General News

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28866, 10 April 1959, Page 10

General News

Last Words

Dr. Billy Graham’s last words as his car left the kerb outside his city hotel yesterday for the Christchurch airport were for the ears of the hotel manager. They were: “Good-bye, and thanks for the kippers.” For yesterday the evangelist enjoyed a breakfast of his favourite fish after the hotel management had scoured the city for the kippers.

Airport Siting “Would you agree that it is one of the principles of airport planning that an airport must be as close as possible to the centre it serves?” Mr E. E. England asked Mr A. R. Guthrey, chairman of the City Council works committee, during the hearing of appeals against a prohibition on subdivision of land before the Town and County Planning Appeal Board yesterday. Mr Guthrey said he did agree. “And that that is a very important factor is indicated by the planning of Rongotai in its present position?” Mr England asked. “I hope you’re not going to use Rongotai as an analogy,” interrupted Mr F. F. Reid, chairman of the appeal board. “I don’t think Rongotai is ideally situated for an airport!” (Laughter).

In The Red A capital deficiency of £656 18s was reported to the Christchurch - Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority yesterday. All the money has been raised by bank overdraft. The main item was £237 10s 7d for the report of the panel of engineers. The authority has no revenue, and its overdraft is backed by the Government. The deficit has been created since August, 1957.

Eclipse Of Sun Although a Press Association message from Wellington in “The Press” yesterday said that the partial eclipse of the sun would go unnoticed in the South Island because of overcast skies, at least six Christchurch residents watched a stage of the eclipse Between 4.30 p.m. and 4.55 p.m. the cloud cleared slightly, and Sandra Johnson and her mother, of 25 Christian street, in company with another adult and three children were able to watch through smoked glass as what appeared to be a small bite was taken out of the lower half of the sun. As they watched, the “bite” gradually diminish until only a tiny dot remained on the rim of the sun. Then the sky became overcast again.

Buffer Area The Christchurch City Council’s prohibition on subdivisions of less than five acres in an area of 800 acres on the eastern boundary of the Christchurch airport was designed to create a buffer area to protect the airport, said Mr A. R. Guthrey, chairman of the, works committee of the City Council, before the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday Mentioning the noise problem and crash danger, Cr. Guthrey said: “We believe people would be foolish to go and live there when

there are so many other available sites just as attractive. If we allowed people to go and live there, we think eventually the pressure of public opinion would be such that the activities of the airport would be restricted.”

Caught Out The Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) had disappointed residents of Rawene by not attending the Rawene school’s recent centennial celebrations. Mr W. F. G. Whyte told the Auckland Education Board. He also expressed his concern that the board had not taken more interest in the celebrations. “The Minister replied to his invitation by saying he had to return to Wellington on Government business,” said Mr Whyte. “Then we saw his photo in the newspapers with the fish he had caught. I don’t blame him for wanting a break, but he could have written. us a nice note saying he wanted the break and intended going fishing.”—(P.A.)

Sharing The Burden It seemed to be generally accepted that future generations should make some contribution to public works from which they would gain benefits; and it appeared to be thought that provided those works were financed by loan money instead of taxes the objective would be achieved, said Mr C. D. A. George, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, last evening. “Only if those loans are raised overseas will posterity share the burden,” he said. “If long-term capital projects are financed by local loans, the present generation bears the cost in terms of lower consumption. By lending part of its income the community forgoes the use of it and the means of raising its standard of consumption.”

Birthday Present Robert Helpmann, of the Royal Ballet Company, celebrated his 50th birthday in Auckland yesterday by dancing the title role of “The Rake’s Progress.” It was the first time Mr Helpmann has danced in Auckland, although he has appeared on the stage here previously as an actor in Noel Coward’s “Nude With Violin.” “The audience’s enthusiasm was a marvellous birthday present,” he said, after the show. “It is no use denying my age—it’s in all the reference books, anyway.” Mr Helpmann orginated the role of “The Rake” in 1935 when the ballet was first staged. “It is the umpteenth hundredth time I have danced it,” he said.— (P.A.)

Departmental Brevity “Next business is a letter from the Education Department acknowledging the board’s letter asking for an assembly hall for the school,” announced Mr D. Mackay, chairman of the Cashmere High School board of governors, during the course of last evening’s board meeting. “I'm afraid it reads better on the order paper than in the flesh—l didn't know the Education Department wrote things like this,” said the secretary (Mr P J Halligan). He then read from a printed form, with inked-m blanks: “Dear sir or madam (crossed out), I have to acknowledge receipt of your 'etter dated 13.3.59, with reference to Cashmere High School—assembly hall. The matter will receive attention. Yours faithfully, C. E. Beeby (rubber stamp).” “I hope the position is rather better than it reads,” said Mr Halligan, amid laughter.