LONDON COUNCILLOR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 124, 19 February 1935, Page 10

LONDON COUNCILLOR

Sir John Perring Visits New Zealand SLUM CLEARANCE WORK One of a body of men and women who devote most of their time in an honorary capacity to the work of the Loudon County Council. Colonel Sir Jonn Perring, D.L., J.P.. accompanied by Lady Herring, arrived in Wellington from Sydney by the Makura yesterday. in the course of a world tour. Sir John lias served continuously for the last 13 years on the London County Council, and was first elected for the division of Balham and 100 ihg in 1923. From 1926 until March. 1934, he was continuously chairman ot the Establishment Committee, which controls the administrative. and technical staff of over 5000 persons. In March of last year the Labour Partv took over tlie control of the London County Council, and the Municipal Reform Party, which had governed for 27 years, gave up that charge. Shun Clearances. The Municipal Reform Party, before the election, said Sir John, had a five years’ programme of housing and slum clearances involving an expenditure of thirty-five to thirty-seven millions over a period of five years. .Already there were many housing estates, comprising ten thousand workmen's homes, built on the fringe of London. He had no reason to doubt that the Labour Party would not go forward with that policy. The Rt. Hon. Herbert Morrison, who was the Labour leader in the London County Council to-day, was the Minister of Transport in the late Labour Government, and Sir John said he had a high opinion of Mr. Morrison’s abilities and thought b e had a great future in front of him. At the same time he was somewhat nervous of the party behind Mr. Morrison in that it might be restless and urge Mr. Morrison to greater activities than he was prepared to undertake. The outstanding event during Sir John’s occupancy of the chair of the Establishment Committee was the erection of the final section of the County Hal) at a cost Of about £75,000. Sir John, in conjunction with the architect. was responsible for all the detail work. He i&id they wbre now anticipating putting up another ' building facing the County Hall which probably would cost one nillljon pounds. The Public Health Department was in need of additional accommodations. It might be surprising to know, but nevertheless it was a fact, that forty thousand medical examinations took place annually at tlie County Hall. Empire Preference. In all the purchases made I by the London County Council, said Sir John, Empire preference was given. A total of 110.000 people were fed daily, and the L.C.C. contracted for supplies of meat .from Australia and New Zealand and other produce. It was laid down that Empire preference must be given up to 10 per cent, above the price of articles from foreign countries. No contract was' entered into unless it was confirmed by the General Purposes Committee, which invariably confirmed the Empire preference. Sir. John is master of one of the old city livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Tin-plate Workers and Wire-workers, whose charter dates back to King Charles 11. These old and interesting institutions take a very important part in the civic functions within tlie city of London. He is also Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of London, Earl Crewe being the Lord Lieutenant of the county.

Sir John and Lady Perring intend touring in both the North and South Islands before returning to England, via Honolulu and Panama.'