LONDON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 February 1935, Page 3

LONDON

WORK ON COUNTY COUNCIL A NEW ZEALAND VISIT A notable, Londoner, Colonel Sir John Perring, D.L., J.P., accompanied by Lady Perring and a- companion, arrived from Sydney by the Makura yesterday at Wellington front Sydney in the course o? a world tour. Sir John is one of an altruistic body of men and women who devote most of their time in an honorary capacity to the work of the London City Council, on which he has served continuously for the last thirteen years, having been first elected for the division of Bnlham and Tooting in 1922 (says tlie “Post”). From 1926 until March, 1934, Sir John was continuously chairman of the Establishment Committee, which controls tho administrative, professional, and technical staff of over 5000 persons. In March of last year the Labour Party took over the control of the London County Council, and the Municipal Reform Party, which had governed for 27 years, gave up that charge. It might he a. slight blessing, said Sir John to-day to a “Post” reporter. At any rate, it had enabled him to take six months’ leave to go out and visit such parts ot the Empire, which, in his opinion, every BntTJler should know more about. HOUSING PROGRAMME 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 wore many housing estates, comprising ten thousand workmen’s homes, built on the fringe of London, He had no reason to doubt that the Labour Parly 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 tho late Labour Government, and Sir John said he had a. high opinion of Mr Morrison’s abilities and thought he had a great future in front of him. At. ihe same time ho 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 COUNTY HALL Tlie outstanding event during Sir John’s occupancy of the Chair of the Establishment Committee was the erection of the final section of tho County Hall at a cost, of about £75,000. Sir John, in conjunction with ihe architect, was responsible for all the detail work. Itc said they wore now.! anticipating putting up nnoHier building facing the County Ilall which probably Would cost one million pounds. The Public Health Department was in need of additional accommodations. It might- he surprising to know, hut nevertheless it was a fact, that, forty thousand medical examinations took place annually at the County Hall. The County Hall is a building admired by thousands of Londoners every day, but, not frequently visited except hv those who have business to transact ‘or by special sightseers. It stands on the river hank opposite the lower side of the bridge. Londoners have watched its gradual growth since ihe years before the war. Now that the fourth block has been completed there is one of the most imposing buildings in England on a site which demands grace in the building erected thereon. The centre section gives this grace. It is in the form of a crescent, with a balcony and a series of great marble pillars. In front of the colonnade is the members’ terrace much more imposing than the members’ terrace across the water, where members nf Parliament entertain their friends in summer. The L.C.C. is often spoken of as the Parliament of London. When one learns that there are 73,000 people working under the authorities of the council, the extent of the council’s activities may be realised. As for the building it self, tho total cost was £3,636,533. and it lias enabled the council !o gather under one roof thousands of employees who were previously scattered in different buildings. Irt tile library of the County ITall is a glass case containing about 30 seals. These are the seals of the various corporations the L.C.C. has drawn under its control and supplanted. The area- of the site of County Hall is six and a half acres. The building is 750 feet in length, with an average width of rather more than 300 feet. There are nine floors, containing 900 rooms. 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 hack to King Charles 11. These old and interesting institutions take a very important- part in the civic functions within the 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.

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

In all the purchases made 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 preferences 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 and Lady Perring intend touring in both the North and South Islands before returning to England via Honolulu and Panama.