AT last Monday night’s meeting of the Carrum Borough Council the Royal Life-Saving Society brought under notice the following resolution which was unanimously agreed to at the first annual conference of the Royal Life-Saving Society relative to new style of bathing costumes.
Cr. Beardsworth moved no action be taken, and said his motion was recently supported by the Chelsea Life Saving and Swimming Club, the Carrum Foreshore Trust, and also at a function of the council.
He saw no objection to the two-piece Canadian costume as provided in the regulations.
He was sorry to see adverse remarks regarding the Mayor in a Melbourne paper, and thought the remark “Wowserish” was not justified and unwarranted.
Cr. Boyd said in regard to the Foreshore Trust that Mr. Green had pointed out that the two costumes were about the same, removing the objection of the top piece coming up and showing body.
Cr. Williams said one could see more than that at football.
The Mayor said that Cr. Boyd could see more back of the ladies showing in a theatre in 5 minutes than he would see on the beach in 5 years.
He did not see why the council should alter its laws to suit the Royal Life-Saving Society, and thought they (the Society) would be better occupied in its primary object than in teaching municipalities how they should attire their residents.
There was no objection to the dress, and if they wanted it advertised they should get the salesmen to exhibit it in their shape.
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Frankston Police Court
Tuesday, 2nd October.
Before Messrs. C. W. Grant (chairman), P. Wheeler and J. Brown, J.sP.
Albert Verney, of Frankston, appeared to show cause why he should not contribute to the support of his child, Gladys Verney, aged 16 years, who is at present a ward of the State.
Examined by Senior-Constable Culhane, witness said he had no means and no property.
He followed the occupation of fisherman, and had not earned more than 5/- per week since June last.
He received 8/4 per fortnight from the Repatriation Department.
He suffered from rheumatism and deformity of the feet. Witness said he was supported by his wife, who owned freehold property in Prahran valued at £900.
The Chairman: There appears to be money in the family, and I don’t see why the State should be called on to maintain this child.
On the application of Senior-Constable Culhane, the case was adjourned for three months.
STOLEN FURS.
Robert Burke was charged with the larceny of a fur coat and stole, valued at £18, the property of Miss Vera Patroni, of the Pier Hotel, Frankston.
Senior-Constable Culhane conducted the prosecution.
The facts were that accused and a companion visited the Pier Hotel on Sunday, 23rd September.
They had tea and booked a bed and breakfast, giving instructions to be called early on the following morning.
When the licensee went to the room occupied by accused at 6.30 on Monday morning the door was open and there was no sign of accused or his companion.
Mrs. Margaret Robertson, licensee of the International Hotel, Melbourne, said that on Monday, 24th September, accused, in company with a woman, visited her hotel and offered to sell the fur coat and stole (produced) for £1.
When witness refused to buy, accused said he would make the articles a present to the lady with him, and he put the coat on her. The lady left the hotel wearing the coat.
Constable Carroll, stationed at Russell Street, said he arrested accused in Exhibition Street.
He was in company with a woman named Mabel Barton. She was wearing the fur coat and stole (produced).
When questioned, the woman said she got the coat and stole from accused. Accused said he had not seen the coat and stole before.
Both were arrested and charged with being in possession of goods suspected of having been stolen.
In the pocket of the coat was an envelope with Miss V. Patroni on it. Miss Patroni came to Russell Street and identified the property as belonging to her.
The two accused were brought before the City Bench on a charge of unlawful possession, and by direction of the Bench the accused was charged with larceny of the coat and stole.
Miss Patroni identified the coat and stole produced as her property. On the Sunday in question she had worn the articles, and on returning from a walk placed them on the bed in her room.
She did not miss the wearing apparel until Tuesday, 25th. She then made a search and found that a diamond ring was also missing.
Peter Patroni, licensee of the Pier Hotel, Frankston, identified the accused as the man who booked the room on the 23rd, with instructions to be called at a quarter-to-seven o’clock.
When witness went to call him at 6.30a.m. the room was empty.
Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on 15th October.
Accused asked for bail. Senior Constable Culhane objected; accused was a bird of passage. If bail was granted it should be for a substantial sum.
Bail was allowed in two sureties of £200 each.
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THE fortnightly social organised by the Frankston Fire Brigade took place in the Mechanics’ hall last Monday night, when, despite the stormy weather, there was a large attendance.
Visitors were present from Mornington and Carrum and an enjoyable evening was spent to music supplied by Messrs. Johnston and Laging.
Chief–Officer Marshall, of the Country Fire Brigades Board, was in attendance and held an inspection of the brigade. He put the men through various drill exercises, and was well pleased with their efficiency.
Mr Marshall, in a short address, strongly criticised the action of the local authorities in allowing the valves in the fire-plugs to remain in a choked and neglected condition.
He pointed out that he had previously drawn attention to this matter, and it was time that the Shire Council, in fairness to the brigade and the public generally, took steps to remedy the trouble.
In their present condition the plugs would probably be ineffective in case of fire.
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AN alleged “news” sheet, published down Moorabbin way, and boasting a limited “complimentary” circulation in Frankston, makes barefaced raids on the columns of “The Standard” every week.
We have frequently complained of this unscrupulous pirating, and in last Friday’s “Standard’ a little trap was set which closes the “scissors and paste artist” in all his shamelessness.
Last Thursday “The Standard” reporter attended the special meeting of the shire council, held to consider health matters affecting Frankston.
There was no other pressman present.
In anticipation of our report being copied we purposely inserted several minor inaccuracies, and these appeared in our Friday’s issue.
Sure enough the Moorabbin “hash” was served up today with the earmarked errors carefully re-produced, without one word of acknowledgment.
Other items which we did not care to mutilate for identification purposes were annexed from our columns and dished up as original reports.
It is time the “Copyright Act” was amended to protect legitimate local newspaper enterprise and adequately penalise the shameless and unfair tactics of outside production.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 3 & 5 Oct 1923