In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 8

In Town And Out

Bridges Criticized An assertion that many of the bridges in Southland were a danger to motorists was made by the Hon. T. O’Byrne, M.L.C., at the annual luncheon of the Southland Progress League yesterday. Mr O’Byrne said that many of the bridges had running boards across them, but in the centre there was a gap. Any one who drove at a fairly fast speed, was running a considerable risk of the car swinging into the bridge from behind, and in the last few years five persons lost their lives because of that. “I hope the public bodies will see that these bridges are filled up,” he added. “If they don’t we will have to ask Parliament about them.”

Money Spent in Toe Toes District “It is generally thought by some ratepayers in the Toe Toes riding that the riding does not get the benefit of the Government grants for work in the district,” said Cr T. Golden at a meeting of the Southland County Council yesterday. “I would like to make it clear,” he said, “that more work than should have been done was carried out last year, so much so that the rates have had to be raised to meet the increased expenditure. We spent £l7OO on subsidizing Government grants for work in the district—the biggest amount spent by any riding last year.” Cycle Tracks on Streets

Support was given by the Southland Education Board yesterday to the proposal of the principal of the Southland Technical College (Mr C. A. Stewart) that cycle tracks should be provided on city streets to minimize the danger to children cycling to and from school. The chairman (Mr S. Rice) said the principle was sound if it could be put into operation. He thought it was desirable that the Education Board, the Technical College Board and the High Schools Board should have a conference on the question and possibly consult the Automobile Association (Southland). It was agreed to support the proposal. Southland Centennial Memorial The Southland County Council will not give financial support to the proposed centennial memorial museum for Southland. The question of making a grant was again before the council at its meeting- yesterday, and it was decided to take no action. Welsh Guards Band Engaged

The Welsh Guards Band has been engaged to play at the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in 1939-40. Negotiations to obtain the services of this famous band were first opened some months ago when the High Commissioner in' London, Mr W. J. Jordan, was asked to investigate the possibilities of persuading the band of one of the best English regiments to visit New Zealand for the centennial. Mr Jordan put forward the name of the Welsh Guards, whose terms have been accepted by the exhibition directors. The precise cost of obtaining the band and bringing it to New Zealand has not been made public, but it is understood it runs into many thousands of pounds.' The band will play in Wellington for the duration of the exhibition and will probably tour New Zealand afterwards before returning to England.—Press Association.

Memorial Fund Supported A grant of £2 2/- to the Dr Ada Paterson Memorial Fund was made by the Southland Education Board yesterday. The chairman (Mr S. Rice) paid a tribute to the great work done by Dr Paterson for the health and welfare of New Zealand children. He said the board should contribute to such a worthy cause.

Air Service, to Stewart Island The opinion that the time had arrived when there should be air transport to Stewart Island was expressed by the Mayor (Mr John Miller) at the annual meeting of the Southland Progress League yesterday. “I don’t think it is likely that a boat will be put on the run,” said Mr Miller, “and I think we should support the establishment of an air service. The league has always taken an interest in Stewart Island and will continue to do so.” Later in the morning Mr R. C. Hicks, of Stewart Island, said that he would like to correct the Mayor’s statement that there was little prospect of a bigger boat for the island service. There was, he said, every prospect of there being a much bigger boat before Christmas. The Government had promised, through the Under-Secretary of Marine, that if the residents of the island gave their whole-hearted support to the service run by the Tamatea it would be prepared to subsidize a much bigger service. Mr Hicks expressed his keen appreciation of the interest the Mayor took in Stewart Island.

Dairy Industry Conference The National Dairy Association conference at New Plymouth yesterday decided to request the Government to ask that the 1940 conference of the dairy industry be held in New Zealand. The conference, which attracts the leading scientific minds in dairy matters from all parts of the world, was arranged for Austria, but it is understood that another venue will have to be obtained because of the Nazi coup. The last conference was in Germany and it cannot be held twice in succession in the same country.— Press Association.

Model Aeroplane Found The gas model aeroplane owned by Mr F. Olsen, of Gore, which was lost after making a flight of 23 minutes at Gore more than a month ago, was discovered on the property of Mr H. Mclntyre, Benio, yesterday. The plane was about three miles from the locality where an extensive search was conducted and was about eight and a-half miles from the Gore Aerodrome, where it began its flight. Half of the wing of the machine had been broken off and was missing and the elevator was slightly damaged. Although it had been out in the open for more than a month the engine of the machine was not damaged and was found to be in good running order.

New Zealand’s Public Debt More than £17,000,000 of New Zealand’s public debt will mature in London during the next financial year, and financial circles are interested to see what methods the Government will adopt to make the repayment (says The Press, Christchurch). The total amount due is £17,173,191, and between April 1, 1939, and March 31, 1940, some means will have to be found to meet the debt, whatever government holds office. The present Government has been reported to have some special plans in view for dealing with the situation, but it appears to be generally accepted ■ that either a conversion loan will be floated in London to make the repayment or an attempt will be made to use the financial resources of the country, through the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, to pay the amount off in London and transfer the indebtedness to the Dominion. This apparently would be done either by a major credit issue along the lines of the loan made by the bank for State housing, or by the floating of an internal loan here.