MILKING CONTEST IN SQUARE?

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 9

MILKING CONTEST IN SQUARE?

“CHALLENGE” ACCEPTED BY MR W. P. SPENCER GOOD-HUMOURED BANTER AT COUNCIL MEETING If the City Council allows the performance, Cathedral square will be the scene of a milking contest between the former wheelbarrow-race partners, Messrs W. J. Walter and W. P. Spencer. The contest was mentioned this week at a meeting of the citizens’ committee in charge of the completion of the Summit road, as part of the programme to raise funds for the road; but it assumed more certainty at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last evening. When the council assembled for business, two small celluloid cows decorated the table, one in front of Mr Walter’s chair and one in front of Mr Spencer’s. However, it was not until late in the evening that it was announced that Mr Spencer had accepted the challenge—or so he put it Mr W. G. Chapman reported on the business of the Summit road meeting. At the meeting, he said, a challenge had been entered, for a prize of five guineas, presented by Mr H. Kitson, and “two of our well-known sportsmen’’ had undertaken to milk a cow each in the Square. The prize was to go to the man who could take a gallon of milk from a cow in the shortest time. “A Fool in a Good Cause” "All being well, his Worship the Mayor will be the judge,” added Mr Chapman. “What does he know about cows? enquired Mr T. O. Newnham. “They say it’s to be a gallon competition,” said Mr F. S. Scott. "If Mr Spencer gets on the job he’ll fill his bucket with froth.”

Mr Spencer himself did not seem so well informed about the contest. “I have heard about this challenge.” he said, /and as it is in a good cause I don’t mind taking it on. “I don’t mind making a fool of myself sometimes,” he added, bareiy audible above the laughter, and, with an air of happy reminiscence—“lt pays to advertise. When I was on the West Coast a while ago they used to say everywhere, ‘Here’s the man who pushed the barrow through China.’ I haven’t milked a cow for 10 years, but if we can raise money that way 1 am quite prepared to take it on.”

SUMMIT ROAD FINANCES TWO ATTRACTIONS TO RAISE FUNDS Several attractions, in addition to a big art union, are being arranged to raise money to be devoted to completing the Port Hills-Akaroa Summit road and the Takahe rest-house. These will include a spectacular motor-cycle race over the Port Hills, and a “milking match” between two prominent citizens, to be held in Cathedral square. The committee of citizens which was recently appointed to take over the case of completing the work commenced by Mr H. G. Ell, at a meeting recently adopted a proposal offered by Mr C. Frost, on behalf of the Corsair Club, to organise the biggest and most exciting motor-cycle race ever held in New Zealand, the route to be 27 laps of a course up Dyer’s Pass, along the Summit road, and’ down Murray Aynsley Hill. The date suggested is Labour Day. The milking match will be between Messrs W. J. Walter and W. P. Spen-' cer. It was referred to at the committee meeting last evening. This morning, after a prominent citizen had promised to give a stake of £5, it»was decided to apply to the City Councillor permission to erect a stand in the Square to accommodate Messrs Walter and Spencer, and two cows. The prize will go to the.,man who extracts a gallon of milk in the least time. The League football authorities have offered to organise a benefit match for the Summit road funds.

The chairman of the citizens’ committee, Mr W. S. McGibbon, said last evening that the committee was gratified to note that the Government had definitely decided to provide for the work on the estimates. He had been informed by letter that the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) would be in Christchurch to inspect the work on June 24. He hoped to be accompanied by the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) and the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). It was hoped to launch the campaign for raising funds, for which arrangements were making satisfactory progress, by the middle of July,