIntosh spoke in opposition to a hand-rail. The bridge should be made longer.
Cr. Oates: It ought to be double the length.
Mr. Haggart reminded Cr. Oates that in discussing the matter with him after last progress meeting, he (Cr. Oates) had said that the bridge was not wanted that there were more important works to attend to.
Cr. Oates warmly denied having made such a statement.
Mr. Haggart said the statement was made before witnesses.
Cr. Oates: I said no such thing.
Mr. Haggart said that things were in a pretty bad way if three councillors could not see that a small job such as a footbridge was not properly put down.
Mr. Bradbury said the council should be asked to put in a footbridge of a permanent character.
Mr. Lind: If you read “The Standard” after last council meeting you would know that this is only a temporary job.
The engineer proposes to widen the street at that point; take out the trees and provide a 6ft. footpath.
Attention was drawn to the bad state of the footpath after crossing the footbridge.
Mr. Young said that improvements should be made there before the visit of the Railway Commissioners on Tuesday next.
Mr. Jacobs moved and Mr. Haggart seconded that the council be requested to put a larger bridge across the drain in Young street, opposite the sub-way, and that the path be gravelled between the bridge and the ramp.
Carried.
NEW RAILWAY STATION FOR FRANKSTON
Mr. Lalor, stationmaster, at Frankston, who kindly attends monthly meetings of the association to assist members in matters relating to the railways, asked if the association had accepted the offer of the Railway Department to allow a member of the association to inspect plans of new station.
It was ascertained that Lieut.- Colonel Lazarus, who was appointed to act for the association in this matter had not yet been able to visit the railway offices in Melbourne, and as he was suffering from a slight attack of pleurisy, Mr. J. Bradbury was appointed to interview the department and inspect the plans within the next week.
VISIT OF RAILWAYS COMMISSIONERS.
The president, Mr. Jennings and Mr. Bradbury were appointed to interview the Commissioners on their arrival at Frankston on Tuesday next and make the following requests:
Early commencement of new station building.
Construction of footpath from ramp on Cranbourne road side of line.
Provision of swing-bar gate at Cranbourne road entrance.
Extra train on week days, between 9.28 a.m. and 11.10 a.m. by extending the 10.28 Carrum to Frankston.
Extra train on Sundays, between 1.30 p.m. and 3.10 p.m. by extension of 2.28 p.m. train Carrum to Frankston.
Mr. Wheeler suggested that the Commissioners should be thanked for the many improvements effected at Frankston before making further requests. (Hear, hear).
CR. OATES AND HIS CRITICS.
Cr. Oates, at the conclusion of the business, referred to the anonymous correspondent who, in “The Standard” had criticised his action in connection, with the new bowling greens and tennis courts.
Councillor Oates said he had issued an invitation to the correspondent to attend this meeting of the Progress Association, and air his grievances.
“I don’t know if he is here,” continued Cr. Oates, “I don’t think he is here.”
Cr. Oates denied that he tried to hang up the scheme, and the criticism was unfair.
“The man who stabs another in the back,” he continued, “is not a man, and he should keep out of the Press.”
The President: I remember I, with other members, at last meeting interjected that your proposal would mean the loss of a month. Probably that was what the correspondent referred to.
Mr. Lind asked how the bowling greens were to be financed, and was informed that the association still had to consider the matter.
Mr. Lalor hoped that ample provision would be made for tennis courts, so that big tournaments could be played.
Mr. Bailey asked if existing courts would be demolished.
The President: We are not considering that. We are not interested in that phase of the matter.
PAPER BY MR. WHEELER.
Mr. Wheeler read a very interesting paper on the destructive distillation of wood and a highly entertaining debate followed. The paper, with following discussion, will be published in future issue of “The Standard.”
Mr. Wheeler was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 18 & 20 Jul 1923
