CANTERBURY MEMBERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18102, 18 June 1924, Page 11

CANTERBURY MEMBERS.

DEPUTATIONS RECEIVED.

The Canterbury members of Parliament met yesterday afternoon in the City Council Chamber. Present: Messrs L. M. Isitt (chairman), E. J. Howard. H. T. Armstrong, J. McCombs, G. Witty, D. G. Sullivan, the Hon. D. Buddo, and the Hon. R. Moore, M.L.C. Imported Fruit. f Mr G. I). Macfarla'ne was the spokesman of a deputation from the fruit auctioneers of Christehurch which brought before the meeting the disabilities Christehurch labours under in respect of transhipment charges oil imported fruit. Regarding fruit from the Cook Islands, Mr Macfarlano suggested that if a boat could not come to Lyttelton there should bo a flat rate in respect of freight. In respect of the mail subsidy, he said that while the South Island probably paid as much as the North Island towards the subsidy, the South Island had to pay 50 per cent, for goods earried by tho mail steamers. Replying to a question, Mr Maefarlane said that with a flat rate of freight Island fruit could be retailed 25 per cent, cheaper than under present conditions. The chairman said that tho members were well aware of the handicap under which the South Island laboured, especially in respoct of fruit supplies. He suggested that the deputation should forward information in typewritten form and kcop tho members well supplied with ammunition. The deputation undertook to do bo. Local Control of Fruit Industry. Mr Witty briefly introduced a'deputation of fruitgrowers which was headed by Mr Frank Sisson. Mr Sisson Baid that at least 90 per cent, of the fruitgrowers of Canterbury were opposed to the proposals for local control of the fruit industry. He detailed the different reasons "for object-, ing to the proposals, chief amount them being the higher cost of fruit to the consumer. Replying to Mr Witty, Mr Sisson said that second-grade fruit, under local control, would have to be thrown ;.v,ny; the grower would not be able to sell it: the Control Board would have nl! the fruit to sell. Mr Moore remarked that the proposal in the Bill was that local contiol would bo only brought into operation on the vote of local people. Mr Sisson said that it would involve considerable expense' to defeat the poll. : Replying to Mr Moore, Mr Sisson said that they were quite in accord with the proposals for the control of fruit for export. . The chairman said that they would consider the matter very, very carefully. Mr Sisson: It is a very, very serious matter for us—it really means ruin if the Bill is.brought into force. Teachers' Superannuation. Messrs Geo. Whitehall and C. E. Graham waited on the meeting in respect of tho disabilities of teachers, upon the verge of retirement, whose superannuation was under the old scheme. It was stated that some .of those teachers (of whom ther3 were about 70 in the Dominion) would receive £BO per annum on retirement, instead of £IBO. After hearing the deputation at some length, tho chairman advised the members, that the best thing that CQtlld be' done would be to bring the matter before Parliament by means of a petition. Gambling Legislation. The Ven. Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt and Mr Wj 11. Rose waited on tho members as a deputation from the Council of Christian Congregations on subject of gambling legislation. Professor J. B. Condliffe was with the deputation. Archdeacon Haggitt said they desired to enlist" the sympathy of the members with the protest of the Council against the proposed legislation the object of which was tcs increase the facilities for gambling. They felt alarmed at the very suggestion that these facilities should be increased. In addition to the support of business men in their protest they had the support also of those in/this city connected with racing\ Of the 192 business men who had been, asked to sign the petition, 149 had done so, and 43 had refused. A large number of those who refused did so, not on the ground that they objected/ but because they did not feel free to do so. Mr Buddo suggested that the names of the signatories should be typed and forwarded, marked ."confidential," to members. The names would carry weight with members. The chairman asked if there were any bank managers amongst those who had signed. Mr Armstrong: They are in a pretty big gambling bu'siness themselves! At a later stage Mr Rose stated that two of the * city's leading bankers had signed the petition. Mr Sullivan (to Archdeacon Haggitt):. You are not asking for tlyj cutting down of existing facilities, but objecting to any increased facilities? Archdeacon Haggitt: That is so. Mr Rose said that gambling had grown to such an extent that it was a menace to the Dominion. Professor Condliffe said that as far as he was concerned it was not a question of attacking racing or gambling generally; it was simply a protest against increasing the facilities for gambling. .He felt that gambling businesses should come under the same condemnation as gambling on- racecourses. The real productivity of the Dominion had been hindered more by land speculation than by any other cause. 1 ' The chairman said that hfe could bear out one of Archdeacon Haggitt's statements, and that was that some racing officials were bitterly opposed to any increase of racing permits. They "hail told him so; they had told him so confidentially; and they had emphasised the fact that any increase ■ of permits would be a danger, that it I would bring about a reaction, and that a. temporary gain would , mean a permanent loss. Apart altogether from stopping racing or gambling—which thev knew was impossible —it lajr in the" power of the Legislature either to increase or to check gambling. A certain number of the members of Pari liament present appreciated the depu- ' tation waiting on them, and would give it what help they could afford. •\t the invitation oi Mr J. Gamble. ' Mayor oi' New Brighton, the following ! Canterbury Members of Parliament; | Messrs D. G. Sullivan, E. J. Howard, ; J McCombs, L. M. Isitt, H. T. Armj strong, Hon. R. Moore, and the Hon. jj Buddo, met the members of the Rawliiti Domain Board at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday morning in conference regarfling the question of vesting the Domain in the Borough Council. Subsequently tho party visited several parts of the Domain, and were entertained at luncheon at the. New .Brighton Cafe by the Mayor.