Key Stanthorpe events, 1944:
January 11
• Growers Protest – Deputation will meet Prices Commissioner. At the largest meeting of growers since the time of acquisition, held in the Arcadia Theatre on Thursday, last, an emphatic protest was made against the action of the Price Commissioner in reducing the ceiling price of apples and tomatoes.
• G Coupons to Be Used: Details of Meat Rationing Scheme – Meat will be rationed in Australia from January 17. Details of the scheme were released today.
January 14
• Meat Rationing – How to Get Your Meat; G Coupons Must Be Used
• New Ceiling Prices Are Unjust (Editorial) – “The new ceiling prices for apples 18/ for Gravensteins and 15/ for other varieties, announced by the Price commissioner about 10 days ago, came as a bolt from the blue. It has always been a recognised fact that growers in the Granite Belt depends on the early varieties to make up for losses incurred later in the season… It is unfortunate that so little recognition is given to Queensland conditions when these prices and regulations are being framed.
January 25
• The Premier at Inglewood
• Ceiling Prices for Primary Products – Legal Advice to be Obtained. A meeting of fruit and vegetable growers was held in the Arcadia Theatre on Friday last to
receive the report of the deputation which went to Canberra to interview the Prices Branch. After hearing the case, and there being no replay from the Prices Commissioner, it was decided to seek legal advice as to the right of the Prices Commissioner to fix a ceiling price for the primary products. It was also decided on the suggestion of Mr. PJR Hilton MLA to ask the State Government to set up a marketing authority in connection with the COD to enable the fixation of minimum prices.
• A message from Canberra states that the Prices Commissioner has agreed to a 2/ rise in ceiling prices for apples to operate immediately. The price will now be Gravensteins £1, other varieties 17/
• A public sitting of the royal Commission on the Production, Marketing and Distribution of Fruit will be held at the Court House, Stanthorpe on Tuesday, 1st February.
February 1
• Growers Face Loss of £60,000 Through Case Shortage – Although the serious case shortage in the Granite Belt has been placed before every possible authority, at the present moment there is a deficiency of 250,000 cases in the Granite Belt and if these are not obtained, the growers will lose £60,000. There seems little prospect of getting the cases and the case committee has resorted to rationing to try and distribute as equitably as possible the number available. The Controller of Timber had personally advised the Assistant Director of Manpower early last week that three adults and seven juveniles
required for Austral Plywoods, Brisbane, and twelve men for bush case mills be released. With this assistance, extra cases could be provided.
• Royal Commission at Stanthorpe: Stanthorpe Fruit Growers Incensed over Price Control – Price control, as applied to the fruit and vegetable industry in Queensland, is seriously disturbing the minds of every grower in the Stanthorpe district
and they are deeply incensed at the lack of method adopted when dealing with fruit and vegetable prices and the unjust treatment meted out to them compared with Southern States, whenever price ceilings have been declared, said Mr H. Phillips, Chairman of the DSGC.
Mr Phillips also stated that the Stanthorpe fruit industry was confronted with a grave crisis because of the shortage of cases. Many growers were already out of cases and stocks of others were facing depletion. Stanthorpe growers needed 300,000 cases and if from 20 to 30 men were released by the authorities it would save the situation. Because of the shortage, the fruit was rotting on the ground and unless men were released within the next few days to provide the cases, there was no hope of saving the Stanthorpe fruit industry from a major financial disaster.
February 4
• Royal Commission: COD Criticised
“When the Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing was constituted in 1923, it was hoped by growers that the evil practices allegedly connected with the marketing of their produce would gradually be eliminated, but the COD after starting off with great promise of success had in recent years signally failed to effect the purpose for which it was established and most of the undesirable practices have continued.” This statement was made by Mr D Pfrunder, orchardist of Applethorpe, in evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the production sale and distribution
of fruit at the Stanthorpe Court House. Continuing, Mr Pfrunder said the COD appeared to be more concerned with the accumulation of profits than the rendering of service to the growers.
• Cold Storage for Stanthorpe Advocated: Mr DGT Gow (Deputy Chairman DSGC) advocated the erection of a cold store or stores in the Stanthorpe district when he gave evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the production, sale and Mr Gow said that the establishment of a cold store or distribution of fruit and vegetable stores was a question of finance. He considered the Government could greatly assist by making long-term loans available or even grants.
• Commission Asked to Investigate Army
February 8
• Old Orchardist Meets “Real Live Judge”: In his own words, Mr George Smith, 77-year-old orchardist of Glen Aplin, “achieved a lifelong ambition on Thursday when he met a real live judge for the first time.”
