Compiled by Cameron McCullough
Voting was heavy all day at the Frankston polling booth, where the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr. S. Sherlock, J.P., and his efficient staff carried out their duties in a highly satisfactory manner.
Mrs. Bruce cast her vote at Frankston, and at about 10am the Prime Minister and Mrs. Bruce set out to visit other polling centres.
The Prime Minister has spent many hours each day, recently, controlling and guiding important matters within the Commonwealth since the campaign opened, but on this particular tour it was noticed that Mrs. Bruce controlled the situation, inasmuch as she was the driver, and doubtless the change was one that was greatly appreciated by the member for Flinders, for Mrs. Bruce had accompanied her husband on his many excursions throughout the Commonwealth.
From towns at the seaside, Mr. Bruce went to Dandenong, the headquarters of the electorate; and then proceeded to Sassafras and the hill country around Ferntree Gully, and returned from that district to his Melbourne office in the evening, so that he might receive all available information regarding the election.
Frankston booth gave Mr. Bruce a lead of over 650.
There was little excitement as the returns continued to be posted throughout the evening from all parts of the electorate. At about eleven o’clock the early lead obtained by Mr. Bruce had increased to the substantial majority of over 7000 against his opponent, Mr. Beardsworth.
Supporters of the Prime Minister are naturally highly gratified at the result of the election, which is regarded, however, as something more important even than a Nationalist victory, for it is fully realised that a large body of the electors felt that Mr. Bruce was entitled to receive their vote and interest, regardless of the question of party politics.
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Frankston Gas Works
Mr. J. Crighton, who manages the local gas works, last week attended the annual meeting of the Victorian Gas Managers’ Association.
Mr. Crighton assures us that notwithstanding the great development of electricity in the State, metropolitan gas works are extending their plants, and in the works owned by the Colonial Gas Association in the suburban area of Melbourne, reconstruction and extensions are being carried out.
Footscray alone is accounting for an outlay of over £100,000 in reconstructed and additional plant.
One thing that impressed Mr. Crighton was the development of the use of gas in country towns, for if the Victorian gas managers’ annual meeting in Melbourne results in nothing more than an exchange of works gossip, it fulfills a very useful function, and Mr. Crighton learned that country towns, certainly no bigger and no more important than Frankston, are fast resorting to gas for cooking needs.
Householders who probably at one time regarded the use of gas stoves as something entirely out of harmony with the life of country towns – as some outward expression of unnecessary “swank” – are now taking to their use as readily as city dwellers.
At a meeting of the managers of the works owned by the Colonial Gas Association, of which the local works is one, appreciation of the organisation’s splendid record of progress was expressed by the chairman of directors, and while Mr. Crighton has always claimed to be pretty conversant with the size and doings of his own concern, it came as something of a surprise to learn that the seventeen works of the association supply nearly 25,000 customers with gas.
With the contemplated extensions of mains completed a big advance on this total must follow.
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Mornington Racing Club – Highly Successful Benefit Meeting
The Mornington Racing Club opened its season for 1925-26 under bright auspices, for everything favored the benefit meeting on the 12th inst., and it is gratifying to be able to report that an exceptionally good profit, amounting to £540, was made.
Half, or portion of the amount goes towards the completion of the Mornington Shire Honor Roll.
The committee who took the work up some time ago, and probably despaired of seeing it satisfactorily completed will be glad indeed and fully appreciative of the splendid assistance given by the Mornington Racing Club towards the accomplishment of so laudable an object.
This is but one thing the club has well assisted by the holding of benefit race meetings, for memorial hall propositions at Mornington, Frankston, Somerville, and Hastings have all had additions to their respective funds from the same source, and from its opening meeting last year the whole of the profits (£470) went to the Sorrento and Portsea Improvement Fund, so who can say the racing club is not a power for good on the Peninsula, as, in addition to encouraging clean sport, which gains the patronage of the good class of racing men, the club has done, and will continue to do, much for deserving institutions.
The securing of ample funds so easily, to complete the Mornington honour roll, is nothing short of a windfall to the committee which was endeavouring to see the task through, but having reached a certain stage nothing further could be done through lack of funds.
Now, however, the rest will be easy, and, thanks chiefly to the racing club, Mornington folk may rejoice in possessing a fitting tribute and record of those gallant lads who served in the Great War.
The great improvement scheme entered on by the racing executive committee has cost the club a large sum in hard cash, but being all permanent work it will prove money well spent, for when everything is accomplished which the management has in view, Mornington racecourse will probably be one of the best country courses in the State, and next in importance to the suburban ones.
All that has been done in enlarging the course and taking in the hill behind is for the benefit of patrons and the racing public generally, and there is now ample room for motor cars, whilst the provision for horses is adequate.
The club has any amount of elbow room and may go on expanding with ease. Eventually, when stands are erected, as they will be ultimately, water laid on to keep the racing track in good running order, stakes raised to encourage the leading owners and trainers to bring their horses to Mornington, which will induce an even better following than at present, the Mornington Racing Club will be well on the way to the establishment and fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of those great enthusiasts who are toiling so steadily to realise their ambition.
Since last year many noticeable improvements have been made for the benefit of racegoers, who are not slow to appreciate what has been accomplished.
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Butterfly Fair
The Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild will hold a Butterfly Fair in the Palais, Frankston, on Friday, December 4 (afternoon and evening). Dr. Mackeddie will open the fair at 3pm.
The Guild and Presbyterian Girls’ Association have been working throughout the year for the function, and the result is a fine selection of garments and fancy work.
Other stalls are: Sweets, produce, cake, Sunday school, flower, jumble, ice cream, refreshments, hoop-la, competitive games for children.
Interesting events will be hat trimming for gents, nail-driving for ladies, cookery competitions for adults and juniors under 16.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 20 November 1925