CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 21

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEHS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH. May 18. Personal: Dr. T. McKibbin. C.8.E., Director ol Public Hygiene to the Health Department, is visiting Christchurch on official business. Mr W. J. Osman was reappointed go represent the Canterbury Automobile Association on the Peel Forest Reserve Board at last evening’s meeting of the council. At a meeting of the Aerated Waterworkers’ Union on Wednesday evening, Mr G. A. Brown, of Sydenham, was congratulated on winning the Dominion draughts championships held at Gore recently. Mr Brown has won the championships on several occasions. Freezing Works Season: Mr H. C. Revel!, secretary to the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union, stated to-day that the killing season was now "petering out.” He anticipated that most of the works would be practically closed by the end of May. The season had been a light one, especially in the South Island. Up to the beginning of this month the South Island killings showed a falling off of 734,243 carcases, compared with last season, made up of 562,174 lambs, 30,401 wethers, and 91,668. ewes. The New Zealand killings for this year were 8,630,976 carcases, whereas the average season was about 9,500,000. The North Island figures were just about the average number. Air Force Recruits: Squadron Leader J. L. Findlay, O.C. Wigram Aerodrome, will make visits to Blenheim, Nelson, Motueka, Timaru, Waimate, Dunedin, Balclutha and Invercargill next week to interview applicants for positions as fitters and riggers on the ground staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Government announced some time ago its intention to build up the personnel of the ground staff, and advertised that vacancies existed. Over 1,000 applications were received, and recently some of the candidates were selected to join the ground staff of the Hobsonville Air Base at Auckland after being interviewed by Squadron Leader L. M. Isitt. Tramwaymen Appeal: Further appeals against recent disrating, loss of seniority, and in some cases, loss of pay, were made by members of the traffic staff of the Christchurch Tramway Board before the Tramway Appeal Board to-day. Sixteen men, who either joined the service during the strike, rejoined as old employees who came back at the time of the strike, or did not take part in the strike, were represented by Mr Thomas. Mr Hunter appeared for eight men who took part in the strike and lost seniority when the first Appeal Board judgment was put into effect.

Mr H. A. Young, S.M. (chairman), Mr W. J. Hayward (Tramway Board) and Mr J. A. Webb (employees) constituted the Appeal Board. Mr Webb was one of the appellants and vacated his seat on the board to give evidence on his appeal, which will be considered by Mr Young and Mr Hayward. These appeals were held over from last Friday, when twenty-four appeals of a similar type were heard, judgment on which was reserved until today’s evidence was heard. Decision was reserved in all cases, and it is believed that a judgment will not be given for some days, as there is a great deal of evidence for the consideration of the board. Snow in City: Christchurch experienced the full blast of a coastal storm this morning. Sleet, hall, rain and snow fell in the city, while the Alps glittered in bright sunshine and the foothills were bare of the slightest vestige of snow. Bursting on the city with exceptional force, a south-west gale brought a deluge of rain with it at five o’clock last night. Fences, trees, electric light wires and, in one case, the roof of a house, were torn away. Later in the night the wind whistled and roared through the city, bringing occasional heavy hail showers. By this morning it had died away to a strong breeze, but a sprinkling of snow on the hills and grey snow clouds in the southwest were Indications of worse to follow. Within an hour of the sun breaking through for a few minutes at nine o'clock this morning, heavy snow was falling on the hills. By 11.30 a.m. dense clouds of it were sweeping through the city, one fall being heavy enough to coat the roofs of motor-ears in two minutes. It lay white for only a minute or two, owing to the wet surface. By noon the snowfall had stopped, and the south-western sky was clearing, while half an hour later warm sunshine cloaked the city. Retail Prices of Tobacco: It is stated by a leading firm of tobacco manufacturers that the new minimum retail prices for cigarettes and tobacco, which came into operation throughout New Zealand this Week, has become effective without confusion. From the manner in which the new list of prices has been received, it is clearly evident that the general public as well as the tobacco trade as a whole recognised the need for action of this nature. Prices charged by the manufacturers and agents to the wholesale and retail trade have not been increased and the amended scale of retail prices has been issued as a step in the direction of carrying out the wishes of the Government that the interests of certain sections of the retail trade should be protected. Any country retailers who have not received copies of the list or who are in doubt regarding the action they are required to take, are advised to communicate with their usual wholesale supplier or with any firm of manufacturers or agents. Storm at Sea: The ferry steamer Wahine ran into tile southerly buster at nine o'clock last night, while crossing Cook Strait. She received a severe pounding, and her progress was affected considerably. By the time she passed Cape Campbell it was blowing furiously, with heavy seas. The vessel behaved splendidly, and although conditions did not’ improve, and visibility was bad owing to squalls, she steamed into the inner harbour at Lyttelton at 7.40 a.m., about fifty-five minutes late. The vessel brought about 200 passengers. Describing the force of the wind a seafarer said that it was so strong last evening that 1 e marvelled at ships in light trim not being blown over. The Waikawa left for Dunedin yesterday afternoon after discharging Pacific Coast cargo. She proceeded on her way to Dunedin, but the Kalingo, which left later, put back and sheltered for the night off Port Levy. This morning she entered the stream again, and was lying at anchor off Camp Bay, waiting for the weather to moderate. The Poolta, en route from Wellington

to Dunedin, was reported to be sheltering under the lee of Banks Peninsula for the night. The John Anderson postponed her trip this morning to Little Akaloa, Okains Bay and Pigeon Bay. She will call at the bays tomorrow. No work could be undertaken on the Lyttelton waterfront this morning, owing to the almost continuous rain and hail squalls. Rural Mortgages: “The steady flow of applications to the Adjustment Commission for relief, the majority of which are genuine cases of hardship, is evidence of the necessity for continuance of this Act," stated the report presented to the annual provincial conference of the North Canterbury district of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. "In certain interested quarters the Act is blamed for driving capital away from rural investments. The executive would like to ask those people to be honest and say whether they really think It is the Act or the economic position which makes rural mortgages in many cases still unattractive.” Inquiry Instituted: In view of certain statements that have been circulated concerning the administration of the Central Depot, to which the director takes exception, Mr George Harper, chairman of the Metropolitan Relief Association, waited on the Mayor, Mr D. Sullivan,M.P., with a request that he should appoint some competent citizen to inquire into the truth or otherwise of the statements made. The Mayor agreed to Mr Harper’s request and the inquiry will be held as soon as possible. Mr Arthur Donnelly has agreed to preside at the investigation. “Get the Best Brains”: “It is no use sending a man to England just because he is Prime Minister or Minister of Agriculture, we Ought to get the best brains to argue the matter out with those overseas.” This was the view put before the provincial conference of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union by the president, Mr J. D. Hall, when discussing the question of quotas. One of the most important matters to be discussed, said Mr Hall, was the question of the trade relations of the Empire. It had been definitely decided that quotas were to be imposed on New Zealand produce going into England, to protect the British farmers.

“It was not desirable that politicians should enter into negotiations without the assistance of the business community and particularly the legal profession. It was a matter of outstanding importance. We have said we would resist quotas,” said Mr Hall. “That is no good. They will simply laugh at us. There is certain sentiment that prevents us using hostile methods.”