LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 11

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was stated by the Christchureh City Electrical Engineer (Mr E. E. Stark), last evening, in some remarks on the progress of the corporation's electricity undertaking, that there is no longer a suction gas, plant in operation in the city. Mr Stark added that in 1913 the electricity revenue was £IB,OOO, and in 1918 it was £04,000. If the charges made in 1913 had been in operation in 1918, the revenue for the latter year would have been £120,0.00. The matter' of the present subsidy on hospital .contributions was referred to by the Finance Committee at the North Canterbury Hospital Board's meeting to-day. The committee said it again desired to emphasise the fact that the district that accepted and carried out properly the duties devolving upon it by the Act had to pay a very severe penalty. The subsidy was again 14/3 on each pound collected from the local authorities. This was stated to be quite insufficient. It was decided to write to the Minister of Public Health and members of Parliament, and to deputationise Parliament, protesting against the inadequate subsidy. Referring to the statement that numbers of returned soldiers in Christchureh are now reduced to begging for the price of a bed, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) expressed deep regret that such a position should have arisen. However, the Canterbury Patriotic Fund had £IOO,OOO in hand, and he felt sure fhat, if it were approached, provision could be made by which every man could obtain what was necessary for his board and lodging in cases of need. There might be some unworthy—there were in every class—but, personally, he wouM rather see 20 unworthy cases assisted than that one deserving man should have to sleep in Hagley Park because he could not afford a bed.

Good entries have been received for the Canterbury Horticultural Society's Chrysanthemum Show, to be held in the Art Gallery on Thursday and Friday next. Chrysanthemum growers have been fortunate in their season this year, so some splendid blooms should be shown. Also, the fruit and decorative sections will be well filled. The show will be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday. Lectures will be delivered each evening. On Thursday, Mr R. Nairn will speak at 7.30 and 8.30 p.m. on "Autumn Tints," and on Friday Mr S. I. Fitch will lecture on "Amateur Fruit-growing." On Friday school children will be admitted free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and prizes are offered for essays to be written after that visit. Among a series of questions asked of Mr George Hutchison at the conclusion of his address last evening was one as to whether, if returned to the council, he would favour a roads improvement, scheme which, among other essentials, would bring about better travelling conditions on Lincoln Road. In replying, Mr Hutchison stated that there were one or two roads in the city—and main ones at that —that badly required attention, and Lincoln Road was certainly among the number. In his travels in different countries he had seen the experiment tried of forming concrete roadways, which had always proved more durable than the tarred macadam. If elected to the council Mr Hutchison stated' that he certainly would push the claim for an improvement of the Lincoln Road surface.