RICCARTON SEAT IN FEBRUARY NEXT JANUARY 30 OBITUARY LACK OF BATHS A NEW POST STUDENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 99, 24 October 1938, Page 10

RICCARTON SEAT

IN FEBRUARY NEXT

JANUARY 30

OBITUARY

LACK OF BATHS

A NEW POST

STUDENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

DOMINION AND NAVAL DEFENCE

GOVERNMENT'S PRACTICAL INTEREST

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, October 3. While as a news item there is nothing exactly "thrilling" in the appointment of Captain H. M. Barnes, R.N., to the New Zealand Division the United Services Review explains that interest centres in the fact that the post is a new one. Hitherto the Navy List has contained no reference in any shape to the existence of a Naval Repair Yard.

"Evidently, therefore," comments "The Review," "the Dominion Government is now organising such an establishment, which is yet another example of the very practical interest they are taking in the whole subject of naval defence. As to whether the two cruisers, one trawler, one tug, and two training-ships which constitute the New Zealand Division will provide enough work to justify \ a repair yard is a point upon which the naval authorities must be the most competent. ...

"At present there seems no particular reason for increasing the strength of the New Zealand Division, but it does not call for much effort of imagination to picture a situation in which such a necessity would become very real. The willingness of the Dominions to co-operate with the Royal Navy in the event of war, and particularly in a war which may come uncomfortably close to t.heir own. shores, is taken for granted. But the value of this cooperation may be much enhanced by the provision of resources for meeting the requirements of a large increase in naval strength."

RETAINED BY MR. KYLE

SWING OF POSTAL VOTES

j (By Telegraph— Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, bctober 23. Securing 195 of the postal votes for the Riccarton seat. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, National Party candidate and the silting member in the last Parliament, has turned a close defeat into a narrow victory. On the first count Mr. Kyle was 38 votes behind Mr. T. K. Langford, the Labour Party candidate. The! final figures show that of the votes actually cast in the booths, Mr. Kyle got 6066 and Mr. Langford 6089. Details of 'the final count are:— Mr. Kyle 6502 Mr. Langford C 415 Informal 65 Total votes recorded .. 12,982 Majority for Mr. Kyle .. 87 Absentee and postal votes were as follows:—Absentee: Mr. Kyle 236, Mr. Langford 254, informal 3. Postal: Mr. Kyle 195, Mr. Langford 70, informaj 2. Seamen's: Mr. Langford 1. Declaration: Mr. Kyle 5, Mr. Langford 1. , Mr. Langford said yesterday that he had not then considered applying for a Magisterial recount. Labour now has 53 seats in the House, the National Party 25, and Independents 2. OTHER SEATS. The final counts in Mid-Canterbury and Waitaki will be completed early this week, states the "Star-Sun." In Mid-Canterbury, where Mr. A. N. Grigg (National) has a lead of 48 votes over Mr. H. E. Herring, the count may not be completed until the middle of the week.

j The completion of the count in Waitaki, where Mr. D. C. Kidd (National) has a lead of 62 votes over Mr. D. Barnes, is expected tomorrow. The returning officer for this electorate (Mr. D. M. Webster) said on Saturday that his staff was at present engaged on the scrutiny of the rolls and would not start the count until tomorrow morning. There were 422 absentee votes, 177 postal votes, 22 votes by declaration, and one seaman's vote to be counted. In results of official counts which follow, members of the last Parliament are denoted by an asterisk. Masterton. *J. Robertson (L.) 5385 J. H. Irving (N.) ......... 5195 Informal 84 / _____ Majority for Robertson . 190 Increase 23. Fahiatua. *Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom (N.) 5436 G. A. Hansen, (L.) 4509 Informal 46 Majority for Ransom .. 927 Increase 6. E Rotorua. •A. F. Moncur (L.) 6201 H. W. Nixon (N.) 4559 Informal 73 Majority for Moncur .. 1642 Increase 205. Absentee votes.-r-Mr. Moncur 491, Mr. Nixon 258; postal votes, Mr. Moncur 57; Mr. Nixon 73. Informal 98. Stratford. *W. J. Poison (N.) 5264 J. W. McMillan (L.) ...... 4163 Informal ' 60 Majority for Poison ... 1101 ' Decrease 46. Wellington South. *R. McKeen (L.) 10,151 D. P. Howlett (N.) 3,736 Informal 80 Majority for McKeen .. 6,415 Increase 254.

WELLINGTON'S PLIGHT

CONCERN OF SWIMMERS

A direct question as to whether or not the New Zealand swimming championships would be held in Wellington in 194<X was asked today by an Auckland delegate at the annual conference of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The question was prompted by reports in the Press as to the poor state of Wellington's swimming facilities. Sortie time ago Wellington asked for . the championships in the Centennial year, and this was granted. Mr.-P. N. Rundle; chairman of the Wellington Centre, said that he was forced to reply that the championships could not possibly be held in Wellington city. There were actually four public baths in the city neighbourhood, two of which were in remote suburbs. Of the two city baths, one was small, obsolescent, and almost completely lacking in accommodation "for spectators. The other was the tidal Te Aro pool, which was in very bad condition, and entirely unsuitable for holding championships. It would be necessary, therefore, to go to Lower Hutt for the Centennial championships. The Riddiford Baths were small, and were some distance from Wellington city, but they were the best the centre could do.

Mr. N. N. Oldershaw (Wellington) stated that there were only ten baths in the entire Wellington district.

