AT a meeting convened by the Progress Association 18 months ago it was stated that sly-grog selling had become quite a business in the district, most of the liquor being brought from Mordialloc and Frankston, which were well supplied with hotels.
Supplies were also brought by persons spending the week-end in Chelsea, and made a good profit out of illicit selling on Sundays.
The result had been that Chelsea was known as “the bottle merchants’ paradise.”
At this meeting a committee was formed, with Mr. A. Roberts as secretary, to take steps to suppress the sly-grog evil in the district.
Since the amendment of the Licensing Act in November, it has become possible for Chelsea to have a hotel, and the committee has prepared a petition, which has been signed by a large number of residents, asking that a local option poll be held.
If a majority decides on having a hotel, the workers in the present movement propose to erect a modern hotel of three stories, with accommodation for 30 guests.
The estimated cost of the building is £13,000, the money for which will, it is hoped, be obtained from the sale of shares in a co-operative company, which it is proposed to float, and under whose control the hotel will be.
Shares will be sold only to permanent residents in Chelsea. The promoters have three sites for the hotel under offer. Each of them is within the 20 mile radius, so that the objection, that there will be Sunday trading, is eliminated.
A proposal to build a coffee palace was rejected by the committee, as it was considered that, after the experience of Warrnambool in this direction, it would involve loss.
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THE Earl of Stradbroke, Grand Master of the United Lodge of Victoria, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, accompanied by a large number of Masonic brethren, visited Frankston yesterday.
The visitors lunched at “The Fernery” and were considerably impressed with the excellence of the appointments and the many evidences of Mr. Bradbury’s enterprise.
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W.C.T.U. MEETING.
There was a large attendance of ladies at the meeting of the Frankston branch of the W.C.T.U. held at the Methodist Sunday school hall on Wednesday last. Mrs. Goodwin (secretary) reported that it would not be necessary to persevere with opposing petitions as no tenders had been received by the sports club for the liquor booth on Easter Monday.
“The Standard” Thanked.
Congratulatory speeches were made during the course of which “The Standard” was thanked for so readily giving publicity to the Union’s activities.
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A.N.A. LADIES’ NIGHT.
Next Thursday night the Frankston branch of the A.N.A. will hold a ladies’ night in the “Mechanics’ Hall to take the form of a euchre party and dance.
Last night a meeting of the committee was held to finalise arrangements.
Mr. W. Lind (vice-president) occupied the chair, and the members present were Messrs. D. J Quartermain (secretary), Alex. Wells, W. B. Cunningham, C. Paxman, and W. C. Young.
The secretary reported that good music had been secured.
Mr. Wells promised to provide coffee, sugar and other necessities connected with the supper, which is being supplied by the ladies.
Admission will be by silver coin, ladies a basket.
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THIS week, Mr. W. Macfee took up his position as local manager for Mr. S. M. Hughes, Frankston’s high-class tailor.
The window display in his modern and attractive premises in Wells Street (“Standard” buildings) is well worth inspection, and Mr. Macfee has been provided with a fine range of materials well calculated to suit all castes and fancies.
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FRANKSTON residents who are familiar with the benefits of massage will learn with satisfaction that an electrically operated massage vibrator has been added to the up-to-date equipment of Mrs. Woods hairdressing saloon in Young Street, opposite the Frankston railway station.
The regular use of the vibrator is calculated to stimulate the scalp circulation. The massage removes dandruff and keeps the head clean, thus removing one of the causes which attacks the normal growth of hair.
Mr. Chas. McLeod, who has given some study to the use of the vibrator, would be pleased to supply details to anyone contemplating treatment.
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Ordered To Pay
Jack Skinner, Dan Skinner and Mark Skinner, three brothers residing at Chelsea, answered to their names at the Frankston Court last Monday to show cause why they had not complied with an order of the Court to pay £18/12/- due to M. S. Russell, butcher, of Kew.
At a previous court they had each been fined 10/- for failure to appear.
When Jack Skinner was put into the box his brothers were ordered out of the court.
Jack appealed to the Bench against this procedure, but his objection was not upheld.
Witness stated that he was a bookmaker’s clerk employed by Mr. Soloman, registered bookmaker.
He received 30/- per day when at work, but his engagements did not average more than one day a week.
When his employer had a “winning day” witness received more than 30/-.
He had not backed Sunburst and did not tell Mr. Williams, of Chelsea, that he did.
He attended all the pony meetings, and always had bets on the races.
The chairman suggested that witness offer to pay a certain amount each week.
Witness said he could manage to pay 5/- per week.
Counsel (instructed by Mr. A. Leslie Williams) declined to accept such a small payment, and the Bench made an order for the payment of £1 per week, commencing on 26th March, and failing one part settlement the whole amount to become due, in default four weeks imprisonment.
Witness: It is impossible for me to pay that amount.
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DURING the last few weeks hawkers have been accosted by the police when hawking fruit from door to door.
One young man was unable to produce a hawker’s license, and he was told that he must cease hawking.
The plums he was offering were being sold at 1d. a pound, and were appreciated by housewives. They were of excellent quality, having been grown on his father’s orchard at Blackburn.
The matter was brought to the notice of the Minister for Labor (Sir Alexander Peacock), who found that by the Amending Hawkers’ and Peddlers’ Act, passed in 1918, it was necessary for persons hawking fruit grown by themselves to have a license.
Such persons were previously exempt.
As the relations between the producer and the consumer were affected, the matter was taken to the Cabinet, and the Chief Secretary (Mr. Baird) was asked to confer with the Chief Commissioner of Police (Mr. Nicholson).
Members of the force have now been instructed that “no action is to be taken against producers or persons of good repute who hawk fruit without a license.”
It is intended when the opportunity occurs to amend the law.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 21 & 23 March 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 21 March 2023
