50 years ago

COMMONWEALTH and State immigration authorities will be asked to divert migrants to provincial centres to alleviate an industrial labor shortage. Hamilton City councillor, Clem Cook, initiated the move at a meeting of the Provincial Cities’ and Towns’ Association of Victoria, held in Hamilton. Hamilton is already experiencing labor problems and the city council has had to turn away a clothing industry because of a shortage of female factory labor in the city. Cr Cook told the association’s annual conference that provincial centres seemed to face an endless cycle in industrial development. “Either we haven’t got enough industry, although that’s being overcome now, or we haven’t got people for industry or we haven’t got enough houses for the people,” he said.

HAMILTON Racing Club will give owners and trainer on of their best Christmas presents yet – a 65 per cent rise in stakes. In announcing this yesterday, club spokesman, Mr Jack Cogger, said the increase would start with the first meeting at Hamilton in the New Year. Mr. Cogger said his club had now been able to budget for higher stakes because the TAB allocation this year, of more than $53,000 was higher than expected. Mr. Cogger said no decision has yet been made on what stakes the Hamilton Gold Cup will carry in April, but hinted this could be a spectacular increase. If such was the case then some of the Saturday meetings may not have a 65 per cent increase, but it was expected they would increase by at least 50 per cent.

25 years ago

POWERCOR”S Hamilton depot will be substantially reduced – despite previous company claims to the contrary. That’s the belief of Southern Grampians Shire which made urgent moves at its Wednesday night meeting to head off the expected downsizing. The shire will write to Powercor asking for an assurance that no cutbacks take place before it holds talks with the shire. The shire will also: Ask the Victorian Government what policies it has to generate new employment to replace those services that have been lost due t its privatisation and rationalisation policies. Convene an urgent meeting of district politicians to see what action they can take. The shire’s chief executive, Graham Mostyn, said on Thursday he didn’t believe the Hamilton depot would close – but there would be substantial downsizing.

MININERA and District Football League clubs will be asked to consider an addition to their ranks as Lismore Derrinallum Football Netball Club this week applied to join the 10 team competition. MDFL administration secretary, Leo McMaster, said his league received an application form Lismore Derrinallum on Thursday and the proposal would be discussed at the league’s annual general meeting on Monday November 23. The Lismore Derrinallum club is a combination of the Lismore club and people from Derrinallum who did not wish to join the recent merger between Derrinallum and Mortlake that created the Western Lions.