"SLOW OF ACTION."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2030, 17 August 1920, Page 2

"SLOW OF ACTION."

THE MAYOR CRITICISED. "The Mayoral action has been regarded as slow and retarded," stated the Rev. J. J. North at the meeting of the Council of Churches last evening, referring to the '' Fight the Famine'' campaign in Christchurch. Mr North stated that it had been specially asked that the churches should make a retiring offering in connection witli the "Fight the Famine" fund. The council was to a considerable extent committed on the subject, as it had approached the Mayor (Dr H. T. J. Thaeker, M,P.,) in reference to the need for funds. The meeting at Liberty Theatre on Sunday evening was stifled because it was poorly advertised. The chairman (Rev. W. J. Williams): There was not one advertisement in the papers An inquiry should be made to see why. Mr North: I saw only one small local! The chairman: The Mayor should be asked why. It was lack of courtesy to the men who were to speak that the meeting should not be advertised. The Rev. J. Patcrson said it was not a fact that there were no advertisements. He did not read all the papers, but in one he had seen an advertisement, a sub-leader and a local. He supposed the Mayor took the stand that he could not spend the money ho did not have. It was very difficult in Christchurch to arouse public interest in these matters. They ought to be fair to the Mayor, although he certainly did take some time to get going. The chairman: I did not see a single advertisement on the matter, and in view of what Mr Paterson said, I withdraw my words. Mr North said it was three months since the Mayor was asked to get the thing going. He was very much occupied with his Parliamentary duties, and it was patent that the fund would not succeed unless placed in other hands. No attempt was made by the Mayor to make the meeting "catchy."