TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 8

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The new St Albans- Library in Colombo Street north will be onenc-d by the Mayor on Saturday, July 31. Councillor D. G. Sullivan, M.P., lodged notice of motion that the City Council should revert to the system ot proportional representation. " The matter will probably be debated next Monday night. rA Press Association message from limaru states that a member of a party prosecuted at the Magistrate's Court for trespassing in pursuit of game on tho bird sanctuary at Lake Alexandria, on May. 1. pleaded that they were outside tho limit, half a mile if 01 ! 1 ~ * a k°' Th® evidence showed that the party was only a quarter of a mile from tho sanctuary. Decision waa reserved on tho_ legal point: That 'the Gazette notice of the sanctuary should bo descriptive, whereas it only defined the boundaries by reference to some map. TT is claimed that the return of Air " T°r the Sydenham ward will give a majority in tho City Council m favour of proportional representation. Those who have “pricked the card say that those in favour of the lelorm arc the Alay or and Councillors Andrews, Hunter, Sullivan, Langlev, Armstrong, Burgoyne, Herbert and Cooke, 'this would constitute a majority of two in the full council of seventeen, but the turn-over of one vote would be fatal. It is pointed out that Labour could not hope to secure seven seats, its present strength, under the proportional system, but is pledged to the reform as the only scientifically exact method of voting. Further contributions to the old conti’jversy concerning the stage at which a man may bo • termed drunk were made m tho Alagistratc’s Court, by Magistrate and counsel 10-day. Evidence was given that defendant had been so drunk that he fell on his back while trying to crank his motor-car. and the Magistrate held that defendant might have succeeded in doing so, and thus created a danger to the public. “It lias been held that a man is not drunk if lie can lie on the ground without falling,” said the i ffiKistratOj \wtli a twinkle m his evo* “ Avell, sir,” replied Air Thomas, “ I been told that he is not drunk who from, the floor can raise his head and ask for more.” Hoop to the right” is a maxim that is observeu in all pedestrian uaffic in uie city, yet by a strange perversity in 'the matter of door Handles and “push;' plates in the Ghnstchurcli pubho buildings all traffic in and out of tneso doors' is lluown into contusion. In all well ordered buildings where swing doors are concerned one i> invited to push on the right hand plate, winch ensures that persons going in and out at the same time do.not come into collision. In the public buildings, nowe-ve.r.■ the “pull” is on the nght hand side, and anyone wishing to outer on the usual side must pull the door open, and tnen insinuate oneself tnrough' before it swings back- The remedy would be nmieiy to transpose the “'push” and “pull” plates, a matter of a few hours’ work. A big dearth of boarding accommodation mis been noted in -the-city by those who have to provide (or young men in Hus respect. The Y.ALC A. wnich is constantly asked to find lodgings lor young men coming to the ciu r loi the lirst time, has decided to provide a register of homes' that would take such young men, and there has been a good response already from people who aro not ordinary boardiimiiouse keepers, and are prepared To show a little altruism in the matter. . ta ™ ■ in su , cll cases ranges from 26s to JOs a week. Air R. A. Renner secretary of the Y.A1.0.A., states that the cessation of building operations during the war, which, was largely the cause of the acute house shortage, has resulted in the use as private 'residences of houses that ordinarily would be used as boardinghouses. The high cost of living has made it comparatively easy for all existing boardino--houses to remain.full at proportionately increased rates, and therefore it- is difficult for young fellows coming to the city for the first time to get ordinary lodgings commensurate with their earnings. *