• Law Controller Suggested by Fruit Commission: “It is apparent that so many difficulties in marketing arise from unpunished breaches of the regulations that one thinks that there is a great necessity for a controller or Commission of the law to enforce it. It is no use making laws, if they are not enforced.”
This comment on breaches revelations of the evidence heard to date was passed by Mr Justice Philp towards the completion of the Commission’s public sittings at the Stanthorpe Court House on Friday last. Subsequently, the members of the Commission visited some of the biggest orchards, also Mr W. Best’s Golden Girdle packing shed. At the orchard of Mr McGuigan, where over 100 acres are under fruit trees, mainly apples, they saw some of the prisoners of war who are Tow Sicilians and a Genoaese on the employed in the district’s fruit industry at work. McGuigan orchard is contented and happy with its conditions and open-air life. There was nothing but the highest of praise and admiration from the orchardists of the grand work being done in the district by the Women’s Land Army, a strong force of whose members are at work in the district at either picking, grading or packing. The orchardists’ own women folk, old and young, like the Army girls, are also doing the harvest, which as regards apples is the heaviest on record in the Stanthorpe district and
mainly of very high quality despite the fact that the growers have had an anxious time in combating the depredation of the Codling Moth and fruit fly.
February 11
• Sgt R. Ludlow Missing
• The quantity of fruit being sent from the Stanthorpe district this season is an all-time record. For the week ending Sunday, February 6, 2867 tons were railed. In the same week up to February 6th, 16,000 tons of fruit have left the Stanthorpe district which is a tremendous increase from last year when 9,000 tons were railed up to same date.
• Case Position Just the Same – With the Stanthorpe fruit season at its peak, growers are still without cases and many are very dissatisfied inasmuch that they have to make the trip to the mill and then are given very few cases – perhaps 50 to 100. With the shortage of labour, this is very trying because of the time lost. The man sent to Mr Pidgeon at Thulimbah was advanced in years and as the work is too hard he is leaving at the end of the week.
• Save Fruit Cases Ministers’ Appeal to Citizens: If each householder could
send only one case to the second-hand fruit case committee much fruit could be marketed which would otherwise be wasted.
February 15
• SQ Leader C A McGaw killed: Mr and Mrs W. McGaw, Stanthorpe, have been notified that Squadron Leader McGaw was drowned when his plane nose-dived into the sea off the Italian Coast.
February 18
• Still No Cases – Orchardists are travelling to mills and only receiving 50 cases. A case has been brought to our notice where one orchardist cannot get cases and he is marketing his fruit in bags.
• A Civic Reception will be tendered to His Grace the Archbishop of Brisbane at the Shire Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 23.
February 22
• Three Years War Prisoner – Experiences of Former Stanthorpe Man, Gunner Francis Oerton, in German POW camps.
• Tragedy at Reeves Gully – Father and Two Daughters Killed: One of the most terrible tragedies ever to be enacted in the Stanthorpe district took place on Friday last at Reeves Gully, which is situated about 6 miles from Stanthorpe.
As a result, Clarence Edgar Elks aged about 28 years, and his two small daughters, Doris Mary, aged 4 years, and Colleen Edna, 2 years, were killed.
A .22 calibre rifle was found alongside the body of Clarence Elks.
February 29
• The Case Shortage: Forde, Adermann Advised Demands for Cases so far met – At the Deciduous Sectional Group Committee meeting held on Friday last the Chairman revealed that the Minister of the Army had been advised by Manpower Authorities that the Chairman of the DWAC (Stanthorpe) reported to the effect that all growers’ demands for cases so far had been met although there was no surplus. Mr. Phillips maintained that this was not the case.
• Vegetable Contracts and Ceiling Prices: Advisory Committee in Queensland – A rather startling revelation was made at the DSGC meeting on Friday last when the two representatives on the Committee of Direction stated that they had ascertained that a Committee exited in Brisbane which had advised the Federal Prices Commissioners on ceiling prices, at least for vegetables, and had recommended that no vegetable contracts be given to Queensland growers.
March 7
• Vegetable Contracts: Misunderstanding says Minister of Agriculture.
• Discussion at Council: Should Smoking Be Allowed in the Arcadia Theatre? Rogers said that the theatre in Warwick had burned down and the cause of the outbreak was said to be a cigarette. He thought it would be terrible if a fire broke out in the Arcadia Theatre at any time.
• Lost 1000 cases of fruit (case shortage)
March 17
• An Open Letter – The Land Army Camp at Ballandean
March 21
• Stanthorpe May Be Without Milk – Unless some relief is afforded the milk vendors in Stanthorpe it is very likely that the residents of the town will be without a milk delivery in the near future. All efforts to get relief from the Manpower Authorities have failed and those conducting the two dairies say unless manpower is obtained they cannot carry on.
