SUPPORT NEEDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20480, 5 December 1934, Page 5

SUPPORT NEEDED.

Efforts to Beautify Rural Roads. ASSOCIATION'S REVIEW. Some disappointment was expressed by speakers at the first annual meeting of the Canterbury Roadside Beautifying Association yesterday that more support had not been forthcoming from local bodies to assist the association in carrying out work which generally was admitted to be necessary and altogether praiseworthy. The Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) presided over an attendance of twelve members. The report of the executive committee expressed pleasure that assistance had been received from some local authorities and there was no doubt that many others would give the association their co-operation and support when time permitted them to give that attention to the matter of roadside tree planting which was so necessary to ensure the success of the objects for which the association was formed. “It is not the desire of the association to interfere in the slightest degree with the rights and duties which are vested in the local authorities, but to give all possible assistance through the services of the advisory committee, who are anxious to advise and help to the utmost,” added the report. The report then referred to the conference of local body representatives held during the year and quoted from addresses made by Mr M. J. Barnett and Mr F. W. Johnston on that occasion. Reference was also made to a broadcast address in April last by Mr E. F. Stead. At an Arbor Day celebration on Cashmere Hills, the speakers were the' Mayor, Archbishop Julius and Mr George Harper. <The balance-sheet for the year ended September 30, showed: Receipts, £135 9s 6d; expenditure, £ll7 5s 8d; sundry creditors, £4 0s 9d; cash in the bank and in hand, £22 9s 7d. Work in Australia. Moving the adoption of the report, the Mayor said that he had seen while in Australia the beauty that had resulted from the work which the Canterbury Society was undertaking. He felt a little disappointed that the association had not received as much co-operation from the local bodies as should have been given it. Much good work had been done, however, and it had to be remembered that it was only the first year of the association’s existence. Miracles could not be accomplished in a short time. The time would come when local bodies would realise their responsibilities in roadside beautifying. The chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr T. Fletcher Telford, said that he also was a little disappointed at the response to the association s appeal for assistance. The Ashburton County Council had set an excellent example, and if the association had the support of other counties to the same extent, the result would be all that was hoped for. As it was, there had been sometimes difficulty in getting a quorum for meetings called to consider planting questions. It was the present intention to plant the roads leading into, Christchurch, so that visitors could see what was the intention of the association. The report was adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted: President, the Mayor; vice-presidents, the Hon Mr Justice Adams, Mr Orton Bradley and. Mr F. W. Johnston; General Committee, as last year; Executive Committee, Messrs A. R. Galbraith, L. B. Hart, W. G. Jamieson, J. Mac Gibbon, R. B- Owen, E. F. Stead. T. Mawson Stewart and Dr T. Fletcher Telford; Advisory Committee, Messrs M. J. Barnett, C. E. Foweraker, A. R. Galbraith. E. N. Robinson, 11. Kitson, J. A. M’Pherson, G. Maginness, H. Millichamp, R. G. Robinson, E. F. Stead and E. N. Johnson: honorary treasurer, Mr John Mac Gibbon; honorary auditor. Mr G. W. K. Lawrence; secretary, Mr E. H. Wvles. The Mayor said that a continuous programme should be prepared for submission to the counties. Further broadcast talks would also be of value. \t a subsequent meeting of the General ’ Committee the Mayor was elected chairman.