RIVAL CITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 15

RIVAL CITIES.

CHRISTCHURCH AND AUCKLAND. "CANTERBURY NEVER SAYS PIE." The Hon. C. .7. Parr chaffed a Christchurch deputation on the rivalry between Christchurch and Auckland. The deputation was from the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College, which asked for a grant of £1000 towards buying an Opawa property for a boys' hostel.

The Minister, in refusing the request, said that Christchurch was better equipped with hostels than any other city in the Dominion, while Auckland was without any hostel whatever.

When it was stated that more than SOO pupils attend the day school at the Christchurch College, he said that ho saw shoals of children going to and from the Auckland Technical School, and that there must be quite as many pupils there. Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., said that most things were started in Christchurch.

"Auckland people," the Minister replied, "show less energy in pushing their barrow than is shown by people in any other part of New Zealand." "We are the most neglected part in the Dominion," he said in reply to Mr. G. Witty, M.P. "I haven't pivcn Auckland an inch of hostel space." Mr. G. Witty, M.P.: No, but what about other things? The Minister: I have figures here that might startle Christchurch. The Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., said that if the Government could not help the board to buy the hostel site now it might do so in 1925. The Minister, in agreeing that something might be done then, said: "This is typical of Canterbury. The Canterbury people never say die. Mr. Smith will not take 'No,' and he gets his way, as Canterbury always does." Later, the Minister showed a statement to the reporters disclosing the fact that, from 1919 to the end of 1923, practically during his term of office for four years, the total money spent or being spent on educational buildings in Christchurch and suburbs was £220,990.