50 years ago

MOST small Hamilton shops employing limited labour would open for late night shopping next Monday, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce president, Mr. Arthur Wiles, said yesterday. Major food stores would probably stay closed on Monday and open the following Friday night as usual, he said. Mr Wiles said he suspected the food stores deciding on these hours were acting under threat from unions. Early this week the Victorian Shop Assistants Union warned that some shops opening on the Monday night against its wishes, could run into bans.

SOCCER is starting to challenge the popularity of Australian Rules Football in Hamilton secondary schools. And it is possible a senior team could be formed to play in an inter-city competition. All of which has led to an approach to Hamilton City Council to set up a soccer pitch at Pedrina Park. The request came from the Hamilton Technical School which said soccer was gaining in popularity at the technical school, Monivae College, and Hamilton High School. All three schools have a few soccer teams, and inter-school matches have already taken place.

25 years ago

HAMILTON’S two major accounting firms McLarty Archer, and Witham, Cogger and Struck, have merged. The new firm – to be called Archer Witham – has bought the former Francis Hewett Community Centre in Gray St from Southern Grampians Shire Council to use as its headquarters. It expects to move into its new offices by mid-May, after some renovations to the building. The existing groups in the community centre have to vacate by March 31. The two accounting firms currently employ 54 staff (including seven partners). They are looking for another three more staff, and expect to employ a further four to six staff in the next two years.

HAMILTON Rams will take a confident approach into today’s Green Triangle Basketball League semi-final against Portland Coasters, knowing results from previous encounters prove the team is capable of taking the next step. Having beaten the Coasters on both occasions this season, Rams coach, Nathan Manley, believes his side has what it takes to beat them again and then worry about the next hurdle. If Hamilton defeats Portland today at Millicent, then tomorrow in the grand final it takes on the winner of the Millicent versus Mount Gambier game, which on form should be taken out easily by Mount Gambier.