CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

BETTER iMTLK SUPPLY.

(Special to "Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 13

A conference of milk vendors was held this afternoon to consider statements made by the Mayor (Rev. J. Archer) .during the election campaign. Mr H. Bliss presided over a large attendance. The Mayor and Councillor Carr were present. The Chairman said that a number of dairymen had approached him and asked the meeting to be called to consider statements that had appeared in the Press.

At the conclusion of Mr Bliss’s remarks, the Mayor at his request, took the chair. The Mayor said he was present in a perfectly friendly capacity. The Council were trustees for the public and wanted to ensure the milk supply being pure. There had been a lot of talk about a municipal supply, but he was not very anxious to tackle that job. He was anxious to have an absolutely pure milk supply. If those present could give it, he would be perfectly satisfied. He stressed four points as being necessary (1) Requisite amount of butter fat, (2) Freshness of the milk, (3) Proper cooling of the milk, (4) Absolute cleanliness. Mr H. Weiner congratulated the Mayor.on his speech. The trouble at. present, he thought was lack of standard. There seemed to be lack of cooperation between the City Council and (he Health Department, the Agricultural Department, and the suppliers. They seemed Io be working on the blind side. The suppliers did not seem to understand clearly what was wanted. They wanted the standard laid down clearly, then the supplier would do his best to maintain it. Perhaps it would be wise to set up a committee, representing (he City Council, suppliers, Health Department, and Agricultural Department.. The distributor was dependent on the outside supplier. The distributor had to foot the bill when the milk was not. up to the standard, when often it was not his fault.

BANK PREMISES

The Bank of New Zealand in Christchurch is cramped for space. Apparently, building operations by the Bank authorities ’are held up because of a strip of land. For the last thirty or forty years, at different times, there have been negotiations betiveen the Christchurch City Council of the day and the Bank over an ISft Gin strip of land on -which the Bank want to build, facing Colombo Street, between Hereford Street and Cathedral Square. Nothing has been finally settled however, as the ratepayers have polled consistently against the proposals to purchase land ami thus widen the traffic-congested thoroughfare. In the early days of settlement, the la mi could have been bought for a mere song, compared with the price which must be asked to-day. The very earliest negotiations concerned a strip of land on the site of the United Service Hotel, but several Councillors of that day spoke of the busy narrow parts of London, and decried the suggestion to purchase. They did not. foresee the advent of petrol-driven vehicles. In 1904, the Council and the Bank exchanged “notes” but not bank notes over the land. Again in 1907, when the land was valued at £15.000. There is every reason to believe that the Bank would have rebuilt on its premises before now. had the question of the-strip of land on offer to the Council in 1907 been finally dealt with. One has only to visit the present premises of the Bank to sec how great the need for increased accommodation for the staff. Owing to pressure on the space the Bank has found it necessary to placc plaee one or two departments in prejnises next door. When the Mayoi was approached, he said that undoubtedly the strip of land would have to become the property of the City, but the urgency of taking it over was uol quite so great now as before as the Cily had traffic control. "I have h;id no official information about any rebuilding scheme by the Bank,” he added.

STUDENTS’ “RAG

Begowned students, both male ami female, paraded through Christchurch carrying out the end of the term "Rag.” It was watched with interest by many in the Cily this afternoon. Entering (he Square from Worcestei Street. the procession which resembled a huge black serpent, wound its way round the Cathedral, singing and cheering in lusty manner, adopted by students when the Rector calls “Cease Fire” on lectures. In front of Warner’s Hotel, the procession halt ed, but the singing continued. There was loud cheering as a window cleaner was observed to pause from his labours and lean arm akimbo on the railing of the second floor fire escape, to display an intelligent interest in the proceedings below. He smiled in acknowledgement of the cheers. This was the signal for louder and wilder shouts and cheers. The window cleaner then threatened to throw the contents of his bucket over the shoutingthrong at which camo shrill cries of alarm from the lady members and “Hey, steady up there,” from the men students. The window cleaner did not carry out bis thfeat and was rewarded with further cheers. “Beers for dh.v men” was then rendered by students. After a verse, (he procession moved off, threading its way through the traffic in tlm Square to other parts.