IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21729, 15 June 1932, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Lease of Civic Theatre for Pictures. The Finance Committee reported to the City Council last evening that it had appointed a sub-committee to negotiate with a company for a lease of the Civic Theatre for showing animated pictures. Camp at Pebbly Hills. The State Forest Service has established a tree planting camp for 22 single relief workers at Pebbly Hills plantation. Inquiries made yesterday reveal that although the full complement of men is required to-day so far only 12 have accepted the work. Relief Camp At Kapuka. Advice has been received that another relief camp for single men is in the course of erection at Kapuka, in the Seaward Bush district. This camp is to accommodate 60 men, who will be engaged in draining and clearing work, and is expected to be ready for occupation in a week’s time.* Library Subscriptions. The City Council last evening adopted the recommendations of the Library Committee that the subscription to the juvenile library be reduced from 5/to 2/6 yearly and from 4/- to 1/6 halfyearly. The coipmittee reported that it had under consideration the amount of subscription to the library, * No Dearth of Applicants. For the position of cadet and messenger in the city engineer's office no fewer than 98 applications were received. H. Semmens was appointed. His Worship the Mayor, who advised the council of the sub-committee’s choice, said that the successful applicant was well qualified, he having matriculated and being at present an accountancy student. * * Power Of Human Voice. A strange story of the power of the human voice is told in a letter to an Aucklander from a friend in America. "There is a local man by the name of Kellogg,” said the letter, “who, in his attempt to imitate bird notes, has tumbled on some remarkable effects. He can utter a note directly, or by radio, and the engine of his auto will immediately start running. He can utter a different note, and put out the flame of a gas burner, sft away. He can change the type of flame with his voice, and cause it to dance at will. In a third case a note can penetrate the consciousness of a boy who has been absolutely deaf and dumb all his life, fen’t it wonderful what old Mother Nature has tied up in her apron waiting to be revealed by someone more in tune than the rest?” » « « » Royal Show. At the quarterly meeting of the Gore Chamber of Commerce last evening, the chairman (Mr A. J. Kerse) mentioned that the Southland A. and P. Association had discussed the question of making application for the 1933 Royal Show to be held at Invercargill. “I believe,” said Mr Kerse, “that the previous Royal Show held at Invercargill was the greatest advertisement Southland has ever had." Application had been made to the Gore A. and P. Association for its support, and, although he was aware that there were financial difficulties to be faced, he would move that, provided the Southland Association proceeded with its application, the Gore Chamber give it every support possible. The Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. Sunday Golf. In connection with the playing of games on reserves, the report of the Reserves Committee to the City Council last evening contained the following clause: Recommend: (1) That the application of the Queen’s Park Golf Club for the deletion from their lease of the clause prohibiting the playing of golf on Queen’s Park on Sunday, be granted. (2) That steps be taken to make the following by-law: “No person shall without the permission in writing of the City Council play at or engage at or take part in playing golf, football or any other field game in or upon any part of any recreation reserve or other reserve either vested in or under the control of the Invercargill City Council either within or beyond the city.” The Mayor, when the clause came up for consideration, ruled that so far as the first part was concerned it could not be discussed that night since it meant the revoking of a previous resolution. Due notice would have to be given. The

second part of the clause was discussed in committee and referred back to the Reserves Committee.

» • » • Esk Street as Parking Place. Motor car owners with business praises in Esk street will be gratified at the appearance of the following clause in the report of the Works Committee which came before the City Council last evening: “Having considered the letter from the New Zealand Insurance Company, Ltd., and 36 other firms and persons with business premises in Esk street, asking that a parking area be declared in Esk street, and having received a report on the matter from the traffic inspector. Recommend that the north side of Esk street from a point 20 feet east of Messrs Andrew Lees Ltd., right-of-way to a point 35 feet west of the intersection of Esk and Kelvin streets, be declared a motor parking area; that cars be parked head on to the kerb at an angle of 60 degrees and that the stand be added to the schedule of parking areas adopt-) ed by the council on July 16, 1928.” The clause was referred back to the committee so that consideration might be given to the suggestion that the cars be parked not head on, but parallel to the kerb. It was also suggested that Spey and Don Streets should be considered on the same basis.