Mr. J. B. Cotterill (Wanganui): This is. an amazing position. There are 16 baths in Wanganui alone.

"Wellington is in a very humiliating position of having to take swimmers from all over New Zealand out of its metropolitan district in order to hold championships," said Mr. B. O'Neill, of Christchurch, secretary of the New Zealand body. "There is not one bath in Wellington city that would stand the test of an international meeting. I think that no matter how genuine are the efforts of the Auckland Centre to have overseas swimmers who attend its Pan-Pacific championships make a tour of-the Dominion, Wellington will find it very difficult to provide swimming accommodation for them."

Mr. F. Adam said that the lack of progress in Wellington was not for want of efforts by the Wellington Swimming Centre. The matter had been before the centre continuously for the past twenty years. There had recently been several deputations to the City Council, and latest indications _were slightly more favourable. A public meeting was being called to discuss the matter, and a large attendance of citizens was expected.

The Committee that has been apointed by the Government to inquire ito the possibility of making greater se of university graduates in the pubc services of the Dominion is to hold s first meeting on November 4,

AIR SERVICE ACROSS THE TASMAN

THREE BOATS NAMED

TESTS NEXT MONTH

Negotiations between llic Governments of Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand and the necessary preparatory work for the establishment of an air service acro*s the Tasman Sea have now reached a stage when it is possible to anticipate a commencement of the service about February next, said the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in a statement today.

"Flying-boats suilable for the job are under construction in England," continued Mr. Nash, "and although the work has been somewhat delayed by various events, the first of the type of boat to be used will be ready for tests next month. Base facilities at Auckland are receiving attention and essential requirements for the commencement of the service will be ready in time."

The names of the lh/ree boats intended for the Tasman service will be "Aotea-roa," "Australia," and "Awarua."

AS ANNIVERSARY DAT

CAPTAIN HOBSON'S LETTER

Corroboration for the suggestion made in an article in "The Post" on Friday last that January 30 is/the correct date for New Zealand's Anniversary Day, is to be found in ' a letter written by Captain William i Hobson, R.N., the original of which ip now in the possession of the Waitangi Trust Board. The letter was dispatched from H.M.S. Herald to the Rev.j Charles Baker, and is dated January 29, 1840. and is worded as follows: — , "My Dear Sir,— "I have resolved to read hr*r Majesty's Commissions tomorrow and to issue my Proclamations at once. There are cogent reasons for Prompt' movement. I have sent drafts of the Proclamations for the Printer. Pray hjasten their execution. I shall, I feaii trespass a good deal on your establishment, but I hope with God's assistance that our measures will ensure prosperity to this lovely country. May I litope you. will use your influence to procure a full attendance at Kororareka j tomorrow at j two. As this will not be.-' delivered before the morning, don't / mistake the day. If I could have tte use of your Church, it is there I should most like to read these important idocuments. "Yours ever, ! "(Sgd.) Vf. HOBSON." The words "don't mistake the day" were underlined, thus leaving no doubt I that January 30, and not January 29, was the day. Auckkjh'd's mistake in its celebration date,'. as the article pointed out, arose .from-the "'fact that two years later, in 184£, January 30 fell on a Sunday, so the scjeond anniversary of the Proclamation ■^•as celebrated on the previous day, arid the mistake in date has been perpetrated ever since.

MR. C. E. GODBER

Mr. George Edwjard Godber, a prominent figure in church, and lodge affairs, and a resident of Wellington since 1867, died at/ his home at Island Bay on Saturday, at the age of 83.

Mr. Godber wrts born in Sheffield. England, in 1855, zmd left England with his parents wheiat he was seven for Melbourne, wheirp he remained for five years before Coming to Wellington.

He enter<fcd the painting and paperhanging business and spent a few years in Taran^ki, and later carried on his own business in Vivian and Willis Streets u#til after the war. He was one of the eerly Volunteers, being a lieutenant hat the City Rifles in 1875 under the late pMajor Crowe. The fiiendly society movement was Mr. Godjber's principal outside interest. He wag. initiated as a member of Lodge jEJritannia in 1874, and at his death \Ras the oldest member of that lodge. (Apart from being secretary of the lodjie for more than a quarter of centipfy, a position he retained up to the tin^e of his death, Mr. Godber held many cither positions of trust. He was Grandi Treasurer of the Manchester Unity ' for New Zealand from 1902 to 1922, /.-and then, on the death of Mr. John (Kershaw, he became Grand Secretary 'Of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, a position he held from 1922 until 1927. Mr. C^iodber had also been through all tfie offices of his own lodge, being a past } District Grand Master. He was secretary of Lodge Britannia when the jointj property of the Britannia and Antipodean lodges on Lambton Quay wasw sold to the T. and G. Mutual Life Socfcety, and became concerned in the erection and control of the new Oddfel flows' Hall in Clyde Quay. I.lfr. Godber was the senior member (the board of trustees of the Taranafizi Street Wesley Church, with which he* had been associated for some 60 ycjiars. He was a member of the Victcjs.'ia Bowling Club for 37 years, and vj!as president of the club in 1913-14. Mr. Godber was twice married. He fc survived by a widow and five daugh•/ers, Mesdames F. W. Gardiner, Welimton; S. E. McLeod, Mangaweka; J. LJM. Ede, Wellington; R. W. Fenton, Weijlington; and G. B. A. McLean, Wellington. A memorial service was held at the Taranaki Street Wesley Church today, before the funeral to Karori. j