50 years ago

But the change – if it comes about – won’t be a permanent plaza in the main Gray St. block. More likely it would involve a civic square between the Town Hall and Coles in Brown St. and a clean-up and possible re-organisation of traffic and parking in Gray St. The Spectator survey, which began on Monday, covered the six business blocks bordered by Kennedy, Lonsdale, Cox and French Sts. The survey followed closure of the main Gray St. block on Friday, which was organised by the Spectator and approved by the City Council. Results to date, with only a few businesses to be contacted, show 45 against a plaza and 37 in favour in the total survey area.

DISTRICT racing owners, trainers and officials decided at a meeting in Hamilton on Tuesday night to ask the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr. Smith, to “look into” the Racecourse Development Fund. Mr. Peter Armytage told the meeting the fund was now accumulating more than $1 million a year and would soon have more money than it knew what to do with. Tuesday’s meeting, convened by the South Western Owners and Trainers’ Association, was hearing suggestions on how the plight of non- T A B clubs could, and should, be assisted to lift district racing. Mr. Armytage said that because of the interest rates on money borrowed from the fund, only a few of the larger clubs could afford to use money from the fund.

25 years ago

HAMILTON manufacturing firm, Ultracut Tools, has achieved an internationally recognized Quality Assurance certification. The firm, which manufactures specialised cutting tools, achieved the accreditation, ISO 9002, in just over two years. It is the first cutting tools firm in western Victoria and the fifth such industry in Australia and New Zealand to receive the certification. Manager Consultant, Bill Luke, of Macarthur, said the directors of Ultracut had re-engineered the company in the face of resistance to change and an uncertain future. He said a comprehensive quality assurance program, run by Colin Supple of Hamilton, had been undertaken.

Veteran Coleraine Football Club onballer, Peter Kaine, has applied for a clearance to join neighboring South West District Football League club, Cavendish. Coleraine president, Jim Brody, confirmed on Thursday night that Kaine had applied for a clearance to join the Bloods, but was unsure if the clearance would be granted. “There will be a committee meeting to discuss the clearance application and it will be up to them to decide whether or not to grant it,” Mr Brody said. Mr Brody said the club had not received clearance applications for Greg James and Tom Austin. Austin and James are believed to be joining Horsham District Football League club, Harrow-Balmoral for the 1998 season. Mr Brody said he was unsure as to where James and Austin would be playing this season.