CIVIC VEGETABLE CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23755, 29 September 1942, Page 4

CIVIC VEGETABLE CAMPAIGN

PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL

PERSONNEL OF COMMITTEES CRITICISED

A proposal to inaugurate a “civic vegetable campaign” provoked a long debate at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening. Some councillors objected to the composition of the committee proposed to be set up Jto conduct the campaign, and in the subsequent discussion there was also strong criticism of the personnel of the committee originally set up by the council to investigate the vegetable position in .Christchurch. The campaign proposal was referred for consideration to the abattoir and reserves committee.

The objects of the campaign, as-set out in a letter by Cr. M. McLean, were stated to be the encouragement of the use of vegetables as disease. preventives, and education of the public in the selection of the right kinds of vegetables, in the mineral requirements of soil for the proper production of nutritive vegetables, and in the correct preparation and use of these vegetables. Personnel of Committee Cr. McLean moved that tha following, committee be set up to organise the campaign:—Messrs M. J. Barnett, S. A. La Roche, L. W. McCaskill. P. C. Browne, E. Hitchcock, F. S. Wilding, C. D, W. L. Sheppard, G. Manning, J. L. Hay, A. C. Brassington, Y. T. Shand, and D. Combridge, Miss M. McLean, Dr. Helen Field, Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Messrs J. B. Mawson, C. H. Jones, J, T. Mcßride, T. A. Gates, and G. Milne, Mrs B. H. Gilmour, Mrs A. C. Brassington, Mrs Cecil Wood, Mrs Neale, Miss McKie, and Miss McCrostie. •

Cr. H. E. Denton said he was rather concerned at the composition of the committee. At a meeting of the original vegetable committee, Cr. Lyons and he had had the temerity to criticise a certain person. He had not been asked to be a member of the*new committee, and he wondered if Cr. Lyons had been treated in the same way. He objected to one councillor proposing a committee en bloc in this way. Cr. McLean said the names were not of her choosing. They were only a tentative committee, put forward by the committee which had been working ever since the vegetable committee finished its work'. The omission of Crs. Lyons and Denton was no doubt an oversight, but the committee would have power to add. “Eminently Unsuitable” “Quite frankly, I regard the proposed committee as eminently unsuitable .for the job,” said Cr. M. E. Lyons. It was unwieldy and representative of too many diverse interests. Much needed to be done in the way of education, but many of the members were unpractical theorists, and he would hazard a guess that “mighty few possessed a shiny spade at home.” He moved an amendment that the whole proposal be referred to the abattoir and reserves committee for a report. Cr. McLean: They don’t know a thing about it.

Cr. T. Green seconded the' amendment. Cr. J. S. Barnett said the cooking and preparation of vegetables must be considered as well as growing, but it would be wise to have the numbers of the committee reduced and a better selection made. "If the work has already been done, why bring it to the council?” asked Cr. Lyons, when, replying to Cr. H. P. Donald, Cr. McLean said she understood some of the persons named had already been approached to act on the committee. Cr. Lyons and Cr. Denton both objected strongly to a statement by Cr. McLean that the women members had kept the vegetable committee going in its later stages. Cr. C. D, W. L. Sheppard gave notice of an amendment that the original vegetable committee be appointed to conduct the campaign, Cr. F. S. Wilding seconded the amendment. “I have sat on a lot of committees in the last 30 years, and I don’t think I have ever seen one less likely to produce a calm, reasoned judgment on the matters before it,” said Cr. Lyons. A partisan member of the committee had actually applauded partisan evience put before it. It was fortunate that a sub-committee was set up to draw the report. “Don’t go for the fanatics and the ultra-feminists of the community,” advised Cr. Lyons. He said he had profound respect for some of the women on the committee, but others were fanatics incapable of calm and reasoned judgment. Cr. Sheppard’s amendment was lost by six votes to nine, and Cr. Lyons's amendment referring the matter to the abattoir and reserves committee was carried by a similar majority.