April 4
• Smoking in the Arcadia Theatre debated
• Visit of The Governor and Lady Wilson
May 2
• Cold Store and Packing House to Be Erected in Stanthorpe: COD to provide portion of finance – After a second meeting which extended into the second day, the DSGC on Friday last decided to adhere to its former resolution to build a Cold Store in Stanthorpe and in addition a Packing House will be built. The secretary suggested a suitable site would be at Applethorpe, adjoining the trucking yards.
May 12
• David Chapman charged with unlawfully killing Robert Russell Bertram on Sugarloaf Road.
• Two Records Broken by QATB – Record Calls Attended to Record Miles Travelled: During the four months of this year, the Stanthorpe centre of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade has attended to a record number of calls and in connection with these has travelled a record number of miles. For the four months, 6,666 miles have been travelled and 1,365 calls have been made. Great difficulty is being experienced in purchasing spare parts and tyres for the cars.
• Troubles on the Sheep Front (Editorial): Essential supplies in the way of sheep nuts and meat meals were not forthcoming to keep starving stock alive. The same applied to stock medicines and drenches, which were in short supply or completely unobtainable. Worse than all was the rabbit problem which proportions in the greater part of the State (NSW). As a result, there was a shortage of rabbit netting, many pastures were being eaten out and in the absence of manpower, nothing
could be done about it.
May 16
• Bravery of Stanthorpe Man – Warrant Officer Stanley Richard Walsh, son of Mr R Walsh of Sugarloaf, who won the DCM in the Middle East, is described in an official citation which was released last week (retrieved an injured man under heavy fire, carried him under heavy enemy fire).
May 19
• Display of Enemy Arms Captured by Australians: Field equipment captured by in various theatres of war was displayed in the Town Park, Stanthorpe, on Wednesday last. Stanthorpe was the first centre in Queensland to be given the opportunity of viewing such an exhibition and it is in continuance of the policy of the Army through the expressed (General Sir Thomas Blamey) to show the people against what Australian troops have had to pit their strength.
• Worst drought for Forty Years: The drought now affecting more than 2,000 square miles of south-western Queensland is the worst experienced in 40 years, and in other parts of the State, the position is becoming serious.
June 2
• Severnlea Cadet Tops ATC Exam – Corporal Alan Donges.
• New Ration Books – Issue on Saturday and Sunday – The third year of rationing will begin on June 5.
June 6
• Council will Buy the Football Ground: The Stanthorpe Shire Council at its meeting on Friday last decided to purchase the football ground on the O’Mara Estate for a recreation ground. The Council some time ago disposed of its park on the MacGregor Estate and with this money it will purchase the football ground.
• Staff Position Critical at Hospital An Appeal for Nursing and Domestic Help: To show the difficulties under which the Stanthorpe Hospitals Board is carrying on with regard to the Hospital staff, we publish herewith a copy of the Medical Superintendents report, in which he appeals to our young women to offer their services as probationary nurses on the domestic staff.
August 15
• Southern Growers Want Ballot on Proposed Cold Store
• Brilliant Stanthorpe Violinist – Miss Patricia Dillon has gained the highest diploma possible to achieve in Australia.
August 18
• Border Post refused permission to attend DSGC meeting in Brisbane
October 10
• Applethorpe State School Cricket Pitch – Official Opening
• Bush Service Refused – Shire Chairman’s Strong Protest (Transport Committee refuses to license a bus run from Wallangarra to Brisbane via Cunningham’s Gap, and another to run from Ballandean to Stanthorpe)
October 17
• Penicillin Saves Life of Stanthorpe Woman – “When the life of Mrs Arthur Newton (formerly Miss Edna Coleman, of Stanthorpe) was despaired of, in a Brisbane Hospital after the birth of her babe, the wonder drug Penicillin was administered and since then she has been removed from the dangerously ill list.”
• Formation of a National Fitness Club in Stanthorpe. The Club will have groups such as the Cricket, Tennis and Dramatic Group – each with its own committee.
November 7
• L/Sgt John Robertson Reported Missing – Believed Deceased
November 10
• Dalveen Airman, Portrait to be Hung in War Museum (Flying Officer George Edward Lindenberg, Distinguished Flying Medal)
November 21
• Cpl K.R. Mann Missing, Believed Deceased
• Bush Fires Raging – Appeal for Assistance from Nundubbermere
• Man Dies at Eukey: Bush fires have been raging around the Stanthorpe district for the past week and great damage has been done to property, particularly in the Eukey area. Fires were so bad on Saturday that the residents appealed to the police for assistance. This appeal came to the police from Mr Tulloch, of Nundubbermere, whose property was dangerously threatened and there were only two men at Nundubbermere who could fight the flames.
