Compiled by Cameron McCullough
IN view of the fact that the council on Friday, 5th December – that being the date of the next ordinary meeting – will be faced with the resolution of no-confidence, passed by the meeting of ratepayers, recently held at Frankston, the following extracts from the report of the Inspector of Municipal Accounts, published in “The Standard” of 30th July last, will prove of interest:
PREVENTING A CRISIS
Mr. McCullum (the inspector) said, inter alia:
“The borrowing by bank overdraft has been over the legal limit of the year, and the only way that a crisis had not been reached was that the council agreed with the bank that no further expenditure on the No. 12 £10,000 loan schedule should be entered into, and that the unexpended balance, £9627/16/10, should remain a set amount against the overdraft, and under present circumstances I cannot recommend that any objection be taken to it.”
Mr. McCallum does not explain that the Local Government Act specially provides that loans SHALL NOT be raised for the reduction of bank over drafts.
Continuing, the inspector says:
“The liabilities have been incurred, and must be met, and the only way to do so is to increase the revenue and exercise a wise discretion in regard to expenditure over the next few years.
“The council must meet the position at once, and I suggest that THIS YEAR the GENERAL RATE BE IN CREASED by 6d. in the £. This would produce about £1760, and the whole or the agreed part of it should be ear-marked for the reduction of the overdraft until it is wiped out, or, at least, brought within the legal limit.”
Here again Mr. McCallum does not refer to the fact that rates MAY NOT be struck to provide for the reduction of bank overdraft illegally incurred.
He does say, however, that:
“The payments this year for loan, interest, and sinking funds, Country Roads Board funds, loan redemption, and bank interest on overdrafts, will absorb the whole of the rate assessment, so that there will be little left to meet expenditure on general purposes.”
Personal
Mrs. Stanley Bruce, who returned to Melbourne with the Prim Minister on Saturday last, spent the week-end at Frankston. She left again for the city on Monday evening.
Mr. H. M. Collins returned to Frankston from his trip to England last week-end, looking, so it is said the picture of health. Mr. Collins is keenly anticipating a pleasurable reunion with many friends on the occasion of the welcome home which will be tendered in his honour by the members of the Alfred Hospital Auxiliary on Saturday, December 6.
Mr. J. Lyle, our popular townsman, has received an interesting letter from his brother, Mr. David Lyle, who, for many years, has been living in China.
Mr. D. Lyle, for a quarter of a century, was in the British Army, in which he held the rank of Warrant Officer, and in the days of the Boxer Riots passed through strenuous times.
Later, he proceeded to London, where after taking his full architectural degrees, with distinction, he returned to the sphere of former labours to practice his profession.
He hopes, next year, to visit Australia, and his brother, Mr. J. Lyle, of Frankston, states that in all probability he will settle and make his future home beneath the shelter of the Southern Cross.
Golf At Somerville – “Royal and Ancient Game” in the Boom
The Somerville Golf Club was formally opened on November 15, by the president, Dr. Bickart, who drove the first ball and declared the links open.
He said that a new era in sport had been created in Somerville.
The course is one of nine holes, with cleared and sanded putting greens, very nicely situated, close to the township. The property belongs to Mr. Arthur Thornell, who has given permission for its use for six months, without charge.
A trophy, keenly contested, was won by Mr J. Sullivan with a nett score of 69, Mr. S. S. Gault, the honorary secretary, being the runner-up with 81.
A trophy, kindly donated by the honorary secretary, will be played for to-morrow (Saturday). Great enthusiasm is being manifested in the “Royal and Ancient Game,” and the club membership already totals 25.
Trophies are promised for each of the next four fortnightly competitions.
The Frankston School – Forthcoming Annual Picnic
A meeting of ladies was held at the Frankston school last Friday, to initiate the organisation of the annual picnic. Mrs. Amor presided, and there was a very fine attendance.
It was decided to hold the picnic at Frankston, on Wednesday, December 17, the timetable of events to be as follows:
Sports, begin at 10 o’clock; lunch at 12; ice cream at 2pm; lollies, etc., at 3 pm, and tea at 4pm.
The sports programme was left in Mr Jennings’ hands.
The following ladies were appointed collectors, viz.: Mesdames Amor, Rogerson, Preston, Coxall, Jones, Ward, Charlwood and Todd. It is hoped that the onerous duties imposed upon these ladies, may be lightened and brightened by intending contributors anticipating their desires, by canvassing them to accept a willing offering.
Truly, December 17 next will be a red-letter day for the children of the Frankston school.
Wireless Demonstration Baxter
At Baxter this (Wednesday) evening Mr. E. P. Davies, of the Bayside Music and Radio Stores, Frankston, will give a wireless demonstration in aid of the hall funds. It is the laudable intention of Mr. Davies to likewise demonstrate the wonders of radio enterprise in every hall on the Peninsula, the proceeds of each entertainment to go towards the cause.
Constable Feehan Scores
In the annals of police exploits it is rarely if ever recorded that an officer of the force is found to be on the scene of necessitous duty at the psychological moment.
True, he may be on the scent of his quarry and sleuthing him at the very heels, so to speak, but seldom does the ubiquitous representative of law and order appear on the spot of trouble until the row is all over.
However, Constable Feehan, of Chelsea, would seem to be an exception to the general rule.
Now for the story to prove the contention. At 3.30pm last Sunday, in Pt. Nepean road, near to the Eelrace road crossing, a motor, driven by Arthur Abraham, whose domicile is Kerr street, in the salubrious sphere known as Fitzroy, knocked down, it is alleged, Edward Williams, who, accompanied by his brother, Francis, was walking along the busy thoroughfare in question, against the traffic.
Constable Feehan, as before indicated, chanced to be a witness of the accident, and lost no time in conveying the injured man to the surgery of Dr. Le Souef, of Chelsea.
Later, and as an interesting sequel to the mishap, the Williams brothers were charged with being drunk and disorderly, and at the local Court, the morning after the night before, were each called upon to enrich the coffers of His Majesty, King George the Fifth, to the extent of 20/-, with the alternative of seven days’ free board and lodging.
Schnapper At Carrum
The greatest catches of schnapper on record have, it is reported, taken place along the Carrum shores during the past two weeks.
On two consecutive days 1000 lbs. of fish were dispatched from the local station.
From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 26 & 28 Nov 1924