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Evening Star, Issue 25419, 26 February 1945, Page 4

Two suburban boroughs in the Christchurch metropolitan district held polls on Saturday to decide whether they should l unite with the city of Christchurch. Sumner voted almost two to one to join the city, but at Riccarton the proposal was defeated by the narrow margin of 76 votes on the preliminary count. More than 1,000 Scouts, Cubs, Guides, and Brownies participated in the celebration of Founders’ Day in Dunedin yesterday afternoon, when in a parade at Robin Hood ground befqre the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) they reaffirmed their promises. Mr D. Forsyth, president of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association, spoke of the qualities of good citizenship, an introduction to which was provided by the Scouting movement. On Saturday afternoon Scouts and Cubs helped in the clearing of-noxious weeds from city reserves, their efforts being commended by members of the committee of the Dunedin Amenities Society who assisted. “ The election of successful business men, or men who are successful in other walks of life, as councillors of a town or city lias its value in the formation of policy measures for the benefit and advancement of the community, but unfortunately the practice has grown. up of councillors interfering in administration matters which should be left in the hands of skilled and experienced experts in municipal administration, such as are to be found under the system widely practised in the United States of America and other countries employing municipal agers.” said Mr W. Stuart WilsnWellington, in evidence before the P"liamentary Committee on Local Body Government at Wellington. Municipal administration should be delegated to a thoroughly competent trained executice, who should get and hold his job on his executive ‘ability alone, and should be given a status and salary comparable with that of an executive in charge of a private corporation. The idea was embodied in the concentration of administrative authority in the city manager. Administrative authority must be concentrated in his office.

Mr Justice Nortlicroft presided at the Greymouth Supreme Court sessions this morning, reports an Association meesage. There were no criminal cases, and white gloves were presented to the judge, who congratulated the district on its law-abiding standards. The following is the position as at the end of the forty-seventh week of the present financial year in respect to those offices (12 in number) which have still to obtain their annual national war savings quotas for the current year:—Olintoii; £512 still to be subscribed; Cromwell, £1,608; Heriot, £6; Kelso. £280; Middlemarch, £488; Milton, £1,106; Naseby, £33Q; Oturehun, £060; Outram, £104; Owaka, £1,868; Waipahi, £496; Waitahuna. £835.

“ I think we should thank him for a very gracious act,” said the chairman bf the Victoria University College Council. Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C.. at a meeting when it.was announced that Mr S. Green hie, special assistant to the. United States .Minister, hud returned a cheque which he had received from the university college for a series of lecturos that he gave to the W.E.A. Mr Greenbie said he believed that the latter organisation was anxious tq build ud on American section in its library, and he suggested that the money be voted to tkat purpose. The council recorded .its appreciation of Mr Greenhie’s act.

The Armed Services, particularly the Royal Air Force, have contributed a score or more of new words and phrases to the imperishable stuff of the English language since the war began. Latest of these words, and one not yet in full use. because-it has not filtered through all ranks, ,is “ grauneb.” Briefly, it means to make a mess of anything, as to smash up a plane or motor car, to fail in any particular job or mission. 11 Tn a night landing, being a poor type, he graunclied his kite, and the wiuco took a very dim view of the wliole tea party,” might be a typical Air. Force way of saying that an indifferent pilot crashed his aircraft, thereby incurring the extreme displeasure of the wing commander.

In a challenging address dealing with the difficulties facing the youth of to-day as compared with any other generation (the position being, described as tragically serious) the Rev. E. T. Olds, Auckland, at the Centra] Mission last night, spoke of the cynical minds of modern youth. “ Cynicism in youth,” said Mr Olds, 11 does not pull the wool over the eyes of the older generation. You young people are not doing your job in this world if you are cynical. Be natural. This assumption of superiority before you have even cut your wisdom tooth makes von sound ridiculous.” Mr Olds pleaded with his hearers to define their purpose in life and courageously follow their plan, no matter if it did not appeal to the other person.