ANOTHER unseemly episode occurred in the grim tussle betwixt Mornington and Frankston on Saturday last.
It occurred in the third quarter, on the High street side of the oval, where the noisiest of the barrackers had congregated.
They gave trouble the best part of the day, and were only kept in check by the presence of Constable Graham, who did his best to keep the playing space cleared.
Earlier in the match there had been two fights, but on each occasion George Cook intervened and prevented the sparks becoming flames.
He is to be commended for his sportsmanlike action in the field. We want more of that spirit.
On the third outbreak the position looked serious, as not only were players fighting but spectators joined in and the ground was rushed.
Aided by Senior-Constable Cullane and Constable Graham the cooler heads amongst the players intervened and the free fight was brought to a conclusion.
Don Hutchins, however, did not come out of it without injury, for he had his chin split, from which blood flowed freely, and upon returning to Mornington had to have two stitches inserted.
Hutchins himself is a police constable and should be one of the first to propagate a spirit of sportsmanship and good order on the football field.
On this occasion, however, Stan Hutchins claimed that Don was attacked by three Frankston players, who struck him simultaneously.
Whether this is true or not, I do not know. All I do know is that this sort of thing is not football, and it is up to the Peninsula Association to stop it!
The umpiring of “Yorkie” Shaw was blamed, for they claimed that he let the players have too much latitude.
Frankston claimed that Shaw did not give them a fair deal. But I hold a letter from one of the leading officials of the Mornington Football Club who claim that Mornington did not get a fair deal, either!
In fact, there is a suggestion that they will not play again under Shaw!
So, there you are! But, in any case, even if an umpire is lax that is no reason why footballers should go smashing one another’s jaws and putting the boot into one another’s ribs, shins, stomachs or heads, as will some day be the case here.
Football is a game for men – men!
If a man cannot keep a cool head on the football field, and play the game – he has no right to play football.
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TWO private parties were held at the Frankston Palais de Danse last Saturday night.
Mrs. Bond, wife of the popular managing director, tendered her husband a birthday party on the occasion of his birthday, when a large number of friends, including visitors from the city and suburbs were in attendance.
Excellent music was supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Dunning.
Mrs. Alan Taylor, of the Pier Hotel, Frankston, also entertained a large number of friends, when the many young people present spent a particularly enjoyable time.
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MR. W. O. Griffiths, of Aspendale, suffered a severe loss on Sunday last through the burning of his car, about five miles from Frankston, on the Mornington side.
It appears that the car, which was driven by Mr. Peter Griffith, back-fired, and before anything could be done, a conflagration ensued which destroyed everything except parts of the chassis and the two front tyres.
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A VERY pleasing ceremony took place at Mt. Eliza this week when Mr. Leeland Davey, on behalf of the residents of the riding, presented Capt. Davies with a gold-mounted pipe, tobacco pouch and tobacco.
Mr. Davey said the gift was intended to mark in a small way the gratitude of residents for the many kindnesses received at the hands of Capt. Davies, who while in business at the Mount, had been most obliging in executing all kinds of commissions for residents.
Capt. Davies was well-known and highly esteemed, and the speaker trusted that the small gift would be accepted in the spirit in which it was given.
Capt. Davies, who was taken by surprise, said that he found pleasure in doing what he could for the people and did not look for reward.
He was, however, very pleased and proud to receive their token of appreciation, and trusted that when he resumed business in the near future he would be able to give the same satisfaction as in the past.
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SHIRE OF FRANKSTON AND HASTINGS. Local Government Act, 1915. NOTICE OF SPECIAL ORDER FOR BORROWING MONEY.
NOTICE is hereby given that at a meeting of the Council of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, held at the Municipal Chambers, Frankston, on Friday, June 8, 1923, the said Council did agree to the following resolution, that is to say:
That this Council proceed to make a special order to borrow the sum of £2000 on the credit of the President, Councillors and Ratepayers of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, for improvements in the Frankston park, such sum to be raised by the issue of debentures in accordance with the provisions of Part 14 of the Local Government Act, 1915.
Notice is hereby further given that a meeting of the said Council will be held at the Council Chambers, Frankston, on Friday, August 10, 1923, at 2 o’clock, in the afternoon, when the said resolution above-mentioned will be submitted for confirmation.
Dated this 27th day of July, 1923.
By Order,
JOHN E JONES, Shire Secretary.
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Letter to the Editor
Sir,
My attention has just been drawn to a letter in “The Standard” of the 18th July last, above the nom de plume, “Good Roads First.”
Your correspondent, who gives his place of residence as Somerville, first takes Cr. McLean to task for proposing to assist the Baxter people in securing a hall, and then adds:
“Some weeks ago another Centre riding councillor moved that an additional rate be struck on the whole shire to relieve the Frankston riding of their indebtedness.”
I would like to point out that this statement is absolutely untrue and therefore unfair.
Your correspondent evidently has in mind the discussion which took place some months ago, when the financial position of the whole shire was being discussed.
The whole of the ridings at that time were considerably overdrawn, and a proposal was made by one councillor that works throughout the shire should be stopped.
Cr. Gerrand immediately opposed this idea as a retrograde step, and said that rather than see the progress of the district held up he would support the imposition of an extra rate over the whole shire.
How your correspondent construes this into an attempt to secure a special rate over the whole shire for the sole benefit of the Frankston riding passes my comprehension.
I can only surmise that now the annual elections are approaching and Cr. Gerrand is the retiring councillor in the Centre riding, any old stick is good enough to use to beat an opponent.
However, this attempt to discredit a councillor in the eyes of his ratepayers is palpably too unjust and untrue to carry weight with fairminded people.
Yours, etc.,
W. J. OATES.Frankston.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 25 & 27 Jul 1923