50 years ago
VICTORIAN Farmers’ Union leaders want the Australian Wool Corporation to declare a “bedrock” price for wool sales in the near future. The corporation may be called on to take the action after important meetings in Melbourne today. The VFU’s pastoral division chairman, Mr. John Silcock, of Gringegalgona, north of Coleraine, told the Spectator yesterday: “We believe wool prices have fallen enough this season.” Mr. Silcock said the corporation should announce a bedrock price for wool now – and that price should be around about the present price levels. “It shouldn’t allow anything to be sold to the trade under the price,” he said. “It must take a hard line now.” Mr. Silcock said he had recently discussed this action with VFU president, Mr. Jim Heffernan, of Bringalbert, near Apsley, and he also shared the view.
RAIN stopped play in Hamilton District Cricket Association finals on Saturday afternoon. Rain perhaps boosted St. Andrew’s chances in the A grade grand final, putting them only 23 runs away from a first innings win. At the finish of play at 3:20 on Saturday afternoon, St. Andrew’s were 6/106, giving St. Mary’s the task of batting and sending St. Andrew’s in again on the final day next Saturday. St. Andrew’s will resume on the third and final day’s play at 6/106, providing St. Mary’s with an almost impossible chance of clinching their third A grade final in four years. Regardless of the Melville Oval wicket favouring the bowlers, St. Mary’s have not exactly been in a strong position since their first innings fall of 128. An expected onslaught on Saturday by St. Andrew’s Rob Abrahmsen did not become reality.
25 years ago
NEWLY-ELECTED Southern Grampians Shire Mayor, Cr Howard Templeton has attacked some business people in Hamilton who have never accepted the creation of Southern Grampians Shire, believing Hamilton’s status has been downgraded. He also accused them of unfair attacks on the shire’s senior staff, saying much of it came from jealousy at their high wages. Cr Templeton’s comments during his acceptance speech caused considerable comment after the statutory meeting. Most acceptance speeches by newly-elected mayors are bland thank-yous to everyone they can think of – but Cr Templeton used about one-third of his speech to lambast some Hamilton critics, primarily businessmen.
HAMILTON will be pulling out all stops to win today’s Hamilton and District Cricket Association’s A grade grand final at Melville Oval – weather and pitch permitting. It seemed rather farcical that the pitch was not covered yesterday morning while rain was falling. Considering the embarrassment the wet and under-prepared wicket caused the association last weekend, yesterday’s episode was bordering on the ridiculous. The pitch was far from a perfect grand final wicket yesterday. It was visibly wet, far from flat, and looked more like a strip that had been used for a day’s play, followed by a watering. It’s hard to comprehend why after last weekend’s embarrassing situation the wicket was exposed to the elements the day before play was scheduled to commence.
