EMPIRE GAMES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25581, 24 August 1948, Page 3

EMPIRE GAMES

GUARANTEE OF £5OOO . FROM TIMARU From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, August 23. Subject to part of the Empire Games being allocated to Timaru and the guarantee being authorised by legislation, the Timaru Borough Council this evening decided to guarantee £5OOO to the Canterbury Empire Games Promotion Committee. A section of the council strongly opposed a resolution moved by Cr. J. S. Satterthwaite, and in acquiescence to their wishes he was forced to add the two conditions before the council reached a unanimous decision.

“Personally I don’t think we should spend public money in this way,” stated Cr. E. J. Ellis. He could not see why Timaru should have to guarantee £5OOO when the Christchurch City Council’s guarantee was only £lO,OOO. In reply to a question, the Town Clerk (Mr J. M. Jenkins) said that if the council, in the face of his report, decided to enter into a guarantee, it did so with its eyes open. There was no legislative authority allowing such a guarantee. It was expected that legislative authority would be passed in due course, enabling local bodies to expend money on centennial celebrations. Should the council decide to enter into a guarantee it should be made subject to necessary validating legislation. There was no doubt that Christchurch could have raised the full £30,000, said Cr. Satterthwaite. In giving Timaru gn opportunity to contribute, the Canterbury Committee had acted in a very thoughtful way, recognising that in 1950, which would be the centennial year, Timaru would be the second city of Canterbury. MINISTER TO DISCUSS BATHS PLAN The erection of baths in Christchurch suitable for swimming events at the Empire Games, and renovations to English Park will be discussed with the city engineer (Mr E. Somers) by the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) when he visits Christchurch. This was reported to the City Council last evening. On September 1 a deputation from the Canterbury Empire Games Committee consisting of Messrs W. J. Cowles, T. H. Langford, and J. A. Stanley, the secretary, will go to Wellington to discuss Canterbury’s claims that the games should be held in Christchurch. ’