» « « « Bluff Borough Fiances. Some interesting figures on borough finance were given by his Worship the Mayor of Bluff (Mr T. F. Doyle) at the R.S.A. social on Saturday evening, In replying on behalf of the Bluff Bor-i ough Council to the toast of “Local: Bodies,” Mr Doyle said that when the) present council took office the sum of £1350 was on the estimates for wages.) This amount had been increased till! for the current year it stood at £1935. Then again, the sum of £6lO had been spent on public works, such as roads, footpaths, drainage etc., while this year provision had been made for the expenditure of £lOl4, an increase of more than £4OO over the previous, figures. Yet ratepayers were not bearing the burden of the extra expendi-) ture. As a matter of fact, by a reduction in rates, combined with the practice of strict economy, the council was saving the ratepayers £2B 5/- per week—this despite the fact that there had been no reduction in salaries or wages, nor had anyone on the clerical or works staff been dismissed. His Worship was given an ovation at the conclusion of his remarks, the large gathering rising to cheer him and accord him musical honours.—Bluff Correspondent.

•» # • • Gas And Electricity Charges. Clauses of interest to gas and electricity consumers in Invercargill were contained in the report of the Trading Committee which came before the City Council last evening. The first clause stated: “Having given full consideration to the recommendation from the council that the committee endeavour to reduce the price of gas. In view of the department’s finances and the fact that 76 per cent, of the gas users are consumers of under 2000 feet of gas per month, and that a further discount of 21 per cent, would mean a saving of only 21 d. per month, the committee considers it advisable to concentrate on a selling campaign.” The clause relating to electricity charges read: “Having considered the following recommendation to the committee from the council: ‘That it be a recommendation to the Trading Committee that whilst taking into account economies, it take into consideration possible reductions in the price of electricity by giving a discount on electricity accounts.’ Recommend that the following reduction be made in the charge for electricity to be effective as from July 14, 1932: Unit charge from 7d. to 6J.d; floor space 4d. to 3Jd. per 100 square feet per month. Both clauses were adopted.

A Through Road. The following petition signed by 209 residents and ratepayers in the Lindisfarne and Georgetown districts was before the City Council last; evening: “We, the undersigned ratepayers and residents of properties in or adjacent to Lindisfarne and Georgetown, do hereby respectfully ask that the council take immediate steps to have a road formed between Eastend and Georgetown. Our suggestion is that Lindisfarne Road be continued to Morton Road. The advantages to be gained thereby would be: First, accessibility. The want of this road is being increasingly felt as these portions .of the city are getting rapidly built on, and much inconvenience is at present caused to the residents. Secondly, we are of the opinion that indirectly the city would substantially benefit by increased rates and the sale of water and lighting services required in connection with properties that would be built. Thirdly, the time seems to us very opportune, owing to the unemployed labour offering and the fact that this Would be a very suitable and useful work for unskilled labour.” It was decided that the petition should lie on the table until the next meeting, this being, the Mayor stated, the correct procedure in regard to a petition of such import-j ance.

Relief Depot. The following letter from the secretary of the Invercargill Relief Committee was before the City Council last evening: “At a meeting of my committee the question of finance occupied the attention of members. There are approximately 450 families provided with foodstuffs at the Relief Depot and since the increase of the wages tax from 3d to 1/- in the £1 the continuous contributions of members of sev-i eral city staffs such as banks, ware-1 houses and shops have largely decreased and the question of being able to continue keeping the depot open is giving the committee much concern. We all consider that it would be most regrettable to close the depot through lack of support and it was decided to approach all local bodies in the city for some measure of support. Instead of the position easing itself it is becoming more acute and as the worst part of the winter is to be faced and as funds are in desperate need, I respectfully ask your council to favourably consider making a donation to—; wards the above-mentioned fund which will enable us to carry on the good work that is being undertaken by a loyal and self-denying section of the) community.” The letter was referred to the Finance Committee.

* • • • “Relief Drive” Among Farmers. A. “relief drive” in the farming districts of Southland will be commenced to-day by members of the Relief Workers’ Association of Invercargill. Tho association, realizing that there is an urgent need for clothing and foodstuffs to keep the Central Relief Depot going, has decided to make an appeal to the farming community, and a personal canvass will be made from today. “This is a definite effort on the' part of the men to show that they are prepared to help themselves,” said Mr E. D. Dyer, honorary secretary of the association, when outlining the proposal to a Times reported. “We know that the citizens of Invercargill have done well in the past, and we appreciate their support, but since the introduction of the shilling tax there has been a decided falling off in support, and to-day the depot in Yarrow street is just carrying on and no more.” The urgency of the position could not be stressed strongly enough, he -added. Goods of all descriptions were badly needed to alleviate the increasing distress, and they were making an appeal to farmers for sheep, beef, vegetables, clothing, boots or any other donations which would relieve the position. Anything at all, large or small, would ba accepted.