CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

ITEMS FROM THE CITY CHRISTCHURCH. October 31. Personal: Mr H. H. Sterling, chairman of the New Zealand Railways Board, is visiting Christchurch. The Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., and the Hon. Mark Fagan, M.L.C., arrived from the north this morning. Mr W. J. Sim has left for Dunedin to attend a meeting of the Transport appeal Board. Mr A. M. Seaman, of Auckland, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, arrived in Christchurch this morning. Mr W. G. Wohlmann, Commissioner of Police, who was visiting Christchurch, left for Wellington this evening. Inquiry Suggested: A proposal that a public inquiry should be held into the administration of the City Council will be submitted to the council on Monday next by Mr A. E. Armstrong. He has given notice of his intention to move as follows: “That a general public inquiry be set up for the purpose of deciding whether the ratepayers’ money is being spent in the most economical manner and to allow of any citizen to inquire into any detail of council administration.” The Weather: After it had been overcast until well on into the morning, the sky cleared to-day and the weather became pleasant, though there was a strong breeze from the east. At midday the temperature was 57.0 degrees. Yesterday the maximum temperature was 61.1 degrees and the minimum 47.6. The evening was beautifully clear, but the night was overcast. Swan Eggs: Collecting swan eggs in order to preserve them was a practice adopted on two occasions by F. Cookson, an unemployed man, of Birdling’s Flat. This morning he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to two charges of being in possession of swan eggs. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. The charges were preferred by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. Cookson was fined £2 and costs on each charge, a week being allowed in which to pay. Council Elections: The organisation of an Independent group to contest the next City Council elections in opposition to Labour and Citizens’ Association candidates is proposed as the result of a resolution carried at a meeting of the United Burgesses’ Association. It was decided to write to all burgesses’ associations in Greater Christchurch inviting their co-operation in framing a policy and selecting an independent group directly representing the ratepayers, with the object of gaining control of the City Council. Motor Horns at Night: An attempt to have launched in Christchurch a trial of the scheme adopted in London of prohibiting motorists from blowing their horns in certain areas between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. was started by a meeting of the Council of the United Burgesses’ Association. It was moved by Mr F. J. Prouting and seconded by Mr E. L. Hills that the Christchurch City Council be asked to consider the possibility of framing a by-law prohibiting the sounding of motor horns in the city and environments between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Members were agi’eed that there was far too much noise made at night, but one or two thought it would be a mistake to stop motorists from blowing their horns. “There is always a fool round the corner,” said Mr J. S. Dacre. "It would be much wiser to wait to see the result of the experiment in London.” The motion was carried by five votes to four. A Great Surprise: “I suppose that everyone knows that a private member has really no chance at all of getting a private Bill through Parliament,” said Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. (chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board), at the 12th annual conference of the Harbours Association of New Zealand in Christchurch to-day. The conference was considering a remit favouring an increase on the Lyttelton Board, and Mr Howard mentioned that there was already a private Bill before the House on this question.

“In my 15 years’ experience I have known only one member of Parliament who has succeeded in getting a private Bill passed,” remarked Mr Howard. “That was the 'Daylight Stretching Bill,’ and the member was so surprised when it was passed after years of hard work that he gave us a champagne supper.”

Government Representation: By twenty-three votes to nineteen, the Harbours Association of New Zealand agreed this morning that Government representation on boards was only justified when financial or other Government assistance was rendered. The remit was moved by Mr W. K. McAlpine (Lyttelton): “That this conference re-affirm and emphasise its opinion expressed at the 1929 conference that Government representation on harbour boards is only justified when financial or other Government assistance is rendered.”

Mr McAlpine spoke briefly in support of the remit and Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., pointed out that the remit was only a re-affirmation. Mr W. J. Rogers (Wanganui), moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the executive, but later withdrew to allow a vote on the remit.

Voting Anomalies: Anomalies in the present method of voting for representatives of combined districts on harbour boards were brought up this morning at tin conference of the Harbours Association of New Zealand. The need for amending the legislation covering the position was stressed during the discussion on a motion brought forward by the Lyttelton Board, and the matter was referred to the executive with power to The motion, which was moved by Mr W. G. Gallagher (Lyttelton), was as follows: “That as manifest anomalies and inequities (which result in the disenfranchisement of many country residents) exist in the present method and franchises for the election to harbour boards of the representatives of combined districts which embrace counties, county, borough and/or town boards, and whereas it is desirable that there should be equality in voting power and conformity in the incidence of the election of harbour boards, county and municipal councils, and other local bodies, this conference lequests the Government to amend, at the earliest possible date, the provisions of the Harbours Act, Counties Act, Municipal Corporations Act and Local Elections and Polls Act, in respect of the above-mentioned matters.”

Quota or Tariff?: Farmers in this country will almost certainly be obliged to face the possibility of a meat quota imposed by Great Britain at an early date or perhaps the greater evil of a tariff or levy.

This is the view of Mr W. H. E. Flint, chairman of directors cf the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., who returned to Christchurch this morning after a business trip to England. In an interview he stated that there is uncertainty at present and should a quota be imposed it would not have to be necessarily permanent. But should a tariff or levy bet set up it might prove long lasting. “Consequently I hope that a tariff or levy will not be forthcoming, as it would prove so much to the detriment of the New Zealand sheep raiser,” said Mr Flint. Mr Flint said that during his stay in England he did not come across any particular reference to New Zealand having raised the basis of exchange. “I certainly saw no signs of resentment about it,” he said. “But there may be feeling in this direction among British exporters which I did not meet with, as my visit to Britain was solely in connection with affairs of the New Zealand Refrigerating Co.” The tariff which Mr Frint heard suggested as possible was Id a pound on foreign meat and id on Dominion exports. This would means a serious blow for the New Zealand farmer, although giving an Empire preference. It seemed inevitable that this country should suffer a temporary arrest in its progress as its power of primary producing increased. The pity .of it was hat there was only one market where the Dominion could sell her produce. But Britain had been and would continue to be very kind to both New Zealand and Australia.