CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ARRIVAL OF SPRING

(Special to “Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, August 10. No longer do the willows on the Avon banks and in the parks present a bare, forlorn appearance, for August 5 has passed and many trees now have a fresh, springlike appearance, sprouts showing all over their latelv bare trunks and branches. A strange coincidence it may seem, but it one was a particularly close observer hp would notice that the willows always begin to sprout on or about August 5. One has only to take a stroll through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to appreciate the changes that have taken place in the last few days. The birds have also turned out to welcome the spring, and the trees at present are full of cheery little singers, every one, it seems, straining to outdo its neighbours. The Gardens are a pleasant place in which to spend an hour these days, the willows stretching out their long, slender wands towards the waters, their branches a mass of green buds.

TRUST BUNDS. Strong opposition is likely to be raised to several clauses of the Bill which the New Zealand Law Society has promoted, with the object of establishing, a fund , for the purpose of. protecting the public against the embezzlement of trust accounts by members of the legal profession. The Bill however, goes further than providing for the establishment of a guarantee fund. The most strenuous opposition will be to the clauses providing that no further land brokers’ licenses shall be issued, and that accountants shall be prohibited from undertaking, certain clasess of work which’ at present they are quite free to carry out. It is intended that the Bill shall be introduced in the House during the present session, and given all the facilities of a Government Bill. In the meantime, copies have been circulated among the members of the Law Society. Some of these copies have got into the hands x>f land brokers and accountants in Chiistchuich. As drafted, the Bill is described as an Act to amend the Law Practitioners’ Act, 1908, to provide for a law guarantee fund. It is provided that it shall come into operation on January 1, 1929. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Although it is impossible yet to obtain the opinion of the general body of Christchurch employers on the system of local daylight saving, most of them are in favour of the principle of daylight saving, and will certainly attend the conference to be called by the Mayor of Christchurch (Rev. .1. K. Archer) to consider its practical adoption. “No meeting of the general body ot employers has been held,” said Mr W. Cecil Prime (Secretary of the Employers’ Association) to-day. “It is impossible yet to gauge their true opinion. I can say, however, they are prepared to discuss the proposal with open minds. There is no antagonism against daylight saving among employers; in fact, the general opinion seems definitely favourable.” A meeting of the Executive of the Employers’ Association was held last evening. While admitting that it was not in a position to speak for the whole of the employers, it decided that it was unable to pass any resolution favouring a local scheme of daylight saving, because of the difficulties and disorganisation involved. The Association will, however, be pleased to discuss the proposal in open conference. > RACING TAXATION That the Government should, reduce the burden of taxation on’ the country racing clubs, if it cannot see its way clear to grant any relief to the Metropolitan clubs, was urged today by Mr. George Gould (President of the Canterbury Jockey Club). “As long as the Government does not increase the burden on the Metropolitan Clubs-, I am all in favour of easing the rate of taxation on the country clubs,” said Mr. Gould. “It is most, important for good racing that the country clubs should he able to raise their stakes, because nobody can pay training expenses out of the stakes available at country meetings on the present basis. This means that owners must depend upon betting profits to carry them along. This must inevitably, in many cases, lead to crooked running. I think it is quite fair to say that one of the worst consequences of the over-heavy rate of taxation imposed on racing people is the tendency it has towards the in-and-out racing of horses. For this reason, I think that the burden of taxation should be reduced without further delay.”