Compiled by Cameron McCullough
AN unauthenticated statement reached “The Standard” office yesterday to the effect that the Government contemplated expending £20,000 in providing for the drainage of the area between Beach street, Frankston, and Seaford farm lands.
Our informant also stated that a similar sum was to be expended in Carrum.
If correct this will be a great boon to residents in the districts mentioned. The scheme, it is said, provided for taking all the flood water into Kananook Creek.
Last week the Minister of Public Works, at the invitation of the Carrum Council, visited the Carrum flood areas.
Cr. Wells moved at last Council meeting that Frankston and Hastings councillors arrange to meet him on that occasion, but none of our representatives seem to have been sufficiently interested to keep the appointment.
“John Citizen” On The Alert
On the evening of October 6 1924, at the monthly meeting of the East Frankston Progress Associations it was unanimously resolved:
“That this association of Frankston East ratepayers views with dismay the ever-increasing evidence of the Council’s inability to cope with the serious financial position of the Shire; that the closing of the Shire office except for 1½ days a week; the shutting down of the quarry; and the deplorable condition of the electric light system, call for full investigation, and this association recommends that a public meeting of ratepayers be convened to discuss the position, and, further, that the thanks of this association be tendered to “The Standard” for its fearless action in placing before the ratepayers the true financial position of the Shire.”
In so far as current events are concerned, the foregoing, as stated, presents an even greater degree of necessity than seemed to be apparent on the particular occasion to which we have alluded.
Since the date mentioned, the civic fathers have met in conclave, as of yore, something after the manner, and in accordance ,with the plausible tactics adopted by a mutual admiration society of irresponsibles, i.e., with, of course, a few exceptions, and despite repeated warnings emanating from all points of the local compass, continue to indulge in a nice little game of skittles at the expense of “John Citizen.”
It is not a question of “The Standard,” or any one else for that matter, persistently attacking the councillors for the mere purpose of harassing them; far from it. But in view of the crisis which has been reached, there can be no via media followed by the members of the party machine at work behind the scenes to make the ratepayers still believe they are doing their best for the good of the Shire at the Council table, and elsewhere.
In short, the procedure, of camouflage must cease.
To be candid, the old and tired councillors have, of late, outclassed and totally eclipsed all previous records pertaining to rank insubordination of the trust reposed in them.
There recent monthly sitting of the Council was an obvious instance of the outrageous and utter ineptitude on, the part of the rusty party machine clique to realise the acute and desperate position in which the Shire is faced through the indiscretions of the past in relation to frenzied finance.
It has been emphasised previously in these columns, and we re-assert that in regard to the existing turmoil, it is not the duty of the councillors, as a body, to even so much as attempt to pursue the ordinary routine of business at the monthly meetings, as here before, but to suspend standing orders with the imperative object of, at least, making a supreme effort to thrash out the problems with which they are confronted, and thus endeavour to regain a portion, however meager, of confidence in their combined powers to act as men might be expected to behave – not like juveniles, apropos the machine party attributes, as was substantially evidenced from 10am on the 10th inst., until 1.20 o’clock on the memorable morning of the fruitless 11th.
Surely, the cranks of the party machine must recognise that having placed all their cards, as a pack of children would do, face upwards on the board of inexperience, the game of bluff is up.
Hence, we see no reason why ,the ratepayers should not take a determined hand, and at the earliest possible moment call a public indignation meeting for the purposes as specified in the resolution carried unanimously at the last monthly meeting of the East Frankston Progress Association.
The Same Good “Sport” – Mr. Edward Dess’s Heroic Deed
Mr. Edward Dess, erstwhile of Frankston, and a son of Mr. Dess, of the well-known and up-to-date tailoring and men’s mercery establishment in Bay street, Frankston is the same good “sport” as in the days when he was residing in our midst.
In the words of an authority: “He stuck at nothing, and was ever ready and willing to give a helping hand.”
At the age of 13 “Edward,” it is of interest to record, was instrumental in saving another youth from drowning in the Yarra, near Kew, for which heroic deed he was awarded the much coveted Royal Humane Society’s medal.
Also, upon several other occasions he saved life. But, doubtless, his latest exploit will rank as the greatest and bravest of all feats.
This (Friday) night a week ago, Mrs. C. Yates, aged 70, in a house at Darlinghurst, was suffocated by fumes in her room, and burned to death, despite a courageous attempt on the part of Mr. Edward Dess to rescue the unfortunate woman. Twin infants, 18 months’ old, who were asleep in an adjoining room were rescued by their mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Argles, whose screams brought assistance.
Several men rushed up the narrow staircase of the burning house, and the first one to reach the room, namely Dess, was in the act of rescuing Mrs. Yates, when the ceiling fell on him, and he barely escaped with his life.
When Mrs. Argles discovered the fire she ran upstairs and stumbled across the room to the cot in which her children were asleep.
She called to Mrs. Yates in the next room, and heard her exclaim: “My God!” Mrs. Argles screamed for help, and, as before stated, Edward Dess, a seaman, who was passing the house, heard the call and rushed in to save Mrs. Yates. After several attempts, Dess reached the unfortunate woman, but the sudden collapse of the ceiling and the wall of flames which confronted him, compelled him to retire. He was severely burned.
When the fire was extinguished the charred remains of Mrs. Yates were recovered. It is believed that the late Mrs. Yates was asleep when the conflagration started.
Mrs. Dess left on Wednesday last enroute to Sydney to see her son, who, it is feared, is seriously ill as the out come of a brave deed.
Support Local Enterprise
Entering a local shop, I asked to be supplied with some chocolate, made in England.
The astonished vendor gasped, and said: “That’s terrible! Why don’t you support local enterprise?”
I saw that I was in error, so I purchased “Australian made.”
The thought flashed through my mind that I should even up that score, so I asked for the local paper – for which I thanked the shopkeeper.
“But,” said I, “have you not THE local paper “The Standard’ I mean the paper with the six P.’s as a handle to it?”
“Oh, dear, no,” was the reply. “I don’t keep it; let’s the cat out of the bag too often; has too much information for the ratepayers. No I don’t keep it. But what do the six P.’s mean?”
I informed the shop keeper that they . meant: “Popular, Pre-eminent Paper, Protecting Peninsula People, and yet you don’t keep it?” I said.
“That’s terrible; why don’t YOU support local enterprise?”
“The Knut”
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 22 & 24 Oct 1924