ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 46, 31 March 1914, Page 8

ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.

THE MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK. The New Zealand Municipal Handbook, compiled by the Government Statistician, which has just been issued, came in for some criticism at last night's meeting of. the Christchurch City Council.

Cr J. M 'Combs said that the new handbook, which had been laid on the council table for the first time that evening, must be very unreliable if it were to be judged by the information it contained with regard to Christchurch. The book recorded his name in the council, so that he took it to refer tp this year. It said that the general rate was 2£d, whereas it was 3d. It also said that the wages of the council's labourers were 8/6 per day, while as a matter of fact they were 9/-. Cr Otley's name was given as Okey. (Laughter.) If this was a-fair sample of the information contained in the book it would be better if the Government did not bring it out, as it was only misleading the people. Cr A. S. Taylor said that the figures referred to the financial year ended March 31, 1913. Cr M'Combs should remember that it took some time to get these books out, and the information must always be some months old.

Cr M'Combs: But I am recorded as a councillor, so I take it that the book to this year.

Cr H. D. Acland: If Cr M'Combs will refer to the preface he will see that the information deals with the last financial year. Cr M'Combs: If so I and several other councillors should not be recorded as members of the council. Anyway, it is simply inexcusable that councillors' names should be mis-spelt in a publication of tnis kind. There was no further discussion.