General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24614, 10 July 1945, Page 4

General News

Army Huts as Garages "Applications are now being received for permission to erect Army huts as garages, etc., and more are expected in the future," reported the town planning committee to the City Council last evening. “At the present time garages are permitted in line with the front of the dwelling and five feet from the side fence. The Army huts which usually have 4ft 6in walls and high-pitched roofs covered with malthoid, are not considered suitable from an aesthetic or town planning point of view when erected up to the front of the dwelling.” The council adopted the committee's recommendation that all huts of this type, erected foe whatever purpose, be placed at the rear of the properties unless reconstructed to a suitable design. Grade A Men on Farms The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in a statement yesterday said that the 'figures he quoted in the House of Representatives regarding Grade A single men on farms were correct, but more recent figures were now available showing the position at the end of April. There had been an overall reduction through the review of appeals. At the end of April there were 9827 Grade A single men, and of these 5929 were on farms. The total of Grade A men, including married men with two children, was 21,771. Of these 10,201 were in the farming industry. These figures showed that the Government had always given the farming industry the utmost priority in manpower. Mr Nash added that if the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) for a force in the Pacific were' followed it obviously must have a serious effect on primary production.— (P.A.) Ships Delayed at Westport A heavy swell on the Westport bar, following bad weather during the week-end, delayed the departure of the Omnna and Kaimiro for Auckland and the Wingatui for Wellington, all heavily corl laden. The absence of a fireman held up the Wingatui on Friday night, when it was safe to negotiate the bar. The Poolta Irom Gisborne and the Pakura from Wellington, which are loading coal for Wellington, entered port yesterday, and it is hoped thst bar conditions will improve sufficiently to enable the Omana. Kaimiro, and Wingatui to sail to-day. This is the first time for some weeks that the bar has been unworkable, at Westport.—(P.A.) ( Landscape Architect Appointed The appointment of Mr E. Taylor as landscape architect was made by the City Council last evening, on the recommendation of the reserves committee. "As the council is aware, there are many plans of New-Brighton, Sumner, and other reserves waiting to be prepared,” reported the committee. “In the past such plans have been prepared by the Superintendent (Mr M. J. Barnett), often in his own, time, but such are the number and size of the works awaiting attention that they are a full time job for some time to come.” Mr Taylor was described by the committee as a competent draughtsman and landscape architect and as a sound gardener capable not only of preparing plans but also of supervising their fulfilment. Timaru Air Port A proposal to move the Timaru air port from its present site to a new one is now being investigated, During the recent floods the Timaru aerodrome was under water, and'a new one will probably be constructed on higher ground about six miles from the borough. When the present aerodrome was built tne possibility of flooding was recognised, but it was hoped that preventive measures would be successful. However, these were inadequate to deal with the water this year. Expert opinion now appears to be that to cope with big floods would be too costly. The question has not yet been discussed by the i Timaru Borough Council with the Minister of Works (the Hon' R. Semple), but it is expeeled that the council will raise the question shortly.—(F.O.P.R.) Lighting Highway to Sumner Authority for adequate lighting to be installed from the Heathcote bridge into Sumner, at an annual charge of £1275, was given by the City Council last evening, on the recommendation of the finance committee. The distance is approximately three miles and a quarter. “The equipment necessary is of a type that will have to be imported,” reported the committee. “Quotations are at present not obtainable, and it is difficult now to give reliable estimates of the cost of lighting. The amount of work in hand, and the reduced staffs, would prevent this work being undertaken for some time, unless it Is to be given priority over other essential work now waiting or in hand.” Three Vehicles Damaged Two cars and a truck were damaged and a driver was slightly injured, when two of the vehicles collided at the intersection of Oxford terrace and Gloucester street about 2.30 p.m. yesterday. A small car, owned by Mr George Settle, and driven by his nephew, Mr Gilbert Settle, came into collision with an Army sedan car travelling eastward in Gloucester street. The small car spun round and ended up against a stationary Government truck parked outside Maling’s Buildings, the Army car being locked with its mudguards, Mr Settle’s car was badly cbmaged on the right-hand side, and the driver was taken by an ambulance to hospital for observation. The righthand headlamp and mudguard of the Army car were smashed in. and the lorry, which was forced into the gutter by the force of the impact, escaped with a slightly damaged mudguard. Reserved Parking Space Wanted Application for reserved parking space outside the clubrooms of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association in Gloucester street was made to the Christchurch City Council last evening by a deputation from the association comprising Messrs D W. Russell and J. K. Moloney. Mr Russell said his association wanted the provision of reserved parking for the benefit of disabled servicemen who used the clubrooms. Parking space was allotted to pie-carts, which, he understood, paid for licences and his association was also prepared to pay for parking. Mr Moloney said the association now had a membership of 7413 and big building proposals were in hand. Both members of the deputation answered many questions by councillors. In the ensuing discussion Cr A. R Guthrey said he could not see what difference it would make to the association if it were granted parking space. The only times when parking space was hard to get was when there were functions in the clubroems, and then the first members on the scene would get the benefit of any reserved ■mace. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. C. D. W. L. Sheppard, to refer the application to the traffic committee of the council. Auckland Housing Problems The appointment of a committee to take further action in the provision of transit and temporary housing m Auckland was the outcome of a conference of local body and other representatives held in the town hall yesterday. The conference also decided to ask the Government to declare a state of emergency as far as housing was concerned, although some speakers contended that such a resolution was of little practical value in meeting the crisis.—(P.A.) Treatment of Defaulters The statement that it would be a deplorable action on the part of a Christian body to go out of its way to ask that certain people be given more punishment was made'by the Dean of Hamilton, the Very Rev. A. R. Allerton, when speaking against a motion proposed by the Rev. G. W. G. Griffin, of Morrinsville, at the Waikato Diocesan Synod. Mr Griffin had moved that synod should deprecate the attitude of the Government, and the commission it had set up, toward military defaulters in making it possible for them to be rehabilitated before servicemen and women, and that the synod should give its support to the Returned Services’ Association, which had taken up the matter. Peace Celebrations Expenditure incurred by local authorities in connexion with peace celebrations will be validated by legislation, the finance committee of the City Council has been advised by the Un-der-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs.