50 years ago
GRAZIERS and politicians have slammed the Federal Government’s plan to cease the superphosphate bounty from December. Farmers have predicted the end of bounty will give way to a rise in costs and reduced production for the producer, and increased food prices to the consumer. Predictions have also run to the ultimate destruction of the present Government from a “back-lash” to its super policy. State president of the Victorian Farmers’ Union, Mr Jim Heffernan, said the interests of the producers and food consumers had been totally ignored. “Farm costs will rise and so will food costs,” he said. “Items which will be especially affected include milk and other dairy products”.
THE Western Border Football League could find itself involved in two games within two days this season. The league’s annual meeting this month decided to restrict its team to under 25 players should a match be arranged with the Wimmera League for the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Now Collingwood Football Club is keen to promote a game at Hamilton on the Sunday of the same weekend against an under 20 side from this zone. Such a team would exclude all players from across the border and would include players from Portland-Port Fairy District League and the Mininera League. With an age limit set for both proposed matches, the WBFL selectors would be mainly restricted to meeting Wimmera with players under 25 and over 20.
25 years ago
A BED and breakfast facility near Penshurst, Burnbrae, has closed its door blaming increased State Government regulation of the food industry for its demise. Owner, Eric Pihl – a former Liberal Party branch president – blasted the party’s “jackboot legislation” for destroying his business. “This legislation is not primarily about safe food, it’s a paranoid distrust of ordinary people and an urge to regulate and control their actions,” Mr Pihl said. He called the new food safety regulations “bureaucratic madness”. Penshurst has had its food outlets cut even further with the closure of the food side of the Rouse Restaurant, although its owners say they had been thinking about closure for a few months and it hadn’t been caused by new regulations. The Rouse’s extensive bric a brac collection will remain open.
ALL those Hamilton district cricketers involved in country week competitions take note – Merv Hughes made his start that way too. Back in 1978, Hughes took part in country week competition and as a result received offers to join three district clubs, finally choosing Footscray. History records the fast bowler later broke into first the Victorian team, then the Australian squad, eventually playing 53 Tests for a sizeable return of 212 wickets and 1032 runs. Now retired from international duties, but by no means out of the public eye, Hughes visited Hamilton on Thursday to promote next week’s Melbourne Country Week competition. Addressing a luncheon presented by the Commonwealth Bank, Hughes stressed the importance of Hamilton and District Cricket Association striving to reach the top divisions of country week competition.
